MuStAnG12687

These Jets games are going to give me a heart attack when I’m in my 70's...It seems like 90-95% of the Jets games end within 5 points late in the fourth quarter...today was no exception...wow a very boring 3 quarters with a pretty exciting 4th quarter...Leon Washington saved the day for the Jets and I'm glad he didn't get the touchdown so the Jets can drain the clock and get an easy FG.

The Monday Night football announcers are extremely annoying...if you watched the game I'm sure you hear them all praise Pennington...then bash...then praise...then bash and finally praise at the end...

Wild card position for the Jets is nearly locked...just need a win over the Raiders at home

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MuStAnG12687

AFC Playoff seeding possibilities<br>(pending results of Week 17 games) - SuperBowl.com - Official website of Super Bowl XLI

There's still a chance for KC angryjonny!!!

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Harms

So, who do you want to see the Jets play in the first round, Mustang?

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That's right, TICL. You will be seeing this image in your nightmares!!!!

MuStAnG12687

Well it looks like its going to be either IND or NE...I would definitely not want them to play BAL in the first round (I think they are going to the Super Bowl this year)...Out of IND or NE I'd rather the Jets play IND...Their confidence is pretty low, they have no defense and we all know that to beat IND, you have to keep Manning off the field. Jets should have/could have won their game against IND earlier this season--but the Jets are a better road team than home team. The Jets will probably be 6th, so they would have to play the 3rd ranked AFC team--probably the Colts, which I'm pretty happy about. If the Jets end up playing NE then so be it...Jets got them before at NE, could do it again. Odds will be with the home teams, but I like the Jets to get through the first round.

If the Jets should lose to the Raiders tomorrow--they don't deserve to make the playoffs, even though there would still be a chance...but I’m not too worried about it…

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MuStAnG12687

I was really glad the Jets game ended really early so I got too see 40 mins of the Bengels vs Steelers...what a ending...Here is a quick recap:

Steelers led 14-10 with around 4 mins left.

Bengles get a TD, up 17-14, leaving a little more than 2 mins left on the clock.

Bengles drive to the 20 yard line of the Steelers and attempt around a 36 yard FG...Steelers take a time out to ice the kicker

It works, Bengles miss the FG, wide right.

In overtime, Big Ben throws a screen which results in a 65+ TD...Steelers knock the Bengles from having a chance at the post season...wow Bengles can't take the pressure, huh?

Still a chance for KC angryjonny!!!!

Steelers drive results in a FG with around 1 min on clock.

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angryjonny

Oh...my...sweet heaven. I seriously can't even express the excitement right now. The odds of what happened today are probably like one in a million.

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MuStAnG12687

The Chiefs getting in this year reminds me of when the Jets got in 2002 at 9-7...the actually won the division, but it was full of weird circumstances...

Well because DEN lost and IND won, the Jets get to play their arch-rivals...the Patriots...yippee (sarcasm)...they did it in week 10 at Gillett field, I just hope they can muster up a second...

I like the Chiefs chances, believe it or not...a great rusher + worst rush defense in the league should score some points for the Chiefs...I hope their defense can contain Manning and keep him off the field...I just hate the Colts...

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EliManningPwndThePatriots

I was in vegas and didnt know until this am that the Giants snuck in with some brilliant Tiki Barber running.

Go Figure.

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"Goddamn that Hurts don't it?" - Roadhouse

MuStAnG12687

After just missing the playoffs, even worse news for Denver...




Broncos' Williams Had Big Plans for Kids
By PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer

January 2, 2007, 4:16 PM EST


DENVER -- Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams wanted to save kids from violence.

Williams' mother, Rosalind, doesn't want her son's dreams to die after he was shot and killed early Monday. The white stretch Hummer in which the 24-year-old player was riding was hit with a barrage of bullets after a nightclub dispute following a New Year's Eve party.

"I want every kid to know to live their life to the fullest," she said. "Don't let anyone say you can't do anything. Look what Dee achieved in 24 years."

Williams sustained a single gunshot wound to the neck, according to Robert Whitmore, chief medical examiner in the county coroner's office.

Police had no motive and no indication Williams was targeted in the drive-by shooting, which occurred hours after Denver was eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to San Francisco.

"He was one of the most positive young men I've ever been around," Williams' agent Jeff Griffin said. "He lit up the room with his smile."

His former high school football coach in Texas, Anthony Criss, said Williams had gone from hanging with the wrong crowd to trying to keep kids away gangs.

"When he was younger, he always gravitated to the wrong crowd," said Criss, who coached Williams for three seasons at O.D. Wyatt High in Fort Worth. "I remember he went to church and the minister was talking to him about needing to pray and stop hanging around with the wrong people, and he started straightening up and doing the right thing."

Williams, who has two young children in the Fort Worth area, said last month that he wanted to return to his hometown in the offseason to talk to kids about violence. He also had recently spoken to Criss about establishing a free football camp for youth players in Fort Worth.

"He had great compassion," Criss said. "He always wanted to try to make sure people did the right thing. He wanted to be a good parent, a good father, a good example for his kids. He will be missed."

Coach Mike Shanahan said the killing left him "speechless with sadness."

While some players went straight to the hospital where Williams' body was taken, others gathered at team headquarters, including receiver Javon Walker, who reportedly was in the limo when Williams was shot. Walker appeared to have a large blood stain smeared across his white shirt when he arrived. Walker did not speak with reporters.

A little after 2 a.m., Williams' limousine was fired on from a vehicle that pulled up along its side, hitting three people, police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. A man and a woman, Brandon Flowers and Nicole Reindl, were wounded. They were taken to St. Anthony Central Hospital.

Jackson said there was a dispute at a nightclub several blocks from the shooting where Williams and his group had attended a party. He said the argument didn't specifically involve Williams, according to witnesses, and the confrontation only involved taunts and didn't get physical. He also said no shots were fired from inside the limo.

Police were searching for a white Suburban or Tahoe with dark-tinted windows.

The club identified by police advertised a New Year's Eve event celebrating the birthday of Denver Nuggets basketball player Kenyon Martin. The Nuggets canceled practice Monday.

Martin told The Denver Post that he and several Nuggets left the nightclub before midnight, before any problems arose.

"I was there. He was there. I left. I saw him. That was about the extent of it," Martin told the newspaper.

The club was closed Monday night, a torn New Year's hat lying outside on the sidewalk.

Hours after the shooting, the limo sat in a snowbank beside Speer Boulevard, a main street through downtown. Police and technicians worked amid snow and ice from recent storms, using small yellow plastic markers to indicate possible evidence.

"His heart was so big, he was always giving to those who didn't have," said Rosalind Williams, who flew to Denver from Fort Worth. "It didn't even have to be for an agency or a charity. If he knew you didn't have, he'd hand it out of his pocket."

Williams was a second-round draft choice in 2005 out of Oklahoma State and teamed with Champ Bailey to give Denver one of the NFL's elite cornerback tandems.

"He was the greatest player I have coached in my 20 years," Oklahoma State secondary and special teams coach Joe DeForest said. "He wanted to prove to the world that he could play. ... He wanted to prove himself, and that's the way he approached every game. It was what made him a great player."

A viewing was scheduled Friday evening at the Great Commission Baptist Church in Fort Worth, with the funeral scheduled for Saturday at the same church, Griffin said. A family friend said all services will be open to the public.

"All I can say is he did more in his 24 years ... maybe that's why he did so much because he knew his time on Earth was limited," Rosalind Williams said. "Guns are in the wrong hands. People have no respect for human life. Dee won't be back. The guy who pulled the trigger has to live with it."

* __

AP Sports Writer Arnie Stapleton in Denver and Associated Press Writers Steven K. Paulson in Denver and Jeff Carlton in Fort Worth contributed to this report.


Broncos' Williams Had Big Plans for Kids - Newsday.com

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angryjonny

Man Shanahan's conference was pretty moving. I didn't know too much about that kid but I do know he had a bright future in the NFL. I got to see enough of him over the last two years to at least see that since we have to play them twice a year. It's a horrible thing for someone to be taken out like that. I heard that Darrent died in Walker's lap after he got shot. I can't even imagine what that would be like. It's just really sad. As much as I hate the Broncos I don't wish anything like this on anyone ever. R.I.P. Williams.

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EliManningPwndThePatriots

yeah, I saw that. That's just really sad a kid like that. I really wish society would put more value on life. Unfortunately since the 70's this "ME" generation devalued life so much.

Nobody thinks twice that pulling the trigger, the bullet goes somewhere, right through someone and destroys not only that life, but the families of that victim or victims.

But, what goes around can AND ALWAYS DOES come around!

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"Goddamn that Hurts don't it?" - Roadhouse

MuStAnG12687

Nick "I'm NOT going to Alabama" Saben takes Alabama coaching job for 8years, 32 million...





Saban leaves Dolphins for Alabama

NFL.com wire reports



(Jan. 3, 2007) -- Nick Saban is 'Bama bound.

Ending five weeks of speculation and two days of deliberation, Saban accepted the Alabama coaching job and abandoned his bid to rebuild the Miami Dolphins after only two seasons.

He informed Miami owner Wayne Huizenga of the decision. Huizenga announced the departure at a news conference, without Saban. Huizenga said he met with the coach at Saban's house in the morning.

"It is what it is," Huizenga said.

The Crimson Tide first approached Saban shortly after they fired Mike Shula in late November. Huizenga said he received repeated assurances from Saban that he would return in 2007, and the coach issued frequent, angry public denials of interest in moving to Tuscaloosa. On Dec. 21, for example, he said: "I'm not going to be the Alabama coach."

But when the Dolphins' 6-10 season ended on Dec. 31, Alabama sweetened an offer that reportedly would make him the highest-paid coach in college football. He has three years remaining on his Miami contract at $4.5 million a year.

A preference for the college game may have also swayed Saban. He won a national championship at Louisiana State and is 15-17 with the Dolphins. This was his first losing season in 13 years as a head coach.

In the past, Huizenga has been persuasive when dealing with coaches. He talked Don Shula into retirement in 1996, talked Jimmy Johnson out of retiring three years later -- Johnson lasted one more season -- and was able to lure Saban to the pros in 2004 after other NFL teams had failed.

But this time, Huizenga failed to change Saban's mind.

After Saban turned down the Tide in early December, they offered the job to Rich Rodriguez, but he decided to stay at West Virginia. Alabama lost last week to Oklahoma State in the Independence Bowl to finish 6-7.

Possible candidates to replace Saban include Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, former Green Bay head coach Mike Sherman, San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, Indianapolis assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow and Pittsburgh Steelers assistants Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhut.

The Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons are also seeking a new coach.

The Dolphins' next coach will be their fourth in nine seasons, a big change for a franchise that had the same coach -- Shula -- for 26 years. Miami has failed to make the playoffs the past five years, a franchise record.

The Dolphins are coming off their third losing season since 1969 and face a likely roster overhaul. With Daunte Culpepper still struggling to recover from reconstructive knee surgery in 2005, Miami remains unsettled at quarterback, a troublesome position since Dan Marino retired seven years ago. The team needs upgrades in almost every other area for a feeble offense and aging defense.

Saban leaves behind the NFL's largest staff of assistants and general manager Randy Mueller, who might be given more responsibility under a new coaching regime.

"No, I'm not upset," Huizenga said. "I feel the pain and so forth and so on. It's not a simple thing. I am not upset with Nick. I think Nick is great. All of us at the Dolphins, we want the best for Nick. I'll be Nick's biggest fan. I wish (Saban and wife Terry) a lot of success.

"Above all, the only thing I'm concerned about now is how we are going to win. The Dolphins have always been about winning. And it's really all about winning right now. I don't care what it takes, what it costs to move forward on (finding another coach)."


NFL.com - Miami Dolphins Team News

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MuStAnG12687

With finishing second in the AFC for passer rating, Jets QB Chad Pennington is named Comeback Player of the Year after his second torn rotator cuff on his throwing shoulder.




Pennington wins Comeback Player of the Year


NFL.com wire reports



NEW YORK (Jan. 4, 2007) -- One rotator cuff injury often is enough to ruin a premier athlete's career. Chad Pennington overcame two in two years to win The Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.

The New York Jets had become too accustomed to seeing Pennington leave the field with a damaged right shoulder. After the 2004 season and again midway through 2005, he underwent surgery to repair his right rotator cuff.

There's was so much doubt about Pennington returning to form that the Jets had four quarterbacks in training camp last summer, including a second-round draft pick.

So all the seven-year veteran did was lead the Jets to a surprising 10-6 record and a wild-card berth one season after they went 4-12 -- most of it with him sidelined -- and changed coaches. Pennington's precise execution of a short passing game made Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery into 1,000-yard receivers and offset a mediocre running game.

Not surprisingly, Pennington didn't see winning the award as an individual honor.

"The organization has been great in providing me with all kinds of special resources to get back healthy and play at a high level," he said. "My teammates have been behind me since Day 1. For us to be able to put it together out on the field would mean a lot ... it's been such a team effort."

Pennington's efforts earned him 27 votes in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. He finished far ahead of two other quarterbacks, Drew Brees of New Orleans (8 1/2) and Carson Palmer of Cincinnati (5 1/2).

"He never reinvented himself," Coles said of Pennington, who passed for a career-best 3,352 yards and finished second in the AFC with a 95.7 passer rating. "You all (in the media) were the ones who left him for dead. I'm pretty sure he didn't leave himself for dead or he wouldn't be in this situation. And I definitely didn't. He never went anywhere."

Well, actually Pennington went under the knife twice, and because he's never had a particularly strong arm, his return to prominence was highly questioned. But through rehab and meetings, he clearly had mastered the offense of new coach Eric Mangini and coordinator Brian Schottenheimer by early August.

And there never was any doubt he would beat out the other three QBs in camp once Pennington began throwing as accurately as ever.

When Pennington was hit hard or sacked, he bounced up and went right back to work. Most notably against Houston, he took a huge hit and stayed down because he had the breath knocked out of him. Well aware of the hushed crowd, Pennington pumped his fist as he walked off the field, assuring the fans he and his right arm were fine.

"Chad is a tough guy," veteran guard Pete Kendall said. "I think anybody who stands back there is a tough guy, it's just that some guys unfortunately have been injured more than others. But that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with toughness.

"When you talk about toughness, you have to talk about mental toughness as much as, or moreso than physical toughness. Chad is way up there; he's a mentally tough guy. To be quarterback in this market, with the ups and downs that comes along with playing quarterback, and to go through what he has gone through, then come back and still play well, you have to be a tough guy to do that."

Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow received five votes, followed by two Eagles: QB Jeff Garcia with two, RB Correll Buckhalter with one.

Denver receiver Javon Walker, New Orleans RB Deuce McAllister and Tennessee RB Travis Henry each got one vote.

Pennington is the fifth quarterback to win the award in its nine years; Brees won it in 2004. He is the first Jet to win.

Last year's recipients were New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi and Carolina receiver Steve Smith.

NFL.com - NFL News

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angryjonny

Pennington has always been one of my favorite QBs. He's a great player and a good guy too. I hated seeing him go down (along with the host of QBs last year) and the Jets struggling because of it.

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MuStAnG12687

YouTube - NFL Coach Rants


Haha...Herm is great!

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Harms

I still love the Mora highlights. Ditka is hilararious too.

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That's right, TICL. You will be seeing this image in your nightmares!!!!

MuStAnG12687

If I was a Giants fan, I probably wouldn't like this news...but maybe it isn't so bad because there might be better coaches for the 2008 season...so who knows...




Giants official: Coughlin will be back in '07

NFL.com wire reports



CALDWELL, N.J. (Jan. 10, 2007) -- Tom Coughlin will return to coach the New York Giants, according to a team official.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the team was to make a formal announcement during a noon conference call.

The team decided Wednesday that two straight playoff appearances outweighed a sub-par 2006 season and a dysfunctional locker room.

It was not immediately known if Coughlin was given a contract extension or he will work under the final year of a deal he signed in January 2004. He was to be paid $3 million under terms of that contract.

Gary O'Hagan, Coughlin's agent, declined comment when reached by The Associated Press.

The decision came three days after the Giants (8-9) capped a disappointing season with a last-second 23-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC wild-card game. It was the second straight season that ended with a first-round playoff defeat.

Coughlin, 25-25 with the Giants, probably will make changes to his coaching staff. What he does to improve the lackluster performance of quarterback Eli Manning remains to be seen. He also has to hope that Brandon Jacobs can step in and replace retiring halfback Tiki Barber, and there are concerns about the health of defensive end Michael Strahan, who was sidelined late in the season with foot problems.

NFL.com - New York Giants Team News

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