I’m not a superstitious guy except when it comes to football.

I really think that football is where a lot of superstitions come up.  So many players seem to have them, hell in almost all athletics its there.  But it seems like fans too.  “I have to watch the game with this jersey.” “I need to have a hotdog at the start of every quarter.” It really is ridiculous but I think it gets a lot of acceptance, partly because everyone else is doing it.

I’m not going back to the gym until Tuesday, but there’s a certain Dallas-loving trainer I can’t wait to see....

Skuh-roo. Uh-yoo.

SKUH-ROOOOOOO. Uh-YOOOOOOOOO. >.<

I’m just going to point out that when they gave those kids awards for punt pass and kick that they actually booed the girl because she was the NE area winner and thus got stuck with a Pats jersey regardless if she was a Pats fan, or not. Even if she was a Pats fan, they just booed a kid, and a girl who has interest in football. Now that’s class.

I think Simpson officially killed any chance of those white/pink football jerseys targeted for women ever becoming legit. She was shown wearing a Romo version of one. Let’s be honest, any real female football fan would be wearing the actual copy of their favorite team jersey. Wearing the female version is like admitting you put up a white flag in terms of being actually interested in football. You’re there just because he is.

The NFL has to be crying in it’s beer this weekend. Pats/Colts and Cowboys/Packers might have been the single greatest combined match ups in conference championship history.

If I’m Bradshaw and I get the chance to toss in a snide comment about Romo and the Cowboys’ performance after taking their mini-vacation, do I actually do it? Oh hell yeah. He was dead on when he said it.

Hey TO, I got my popcorn…

The Colts played horribly in this game, I think. I did not see the bad calls as you did, but I know there were some key passes that were dropped that should not have been (M. Harrison in the first quarter, the last two passes of the Colts final possession).

However, it was a great game. Be interesting to see if the the Giants go to the big game.

The Colts played horribly in this game, I think.

Main issue for the colts was that they couldn’t get their running game going.  Otherwise they played just about as well as San Diego did.  I mean really how often is it that a quarterback can throw for 400 yards and lose?  The other thing was Manning’s two interceptions, but I really don’t think you can put blame on him or his receivers for those.  Both were basically miracle interceptions, where the ball bounced off the receivers hands and just fell right into the defenders, especially that one handed grab while being manhandled by a lineman.

I wouldn’t say they played horribly, just not as well as San Diego who also didn’t have much of a running game overall.

Well here’s my two cents, and again take it with a grain of salt, because I am on the Colts payroll and a huge Colts fan.

1.  The officiating is being reported as worse than it was.  There were a few calls that probably could’ve gone the other way, but we also had to challenge a touchdown that wasn’t originally given to us.  And on that interception return for a TD that was brought back by holding, I don’t care what anyone says.  I was right there standing on the sidelines about 40 feet from where it happened, and that was a hold and it would be called by any other official.

2.  There is absolutely no one to blame for this loss except for ourselves.  San Diego wanted it more.  They had a fire lit under themselves and it showed.  Merriman was unstoppable.  He looked like Bob Sanders did most of the season.  Bob Sanders couldn’t do crap.  We hurried the QB a grand total of three times.  There are tons of other small things, but it all boils down to us overlooking the Chargers.  They had something to play for, and we thought this game was a formality.  Have to keep this game film queued up to show people what can happen when one team wants it more.

3.  I think this is the last year of the Colts being an elite team.  Being fairly close to Tony Dungy, I’m nearly positive that he will retire.  Next-in-line Jim Caldwell has been interviewed by several other teams, and this morning he gave us (the IT department) back one of his computers, and it kind of sounded as if he was saying good bye.  So he may have been hired and it not released to the press yet (this is definitely not certain though).  But if we have a whole new coaching staff, we’ll be in trouble.  Also throw on top that I think Marvin Harrison is going to retire, and I think you have the Jacksonville Jaguars as the AFC South Division champs next year. 

On a side note, it was a completely classless move to boo the PPK girl, and it certainly did happen, although it was definitely not the whole stadium.

Can’t say anything else except congrats to the Chargers, they played a heck of a game, and if they come out with that same intensity, they may be able to give New England a run for their money. 

And on a side side note, if the Colts had won and played like that against New England, Tom Brady would’ve gone for ridiculous numbers.  It would’ve been a terrible blow out.

And just as another note about officiating.

How about our 15 yard unsportsmanlike for Bob Sanders talking to Nate Kaeding?  They freaking roomed together in college, and Bob was offering him condolences and we got flagged.

And just as another note about officiating.

How about our 15 yard unsportsmanlike for Bob Sanders talking to Nate Kaeding?  They freaking roomed together in college, and Bob was offering him condolences and we got flagged.

Sorry but that was a legitimate call.  You just don’t do that.  I think there are a lot of things that the pros and college players do that are really inappropriate and they need to be disciplined for.  Some of it is unsportmanlike and the taunting, along with trash talking.  Coaches should just sit the player for a series. 

The biggest thing though is the extending reach to get the ball into the endzone as you go down.  That’s about the dumbest thing around.  On a 4th down play sure, but it happens on more than that and its resulted in a fumble too many times for a coach to allow it.

Sorry but that was a legitimate call.  You just don’t do that.  I think there are a lot of things that the pros and college players do that are really inappropriate and they need to be disciplined for.  Some of it is unsportmanlike and the taunting, along with trash talking.  Coaches should just sit the player for a series.

The biggest thing though is the extending reach to get the ball into the endzone as you go down.  That’s about the dumbest thing around.  On a 4th down play sure, but it happens on more than that and its resulted in a fumble too many times for a coach to allow it.

It was definitely dumb, and a warranted penalty, but that type of thing gets let go all the time.  If they’re going to start flagging for that, there would be a flag on nearly every play involving corners and WRs.  And 100% of the plays involving Rodney Harrison.

I don’t see corners and wide receivers jumping on eachothers backs as they’re walking off the field after a bad play by the individual.  That’s the difference between trash talking as they’re walking back for the play, and jumping on the guys back as he’s going to the sideline.

I don’t see corners and wide receivers jumping on eachothers backs as they’re walking off the field after a bad play by the individual.  That’s the difference between trash talking as they’re walking back for the play, and jumping on the guys back as he’s going to the sideline.

I didn’t see him jump on his back, but I re-watched it, and you are exactly right.  I stand corrected.

Ok - the Pats homer here.

on the 15 yard penalty on Sanders - The refs can’t be expected to know who roomed with whom in College. besides - acknowledging a kicker should be beneath a real player like bob sanders, unless he really is taunting him.

On the Booing a 13-yr old girl. - Yes - pretty bush league, that. Tho in all honesty a 13 yr old girl would have been boo’d by some of the folks in Foxboro as well, so… Still - she seemed to take it in stride - enjoyed it even.

And as far as the Colts no longer being an elite team - Me think s you still have a transcendant QB, a solid O-Line, a very good RB and WR’s - even if Harrison retires. You’ll still be a playoff threat every year - and once you’re there, anything can happen. (See ‘01 pats, ‘05 Steelers and this years giants...)

The good news is now Peyton can practice his Oreo Double Stuff licking a week earlier than his brother.... Is there anything he won’t whore himself out for?

We will definitely still be a contender, but unless Mr. Polian can really pull some stuff together, I think it will start our decline.

Agreed on all other aspects.

And 100% of the plays involving Rodney Harrison.

Doh.  he does run his mouth, doesn’t he?

Re; the booing of the girl representing the Pats; classless.  I couldn’t believe it when it happened.  Why do crowds of sports fans always have to go that extra yard, so to speak?  They could have just politely clapped for the girl.

bendparker; come on!  Those officials were trying to be part of the game on *both* sides!  Too.  Many.  Flags.  Too many calls that determined scores (or scoring position).  It’s like that crew woke up and said “They’re gonna notice us today, by gum!”

I just meant that the Chargers got the worse end of it, especially the first half.  Colts got screwed too, no doubt.

bendparker; come on!  Those officials were trying to be part of the game on *both* sides!  Too.  Many.  Flags.  Too many calls that determined scores (or scoring position).  It’s like that crew woke up and said “They’re gonna notice us today, by gum!”

I just meant that the Chargers got the worse end of it, especially the first half.  Colts got screwed too, no doubt.

I definitely agree that there were too many flags.  And they were all big ones.  Not so much piddly penalties either (false-starts and off-side), but big penalties.  I’m sure it’s hard for the officials to find a happy medium between letting them play, and calling everything. 

If you want to talk about a call that really hurt though, look no further than the 15 yard facemask on Marlin Jackson during the late 4th quarter drive to put the Bolts up.  I’m not saying it didn’t happen (it did), but again, penalties in the NFL are the kind of thing that you can get away with 20 times and be called once, and it happened at the worst possible time. 

Maybe the Chargers did get the worse end of it, but I don’t really think either team got screwed per se.

The SD/NE game should be interesting.  My dad’s friend has the contract for the Chargers comms and my dad often works games with him, where they do the headset systems and phones.  When my dad works, he stays on the visitor’s side (no, I’ve never been able to go to a game with him).  He said the last time he worked the game when we played NE here, near the end they said it was time for “plan B” which is apparently when they start playing dirty as hell… grabbing/punching crotches, going for eyes, biting, etc.. whenever there’s a pile.  The whole reason is to piss off someone and when they openly fight back, they get nailed on penalties.  Right after they kicked in this play, that made him leave the sidelines…

At least that’s how he tells it.  Said you can really see them doing it from the sidelines too…

It’s weird seeing him on TV during the game sometimes though.  Not sure he’ll be working games anymore though, between is knees going bad (seriously needs to lose weight) and this inner-ear thing he has now, standing on the sidelines for 1/2 the day doesn’t work for him anymore.  Too bad too, he really loved it.  He used to get all kinds of official freebies too, and often was able to snag things, like one time the Browns played here and lost, the QB threw down his wrist strap with their play card on it and left it after the game so he got it.

Maybe the Chargers did get the worse end of it, but I don’t really think either team got screwed per se.

The only one I think the Chargers really got screwed on was the holding penalty that nullified the touchdown on the interception before the end of the first half.  Apparently (I didn’t see this) one of the announcers for the game later said that he watched the replay tons of times and felt there was no way the call was right.

The only one I think the Chargers really got screwed on was the holding penalty that nullified the touchdown on the interception before the end of the first half.  Apparently (I didn’t see this) one of the announcers for the game later said that he watched the replay tons of times and felt there was no way the call was right.

I’ve heard a few announcers say that, but nothing anyone can tell me can negate what I saw.  I was literally 40 feet away from it, he grabbed his jersey, twisted, and pulled him to the ground.  That’s a hold.  He didn’t hold in the normal sense, but when you’re blocking, to take someone down by the jersey is a hold. 

I haven’t had a chance to watch the game film yet, so maybe it will change my mind.