QUOTE: “History never looks like history when you are living through it.” -- John W. Garner
I knew it was coming, but no matter how the Colts try to justify what they did Sunday, I still think it hurts the NFL. Making the fans pay for meaningless preseason games is one thing, but tanking a regular-season game is another. I know the ‘72 Miami Dolphins are popping Champagne corks for keeping their streak alive, but deep down, this has to be bittersweet.
Don Shula issued a statement: “While the Jets win today ended Indianapolis’ streak and showed once again how difficult it is to go undefeated, I want to congratulate the Colts on a great run.” Can he really mean that? Yes, he’s happy the streak is alive, but the Colts tanking the game puts doubt in the validity of his statement. No real champion wants to win on a decision. A real champion wants to remove all doubt about their own immortality, doubt that can only be removed if the Colts lose in the playoffs or lose in the Super Bowl. But if they win their postseason games, then the Miami Dolphins streak will be alive -- but I’ll be left wondering, filled with doubt about who had the more perfect team.
The Colts have every right to prepare for the post season -- they earned that right by reeling off 14 straight wins. However, watching the game live and seeing the body language of their players, it just seemed all wrong — very wrong. It was not fair to the competitive balance of the NFL, not fair to the history of the game, not fair to league or its partners who pay big money for the rights to the games. Most of all, it was not fair to the fans. Once the Colts played to win in Jacksonville, why not keep playing to win in every game? Were they concerned about proving a point to Jacksonville and didn’t care about proving one to the New York Jets? Those 14 straight wins earned them the right to rest their players, but it also earned them a chance to chase perfection — an opportunity few teams ever have. How can you just walk away from that opportunity? How can you go from the best quarterback who has ever played the game to one who has never played? How can they just toss away that chance like the game was in August, not December?
But that’s what they did. So now I’m left wondering – are the Miami Dolphins are the most perfect team? For me, if the Colts lose in the playoffs, then the answer is yes. If they don’t, then the answer is that I wished the Colts would have kept playing for the good of the game.
RANDOM GAME THOUGHTS…
1. How can the Giants be that inconsistent? From a very good team to a very bad team in one week’s time means there’s something wrong with them on every level – coaching, playing and schemes. They bid farewell to Giant Stadium with their worst loss ever in the stadium’s history. It will take a detailed analysis in the coming weeks to fix the problems in N.Y.
2. Matt Moore has played well as Carolina’s new starter the last two weeks. What makes his stellar play so amazing is that the Panthers have lost both starting offensive tackles. What appeared to be the strength of the Giants — both lines -- turned out to be their biggest weakness. Allowing Jonathan Stewart the third most rushing yards against them and the most since 1978 is an indictment of their inability to control the lines.
3. Conversely, the Ravens, who did not have starting left tackle Jared Gaither for their game and were forced to move Michael Oher to left tackle and start Oniel Cousins at right tackle, cost themselves the game. Lamar Woodley of the Steelers dominated Cousins, and this made it hard for the Ravens to make critical plays. Of course, besides Cousins, the Ravens made too many mental and physical mistakes at crucial points to win.
4. Did you realize that with the Bengals win yesterday, head coach Marvin Lewis is in second place on the club’s all-time wins list for head coaches? He passed team founder Paul Brown with the victory over the Chiefs.
5. We get a bonus playoff game next Sunday in Dallas as the Eagles and Cowboys will have to play like there’s no tomorrow. The loser of the game will be on the road throughout the playoffs and will need three wins to get to the Super Bowl.
6. In the last two games against the Jaguars, Tom Brady has thrown only five incomplete passes in 54 attempts. He might be 100-percent healthy right now.
7. Some teams have stopped fighting, but Cleveland and Tampa aren’t among them. The Browns deserve credit for their winning streak and for still playing hard. It might save Eric Mangini his job — maybe.
8. What’s most impressive about the Bucs’ win is that they held the Saints scoreless in the second half and rallied from 17-0 down. Normally, I would feel there was something really ailing the Saints with this second consecutive loss at home, but last year the Cards did the same thing and got hot at the right time. So I reserve judgment until after I watch the tape.
9. The Seahawks better think about how they’re going to rebuild their team, not repair it. They stink, and coach Jim Mora might want to give real thought to what he must do to change on all three levels, just like the Giants -- players, coaches and scheme.
10. How about Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski booting a 61-yarder in the cold at Cleveland? Amazing, considering that kicking a cold ball is difficult and it travels less distance.
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For more on the Colts' first loss of the season, check out this article from Bleacher Report.
The Jets may be gifted a playoff spot. The Colts gave them this win, and the Bengals might very well give them the next one. If the day plays out such that the Bengals are stuck with the fourth playoff spot, then you could easily see that they will pull all their starters and lay down for the Jets on Sunday night.
Mike -
Doesn't the Colts' actions make the league's fine of Ochocinco for "bribing" an official look even more ridiculous? He got fined for the mere appearance of tampering with the integrity of the game; Caldwell and the Colts *actually* tampered with it.
Mike,
Is there any chance the NFL either fines or sends a letter to the Colts for tanking the game. To me this is a league issue based on the faieness of competition. I am not sure if the competition commitee has and say in this but you violate the integrity of the game when a team throws one. the colts made a calculated decision not to compete, how can this be condoned?
Mike,
Is there any chance the NFL either fines or sends a letter to the Colts for tanking the game. To me this is a league issue based on the faieness of competition. I am not sure if the competition commitee has and say in this but you violate the integrity of the game when a team throws one. the colts made a calculated decision not to compete, how can this be condoned?
The Colts staff and front office arrogantly dismissed the league's integrity and history, not to mention the likely millions of fantasy owners that counted on Colts players production for their championship game. It is a PR debacle, not to mention that there is zero statistical evidence from a team or league standpoint that pulling your starters in such a way improves your chances of winning the Super Bowl. Shame on the Colts. May the football gods curse them.
I don't mind the Colts tanking the game -- they earned that right -- but it places a lot of weight on when you play a team. The Jets got a huge break playing them late.
The Colts staff and front office arrogantly dismissed the league's integrity and history, not to mention the likely millions of fantasy owners that counted on Colts players production for their championship game. It is a PR debacle, not to mention that there is zero statistical evidence from a team or league standpoint that pulling your starters in such a way improves your chances of winning the Super Bowl. Shame on the Colts. May the football gods curse them.
Gregg Easterbrook's football gods will get their revenge on the Colts for yesterday's effort... they'll lose to NE or SD in the playoffs.
Curtis Painter should have his name officially changed to "Tank", since you can't mention one without the other....
The Colts are doomed to repeat their playoff (failure) history because they lost their memory. Of course Bill Polian is the one who invented the game so who are we to challenge him.
The Saints were just sloppy, nothing much to read into it. They had the game in the bag up by a TD with 2 minutes and change left but made two boneheaded plays: On 3rd and 7 Meachem catches a 6 yard pass but instead of just diving for the first down he goes laterally and comes up a foot short. Brees was right in his ear afterwards but that's wasted breath as someone from Tenn is not going to absorb that. Then in punt formation on 4th down they use a hard count (and a head bob from the center) to draw TB offsides, which they do but the center doesn't snap the ball and instead the left guard moves out of his stance frantically pointing to the officials the offsides call. He is called for illegal motion and they have to punt for real and TB returns it for a TD.
In the grand scheme of things this lack of attention on two little plays will probably give Sean Payton some good amunition to get his players focused and ready for a championship run.
Tanking like that is just a bad deal. If the Colts actually had some facts to back it up, but they've actually done worse in the post season after resting starters and Manning has never missed a game, and almost never missed a snap. Even is the Colts had sat Wayne and Clark, Manning may have pulled the game out -- he's that good himself. I feel badly for the Colt fans and for the fans of the AFC bubble teams.
Tripvm makes a fantastic point. If the Bengals rest their starters at some point in the game, the Jets will waltz into the playoffs on a gift. This is hardly good for the league.
Mike,
I'm a diehard Colts fans and I think you are wrong. Most of the NFL fans and media wanted the Colts to go for a perfect season, yet ignore how it is all based upon second-guessing after the fact. In the NYJ and BUFF games, if the Colts lose any guys to injury, doesn't the bandwagon of people then swing the other way and everyone complains "why are these guys playing" cause it hurts their Super Bowl chances? Or how about the fact that the Colts start everyone and lose, how does this help them? It doesn't. If they come out in the Divisional playoff game and win, does anyone talk about the Jets loss? If they lose, does it necessarily reflect too much rest? Not at all. The fact of the matter is, most don't like how the Colts went about carrying out their plan to rest guys, but in the end, it was a luxary most teams and fans of teams don't have to discuss cause they're not, nor have ever been in that scenario.
Perhaps if the Colts go on and win the Super Bowl, people will say, they could have gone undefeated if they tried for it, but didn't, and I think in the end of the day, that's something the Colts organization and management can live with...and for me personally, I find it hard to argue against.
There is not an AFC playoff team who won't be licking their chops to go into Lucas Oil Stadium and put an old fashioned beat down on a Colts team that wasn't very physical to begin with, and won't have played a competitive game in a full month.
The Colts don't need a fine or a letter from the league. One and done is punishment enough.
Gregg Easterbrook's football gods will get their revenge on the Colts for yesterday's effort... they'll lose to NE or SD in the playoffs.
Curtis Painter should have his name officially changed to "Tank", since you can't mention one without the other....
You'd think a perfect season, or regular season at least, would have meant something to the Colts. Their decision cost them a lot of respect among fans and cost the league a lot of credibility. Don;t expect to hear anything from Commissioner Clueless however. He's too busy reviewing the length of players' socks and TD celebrations for possible fines.
Here's hoping the Coilts are one and done in the playoffs.
As a Colts fan, I could not bear to watch Sunday's "effort" against the Jets. But I don't blame Jim Caldwell. This is Bill Polian's team. As president, he is in charge of everything. Caldwell knows who his boss is, and he knows Big Bill's opinion. He had no choice. Everyone on West 56th Street must dance to Mr. Polian's beat.
Polian is a great talent evaluator. He also happens to be arrogant, stubborn, paranoid, and contrarian. The notion of "our issues" and "others' issues" is one of his favorite talking points. He discusses it every week on his radio show. That is his right, so long as he wins. Unfortunately, when they don't win, you still will not convince hims that he was wrong.
Ultimately, all that matters is whether or not the Colts win the Super Bowl. If they do, then fans like me will quickly forget about the tank-job against the Jets. If they don't, then we'll wonder what might have happened had the Colts actually tried to win all of their games.
If the colts win the SB..no one will care...they arent the Patriots..who were more concerned with the "percect season" than actually preparing for the super bowl ....16-0 banner a joke
What about teams, like oh I don't know the Bears, who have clearly quit on the season over the last month and haven't given full effort? The Ravens took advantage of playing a Bears team that maybe gave 20% last week... same with the Packers the week before that. While I'm no fan of what the Colts did, it's not like other teams in the NFL haven't quit and are only going through the motions (the Redskins, Seahawks, and maybe the Lions along with the Bears all have appeared to just go through the motions the last two or three weeks). Teams quit every year and I'm not so sure we should all be upset at the Colts just because they were up front with their tanking.
Just a wild and crazy thought....What if the Bengals 'tank' on Sunday night then Mark Sanchez suddenly becomes the QB all Jets fans are hoping for and the J-E-T-S run the table and win the Supre Bowl, of course beating Cincy, NE and Indy on the way! Wooooo, that is a Jets fan wet dream.
I love all the speculation nationwide about the Colts "tanking", "Throwing", and/or "giving" the game to the Jets. It assumes one thing, that by resting the starters that automatically hands the game to the Jets. Here, on a site that gives so many solid opinions and analysis. I mean seriously, why is everyone getting worked up over this?
Several wrong Reasons:
1. Expectations. The mother of all controversy. Fans in INDY were cursing obscenities at Caldwell. All with young children around. Nice. Glad you feel that way.
2. Competitive Fairness. This one is just way too difficult to actually make an argument. Not with the NFL Franchise and Playoff Structure as it currently is. In Fact, this is the Opposite of the BCS competitive argument. EVERY game counts in the college season. You have to play everyone, and try and blow them out to stay ranked high enough to compete for the national title game. Say what you will about not having a playoff in College football, but it keeps games like this from ever happening in college.
As the NFL Championship goes right now, the Colts earned the ability to do what they did yesterday. They took advantage of what they had earned to this point. Do I agree with it? NO. However, I do understand it.
The Colts have no responsibility to the other teams competing for the playoffs in any way. In fact, Losing to the JETS actually may help them get a weaker team into the AFC playoffs! Anyone who watched that game yesterday was reminded of how non-threatening the JETS were versus INDY with the playoffs on the line. Outside of the ST's and fumble recovery TD's the JEts were not doing anything ever mildly threatening to a defense playing without 4 starters and playing several third string players on the depth chart in meaningful minutes. In fact, until the defense really was playing the third string the JETS running game was going nowhere.
Also, INDY still played the game. It's not like the record breaking Michael Strahan sack of Favre that is still so controversial. INDY did not just let the Jets score, they made them earn it. (Yes, having those backup players in the game made it that much easier to execute every play, but they still had to do it!)
3. A chance at History. History is always written by the victors and in the new information age the dissidents as well. History is a great thing, but not winning the superbowl has been the downfall of the Colts Franchise with Manning this past decade. People outside INDY soon Forget the 41-0 playoff loss to the JETS. The Missed FG by Vanderjagt against the Titans in 200. This team has lost more than the rested players Playoff games in the Manning era. In fact, they got hammered instead of having close games in those where some key players were not 100%. This team wants another SB very bad. And, they want a healthy team going into the playoffs in order to have the best chance to accomplish just that.
So, where is the balance between playing players and takin
If there was every a coach with potential in dire need of a mentor, it's Man-gina...he knows defense, Holmgren know's O...Holmgren can help build the O...he needs a strong guide that has been a coach to show him the way...and someone that will keep him from doing stupid stuff like thousand dollar fines over $3 screwups and bus rides to bfe...I think Holmgren and Man-gina are very complementary and could make a very compelling team...
The Broncos need some breaks now while the lucky Jets will choke. Sanchez will meet a fierce Bengals pass rush, or at least he'd better. Dang, the Broncos need a lot of help.
Why challenge perfection? Only the Dolphins and the Lions are allowed to do it...
11:54AM EST
"Browns claim Raiders played dirty" ~ scoreboard, anyone?
We're certain Ray Ray and Troy P will remind people not to pile on the Browns runners since that style is so dirty.
The Colts didn't have to beat the Jags either... obviously, they did not want to face the Jags in the playoffs (divisional team knows them too well, etc.) but are not really scared of the Jets.
Jets fan here will NOT be apologizing for the win yesterday, but agree with Lombardi's take the Colts should have played to win the game. At 13-1, no one says a word, but 14-0 there comes a chance to make history.
They chickened out and I hope they lose in the playoffs. But to every other team's fan whining - if you take care of your own business, it doesn't matter what other teams do.
Caldwell is the one that made the decision and it was his right to do so. He could have gone down in history as having a perfect season and having done it as a rookie head coach. So if he can live with it then I don't understand anyone else having a problem with it. It is his history he is writing. He did a simple cost/benefit analysis and made a decision. Leave it at that. We have all seen that playing it out doesn't guarantee a Super Bowl win. That has always been their goal.
@b roo, do you honestly think Caldwell called the shots here? Really? What color is the sky in your world?
Its a very nice blue today after days of dreary gray, thanks for asking. OK maybe his boss did the cost/benefit analysis instead, what difference does it make? Potential cost is Peyton getting his knee blown out and ending their chance at a Super Bowl. Whatever benefit could be gained is completely subjective. Some may think it outweighs the potential cost some may not but it is their organization's choice to make. They didn't break any league rules so let them decide and move on. Let's argue about something meaningful like whether Favre should come back and play for the Cardinals next year.
The father that wrangled every connection to bring his kid to see the then historic Colt's attempt another historic victory should be offered his money back. Athletes are trained to win, and fans have a right to see their team give it their all. I remember seeing my first Jets game late in the season with the Jets owning a handsome lead and Joe Namath playing on his shattered knees until the clock expired. The Colts management and coaching staff voluntarily stripped the athletes and fans the ability to create history and display competitive, sportsmanlike conduct. I will remember Joe Namath.
The father that wrangled every connection to bring his kid to see the then historic Colt's attempt another historic victory should be offered his money back. Athletes are trained to win, and fans have a right to see their team give it their all. I remember seeing my first Jets game late in the season with the Jets owning a handsome lead and Joe Namath playing on his shattered knees until the clock expired. The Colts management and coaching staff voluntarily stripped the athletes and fans the ability to create history and display competitive, sportsmanlike conduct. I will remember Joe Namath.
One aspect that has not been covered is the seemingly arbitrary decisions regarding who played for the Colts and who did not. For example, if the idea is to keep the difference-making players healthy, then why was Dwight Freeney on the field at all in the second half? Why was defensive signal-caller Gary Brackett playing in the fourth quarter? And what about Jeff Saturday? The Colts' most important offensive lineman played until the bitter end.
The Colts do not have a viable option if either one of their starting safeties were to go down. Why, then, did Antoine Bethea continue to play in the second half?
This is not criticism. It is a question. If you're going to dedicate your organization to injury prevention, then why not do it all the way?
Good perspective, Robert. I would only add that the real disservice was done to the 45 players on the Colts. They are the ones who could have had a place in history but were denied by an executive decision. The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized during the lifetime of the opportunity. The Colts had that opportuinty twice, and they let it pass. They will never make history, and they will likely spend the rest of their lives wondering what it would have been like if they had done it.
To the guy wondering why Don Shula is issuing a statement at this time, it is because he coached a team that did something no one else has ever done. No one asks Mike Ditka's opinion, because he lost one game that year. But they ask for Coach Shula's perspective because his team chased perfection and caught it.His team made history, and 37 years later we still talk about it. This is what the Colts brass passed up on by pulling their starters. Sure, the fans are upset and the media is criticizing them, but they owe an apology to the 45 guys in that locker room who earned the chance to do what no one else has ever done. And their own bosses took it away from them.
I would have more respect for the Colts if they had forfeited instead of playing in such a farce.
Hey yahoodave, I've got a banner for you "WE STINK"
There are no meaningless games! A football team is an army of warriors, and warriors go on the field every Sunday for one purpose and one purpose only: to win a football game. If you want to rest your players and avoid injury, then just forfeit the game. That would do less psychologicasl damage to the players than playing without a commitment to win the game.
It takes talent to win a Super Bowl, but it also takes something else: passion. Great temas have a passion to win, and that is why the best team does not always win. When you have a passion to win you will do whatever it takes to pull out a victory, even against a superior opponent. Pulling your starters saps a team of its passion to win, and the result is they have to rely solely on talent. The problem is, all the teams in the Playoffs have talent. The Colts may have enough talent to win it all anyway, but if they don't, this front office/ coach's decision to pull the starters should be loooked at as reason number one for their failure.
One of the small but undeniable pleasures of NF Post is yahoodaves constant litany of small-minded, bitter darts. It's like having an endlessly angry and sullen teen flouncing around in self-pitying anger, taking themselves very, very seriously :)
It provides a perverse pleasure :)
The father that wrangled every connection to bring his kid to see the then historic Colt's attempt another historic victory should be offered his money back. Athletes are trained to win, and fans have a right to see their team give it their all. I remember seeing my first Jets game late in the season with the Jets owning a handsome lead and Joe Namath playing on his shattered knees until the clock expired. The Colts management and coaching staff voluntarily stripped the athletes and fans the ability to create history and display competitive, sportsmanlike conduct. I will remember Joe Namath.
yahoodave are you actually running down the Patriots for trying to win every game?
Maybe you should give some of these gems some thought before you air them out. I mean that sounds really dumb.
It's not really "Tanking" if he pulled his starters two-thirds of the way into th game while they were winning.
Dungy left his starters out in the finale of the 2007 season and it cost the Browns a shot at the playoffs, but I doubt you heard as much whining out of Browns fans as you're hearing from Colts fans right now.
The Pats proved that 16-0, while impressive, means nothing more than 14-2. The Colts fans who are bitching because they actually had to sit through a loss - albeit in the heated comfort of a dome - should get real. Your team is the favorite to win the Super Bowl, too bad that those "16-0" t-shirts will never get made.
Cost of a ticket to watch the Colts tank enabling the Jets to make the playoffs: $100
Cost of opportunity to watch Patriots make Rex Ryan cry again: Priceless
Winkel, who cares? all football fans care. Going undefeated in football is the ultimate test of pride, dedication, manhood and respect. As Bill Parcells says "you are what your record says you are". If your record has zero losses than you are the best of the best, the cream of the crop, the straw that stirs the drink. Of course this doesn't apply in college football.
Winkel, who cares? all football fans care. Going undefeated in football is the ultimate test of pride, dedication, manhood and respect. As Bill Parcells says "you are what your record says you are". If your record has zero losses than you are the best of the best, the cream of the crop, the straw that stirs the drink. Of course this doesn't apply in college football.
I don't understand all the faux outrage about the Colts. It's sports, and the Colts earned the right to play their season the way they want to. It's a paradox - while the fans do indeed pay the bills, the teams don't necessarily owe them anything when it comes to preparing for the postseason. We, as fans, must come to grips that we aren't entitled to anything. It's not great but it's true. I can't think of many relationships where the bill payer doesn't get to make many demands. Our goal as fans is to watch great football and pursuits of perfection. Their goal as an organization is to win in the postseason and do what's best for their team at that time.
We may debate what is the right move, but that's ultimately their choice. Going undefeated seems overrated (so 70's, if you will). But we all remember the Super Bowl winner...
For all the other teams that belly ache because of what the Colts did or didn't do, they should work harder to not have to rely on other teams that control their fate. Take care of your own business and these games would be meaningless for them, too.
@yahoodave
The Pats weren't concerned with the perfect season, they were concerned with dominating every foe they came across. THat's the mark of a champion. You know, they TRIED TO WIN every game. Unfortunately for them, the only loss was in the biggest game. Let's not fool ourselves - the only people that actually thought the Giants were the best team in the NFL and not the Pats were the Giants and Giants fans.
While my Broncos haven't done anything to help their cause, they still deserve a fair and honest shot on Sunday. WIth the Colts puke-fest and the Bengals possibly doing the same, we'll be seriously hampered by teams not trying. Hey, I'm going to go tell my boss that I'm saving myself for the March software push, so I'm going to rest til then. I'm sure he'll go for it just like the boss of all those million dollar athletes. What a joke.
@Yatrix
I think the Broncos are more hampered by losses to sub .500 teams like Oakland(!) and Washington. It doesn't matter who we *think* the best team is. The playoffs are there to decide it, and one team gets the trophy.
The comparison of the company/software is apples and oranges. If your programming suffered because you were overworked (or could be), maybe the boss gives you some time off to prepare when max effort will really be needed.
As much as I am pained to say it as a faithful Titans fan, I applaud the Colts for having the courage to do what they think is best for their team. Their effort was superior for 14 weeks, and they played themselves into a spot where they can do whatever they damn well please. It's about the end and the result, not the journey, at least in their opinion.
Polian is a joke. They have a bye week, and IF they make it to the SB they will have another Bye week then. Plenty of time to rest. Also, what does it say about the depth and preparedness of the rest of the colts roster that they could not close the deal against jets?
Get ready for another dissapointment Peyton, maybe you can snag some of Tigers endorsments in the offseason. You'll have an extra few weeks.
For everyone who is saying the Colts were right to pull their starters because "it's not about a perfect season": Indeed, it isn't. But that is beside the point. This was a regular-season game. The Colts treated it like a preseason game. They did not throw the game, but it was very clear that they did not care much about the outcome and felt no obligation in the end to compete. This is bad for the viability of the league and bad for the paying fans. Please do not try to defend this decision.
How anyone can compare this to the Pats' perfect season, and spin it in such a way so that the Colts are simply being "smart" and the Pats "arrogant," is beyond me. Yes, please, by all means, do *not* go for it, do *not* give it everything you've got. Are you guys for real?
For everyone who is saying the Colts were right to pull their starters because "it's not about a perfect season": Indeed, it isn't. But that is beside the point. This was a regular-season game. The Colts treated it like a preseason game. They did not throw the game, but it was very clear that they did not care much about the outcome and felt no obligation in the end to compete. This is bad for the viability of the league and bad for the paying fans. Please do not try to defend this decision.
How anyone can compare this to the Pats' perfect season, and spin it in such a way so that the Colts are simply being "smart" and the Pats "arrogant," is beyond me. Yes, please, by all means, do *not* go for it, do *not* give it everything you've got. Are you guys for real?
Even if the Colts win the Super Bowl, it will be hard to see them as champions when you consider that they threw a game. Spygate was a stain on the Patriots legacy, and this debacle of a decision will also be a stain on the Colts legacy. No, it was not outright cheating like Spygate, but it was a shocking display of lack of competitive spirit and sporting values.
Fans DEMAND all year that because profesional football is a big money business this justifies looking at instant replay UMPTEEN THOUSAND TIMES, the Super Bowl in a neutral WARM WEATHER SITE, and any other cockamamie idea to SANITIZE the game into a petrie dish . The owner in an attempt to PROTECT this BIG MONEY investment holds his best players out of a meaningless season game and gets lambastard for lack of integrity.
My take on this..... an UNDEFEATED REGULAR SEASON isn't going to mean SQUAT if your best player is on the bench injured for the playoffs. Just ask New England if they wish they had kept Wes Welker off the field last week if they could and how 18-1 feels in 2007.
DON'T WIN THE BATTLES ONLY TO LOSE THE WAR !......LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE AND WHY YOU'RE THERE !
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Dec 28, 2009
11:16 AM
Why do we have to hear from Don Shula every time a team's undefeated streak ends? Who cares? When a college basketball team loses, we don't have to hear from Bobby Knight with some insincere comment about what a great run it was for that team.