Is it me or have there been more ACL tears this year? Bengals' Geno Atkins apparently tore his last night. Cleveland has lost three players to ACL tears -- WR/KR Travis Benjamin, QB Brian Hoyer and RB Dion Lewis. Other teams have lost key players to ACL tears. What's up?

 

EDIT: here ya go.....

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/95723/inside-slant-big-spike-in-acl-injuries

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/97477/inside-slant-acl-connection-to-shoes

 

The talking heads say more injuries to the lower body because defenders are hitting lower to avoid

the targeting rules.

could be happenstance

Trend or not, it was only a matter of time with Benjamin IMHO.  I assume everyone saw the video of the toddler who wore the glow in the dark Travis Benjamin costume for Halloween?

 

 

 

LOL!!! That's the funniest, most disturbing thing I've seen all day!!

Trend or not, it was only a matter of time with Benjamin IMHO.  I assume everyone saw the video of the toddler who wore the glow in the dark Travis Benjamin costume for Halloween?

 

 

 

LOL!!! That's the funniest, most disturbing thing I've seen all day!!

 

 

Sigh - I hate my "Big Brother" at work who now blocks 99% of all streaming media I used to be able to access.

Justin Blackmon suspended indefinitely. Good thing the Browns didn't draft him! It's so unfortunate to see such a great WR talent discard his own future like this......

 

http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-PressRelease/Justin-Blackmon-suspended-indefinitely--------/090803c5-e1d4-487a-9632-1f1a453c732f

Here's some good UO trivia I heard on the radio before the game yesterday.  Most teams in the NFL represent a specific City or State (i.e. the Cleveland Browns or the Minnesota Vikings).  There are three teams which represent a "region"....... three very different "regions."  One is obvious, the other somewhat obvious, and one is fairly hard to get (although I suspect it won't be very difficult for this board).  Have at it.

 

CDM in 3, 2, 1......

Carolina, New England and Arizona?

Patriots, Panthers, and Redskins Buccaneers

New England is the obvious one.

Carolina is the not quite as obvious one since it is two states.

I would say Washington is the final one, but it would depend on your definition of Washington (ie. City, District, or region). I would possibly argue that Washington would be a reference to the city. If they were the D.C. Redskins they might be considered a district, which would not be a city or state.

Yes on New England and Carolina.  Those were the two more obvious ones.

 

I suppose you could make the argument for Washington, although the same could probably be made for both New York teams.  But none of those three was the third one.

 

I honestly expected more from you folks ;)

 

EDIT:  And then Keith edits his answer with the Tampa Bay.  Bingo.  There is no municipality called Tampa Bay.  There is Tampa and there is St. Petersburg, which combine to make up "Tampa Bay"

^^ I thought the same thing on DC for minute.

 

Tampa Bay is the third. There is no city of Tampa Bay.

Funny, I got NE and TB but couldn't think of the Panthers.

NE was robbed. They still would have had to score a TD the next play, but reverse that flag at the end was wrong.

NE was robbed. They still would have had to score a TD the next play, but reverse that flag at the end was wrong.

 

The NFL has traded far too long on judgement calls which have affected the integrity of the game, and will ultimately affect it's popularity.

 

Either make plays like that reviewable or simplify the rulebook for clarity.

seahawks fans cause earthquake!

 

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4378047

 

Does the NFL still think a cold-weather Super Bowl is a great idea after some of those snow games last weekend?

 

 

More video at http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/0ap2000000293962/WK-14-Can-t-Miss-Play-Calvin-Johnson-s-face-full-of-snow

I hope it snows in Super Bowls in the future. Those are some of the more entertaining games to watch.

 

How some of those players are out there without sleeves is crazy, though.

Does the NFL still think a cold-weather Super Bowl is a great idea after some of those snow games last weekend?

 

 

More video at http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/0ap2000000293962/WK-14-Can-t-Miss-Play-Calvin-Johnson-s-face-full-of-snow

 

I do! I love a good snow game. Instead, if there's a rumor of snow flurries in the Super Bowl forecast, I fear the NFL will postpone the game.

Does the NFL still think a cold-weather Super Bowl is a great idea after some of those snow games last weekend?

 

 

More video at http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/0ap2000000293962/WK-14-Can-t-Miss-Play-Calvin-Johnson-s-face-full-of-snow

 

I do! I love a good snow game. Instead, if there's a rumor of snow flurries in the Super Bowl forecast, I fear the NFL will postpone the game.

 

I'd like to see the BCS Championship Game do that.  Maybe we'd see how wonderful the SEC is.

is carolina's whole offensive scheme based on cam newton breaking out of the pocket? they need to fix that. otherwise, good game. better than yesterdays games.

That was an epic post game interview with Richard Sherman. It will be hard to top. It was unprompted, classless, self congratulatory, intense but he never used profanity or took his eyes off the camera. Erin Andrews reaction was the icing on the cake.

I took it as entertainment (ala WWE).  Thus, I thought it was hilarious and brilliant.

 

I took it as entertainment (ala WWE).  Thus, I thought it was hilarious and brilliant.

 

Exactly! It was brilliant, not as brilliant as the ass tap on Crabtree followed up by the choke gesture, but still brilliant.

 

I took it as entertainment (ala WWE).  Thus, I thought it was hilarious and brilliant.

 

Exactly! It was brilliant, not as brilliant as the ass tap on Crabtree followed up by the choke gesture, but still brilliant.

 

I see no brilliance in his egocentric displays.  If Peyton lights him up for 200 yards, you won't see Mr Manning making gestures.  I hope it happens (as much as it pains me to root for Denver).

RESPECT THE GAAAMMME! The sanctity of the game!

Other random thoughts. 63 degrees in Denver? In Denver in January? Really?

 

Denver shut down the run and killed the Pats whole offensive scheme. Thank goodness. This game will be Denver O versus Seattles D. Although I think SF's penetrating front would be a better match against the Denver O line and Manning.

 

Wilson and Kapernick have a long way to go before we talk about them in the same breath as Manning or Brady. Both show flashes of brilliance but both still make dumb mistakes especially against the great Ds of SF and Seattle. General ball handling was atrocious. Nice Weeden flipper Colin!

 

Phil Dawson. Sorry man. I honestly though the niners were going to finish that drive and you would get to kick the extra point to take the team to the Super Bowl. Lots of love for you on Facebook last night from Cleveland fans. The good news is you tripled you playoff experience.

 

How was that play not reviewable on the Seattle goal line? Although SF actually ended up with better field position after the fumble. Karma, I guess.

 

 

Sherman is one of my new favorite players! That was hilarious. I hope we get to see more trash talk on camera into the future.

 

Still rooting for the AFC, though.

I took it as entertainment (ala WWE).  Thus, I thought it was hilarious and brilliant.

 

thats exactly how i took it. absolutely hilarious and it was actually light-hearted considering all the nonstop crap they were talking on the field the whole game. and considerinng sherman is harboring an earlier personal insult from crabtree. anyway, their followup tweets back that up, its all just competitive fun:

 

http://nypost.com/2014/01/20/seahawks-sherman-goes-off-on-crabtree-after-win/

 

a lion doesnt concern himself with sheep? - classic. funny.

 

btw the refs totally fixed that game for seattle. if not, then they were terrible at best.

 

Sherman is one of my new favorite players! That was hilarious. I hope we get to see more trash talk on camera into the future.

 

 

Hard to believe he's a Stanford man...

^A Stanford grad who started a master's degree during his final year of  NCAA eligibility.  U mad bro?;)  Look into his background.  It's an impressive tale.  Came out of Dominguez HS in Compton as the class Salutatorian while being a two sport star athlete.  Can't be easy.  It's not rare at all for an NFL player's on-field persona to not match his off-field character.  It's quite common, actually.  I've liked Sherman ever since his interview with Skip Bayless, whom I despise.

 

I agree with the take that it was a WWE worthy performance.

^A Stanford grad who started a master's degree during his final year of  NCAA eligibility.  U mad bro?;)  Look into his background.  It's an impressive tale.  Came out of Dominguez HS in Compton as the class Salutatorian while being a two sport star athlete.  Can't be easy.  It's not rare at all for an NFL player's on-field persona to not match his off-field character.  It's quite common, actually.  I've liked Sherman ever since his interview with Skip Bayless, whom I despise.

 

I agree with the take that it was a WWE worthy performance.

 

He’s making himself a household name (tough to do as a defensive player) and Super Bowl win or not, his endorsements are likely to go way up during the off season.  This is almost certainly being done on purpose.  Hell, Crabtree may be in on it.

Yeah, trash it up!  The problem with the NFL is that it's too classy and professional!  They should put folding chairs on the sidelines. [edit- so they can smash each other over the back like in WWE, apparently the gold standard for sports "entertainment"] Eventually we can change the name to the NEL, National Entertainment League.

He ruined his endorsement potential last night.  Taunting Cravtree on the field, making the choke sign, then bashing his opponent in the post game interview.  No class.  Crabtree is a better WR than anyone the Seahawks have... 

Ray Lewis (allegedly) killed a guy and still gets to endorse products all the time.

Ray Lewis (allegedly) killed a guy and still gets to endorse products all the time.

 

Yep.

I find  Greg Little signally first down after a 7 yd reception way more offensive....it was a pass broken up an interception that sent the Seahawks to the frigging Super Bowl.

 

Apparently those two really really really don't like each other.

 

Besides Suh (who's more of a dirty player) who's really the bad boy of the NFL?

Ray Lewis (allegedly) killed a guy and still gets to endorse products all the time.

 

OK, Ray Lewis played in the NFL for 15 years and was a Pro Bowl for 13 of those years and won 2 Super Bowls.  Richard Sherman has quite a ways to go before he reaches that level of notoriety.

 

Besides that, Lewis' major endorsements are Under Armor, Old Spice & EA Sports video games.  Small potatoes compared to guys like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees & Aaron Rodgers....

He ruined his endorsement potential last night. 

 

Quite the opposite.  I think he created some endorsement potential.  You don't see too many CB's in national advertising campaigns.  Slim Jim was probably on the horn with his agent before that post-game interview ended.

 

 

Are you trying to make the argument that a cornerback from Seattle could have made the same ad money that the three best quarterbacks in the NFL make, but a postgame interview ruined all that? Sherman would have never gotten the endorsements that Manning, Brees, and Rogers have.

 

Furthermore, they never thought Ray Lewis actually killed anybody.  They charged him with murder to put pressure on him to talk.

He ruined his endorsement potential last night. 

 

Quite the opposite.  I think he created some endorsement potential.  You don't see too many CB's in national advertising campaigns.  Slim Jim was probably on the horn with his agent before that post-game interview ended.

 

 

 

Well, he won't be endorsing Wonder Bread, but as you say there's products (beer in particular, also video games) which are now more likely to be interested in him.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em! Both teams have "high" expectations. Oh leaf me alone...

 

Shaping up for a great game.  First cold weather venue for an outdoor Superbowl, held in NY nonetheless, featuring the #1 offense vs the #1 defense.

 

Broncos currently a 2.5 pt favorite.

 

Barring a snowstorm I'm betting with the Broncos to cover.

I love all these sportscasters who don't trust meteorologists and weather forecasts straining themselves to check the latest weather forecast for a game more than a week away.

 

I'm a big weather aficionado who recognizes that the National Weather Service's 48-hour forecast is very accurate -- 80 percent. So when the 48-hour forecast is issued Friday evening by the folks running tons of data and models through supercomputers in Suitland, Maryland, then I'll start to pay attention to the weather for the Super Bowl.

I love all these sportscasters who don't trust meteorologists and weather forecasts straining themselves to check the latest weather forecast for a game more than a week away.

 

I'm a big weather aficionado who recognizes that the National Weather Service's 48-hour forecast is very accurate -- 80 percent. So when the 48-hour forecast is issued Friday evening by the folks running tons of data and models through supercomputers in Suitland, Maryland, then I'll start to pay attention to the weather for the Super Bowl.

 

The first thing my instructor told me in ground school was to never trust a weather forecast.

The guy is smart and he is gaming the system to get paid.  There are women I know that don't watch a lick of football who now know his name.  He used his brain to troll the media and now will cash in because of it.  Well, that interview and being a great player, drafted low, who through hard work and natural ability has become a top 5 player at his position.

 

Hi background (Compton, Stanford, NFL) gives him multiple avenues of legitimacy and he just created the exposure to make things happen for him.  IMO we need more 'role models' like him, though I'm not real big on the role model idea, people will look up to him and it's a damn sight better than these NBA guys and all the negative baggage they bring to the table WRT livin like a playa sorta attitude.

Is this for real? 

 

http://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/end-the-nfl-s-charity-tax-break?sp_ref=27226000.4.2093.f.9633.3&source=fb_share_sp

The guy is smart and he is gaming the system to get paid.  There are women I know that don't watch a lick of football who now know his name.  He used his brain to troll the media and now will cash in because of it.  Well, that interview and being a great player, drafted low, who through hard work and natural ability has become a top 5 player at his position.

 

 

Serious question - has he "cashed in" on any endorsement deals yet?  I would hold on before we call him a brilliant marketing strategist.  If he gets burned for a big play next week, which is very possible, he'll look like like a guy who talked trash & couldn't back it up.  If he has another shut-out performance & gets a Super Bowl ring, then he'll be ready for some real endorsement deals.

beats by dre?

The guy is smart and he is gaming the system to get paid.  There are women I know that don't watch a lick of football who now know his name.  He used his brain to troll the media and now will cash in because of it.  Well, that interview and being a great player, drafted low, who through hard work and natural ability has become a top 5 player at his position.

 

Hi background (Compton, Stanford, NFL) gives him multiple avenues of legitimacy and he just created the exposure to make things happen for him.  IMO we need more 'role models' like him, though I'm not real big on the role model idea, people will look up to him and it's a damn sight better than these NBA guys and all the negative baggage they bring to the table WRT livin like a playa sorta attitude.

 

Whats wrong with nba guys? 

FOr the record I cant stand the NBA and I'm not real fond of where the NFL has gone the last 10 years or so either.

 

I was trying to refer to where Stern mandated that all players had to wear suits if they were not playing to stop the furs and pimp style dressing that was causing image problems for the league.

 

From an education standpoint, since you only have to go to school for one year in the NBA good luck finding players with a degree.  Probably a numbers game vs. other big time sports but I subjectively recall more stories of NBA guys having tons of kids.  No bearing on facts I suppose.

 

Apparently NFL players go broke quicker than NBA players.

 

"According to Sports Illustrated, 70% of NFL players will be broke 2-4 years after retiring, 60% of NBA players after five years. "

 

http://www.celebritynetworth.com/articles/celebrity/broke-athletes/