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Dear Ballcoach, I know you're happy. That was a great win. I lost my voice during the game. I'm sure you threw out a wrinkle or two with all that grimacing - hazard of the job and all. Look, I understand you like to throw the ball. Your sense of disappointment oozes right down from the Direct TV satellite and into my house. But we don't have the guys for it. Not the quarterback, not the wide receivers. But we have one of the best running backs in the league. He ran for three touchdowns on Sunday. I'm asking you this. Don't abandon the run. You have to beat Dallas. It has been nine games since the Redskins beat the Cowboys - Emmitt Smith's shoes often turn red from the way he runs all over the Skins. If you beat Dallas, you will be crowned King of D.C. We might even allow you to launch a missile or two at Bobby Bowden (as long as you save the big one for Jerry Jones). Do this for me, and then you can throw the ball to your heart's content. I beg of you. Happy Turkey Day, owillis

posted by owillis at 10:08 PM - reply - flag:

For the record, I would just like to add... Mike Vanderjagt: Holy. Crap.

posted by owillis at 10:40 PM - reply - flag:

I don't think the Mike Sherman bit has anything to do with the legality of the hit, but rather the fact that Sapp was celebrating while the guy he hit was down on the field NOT MOVING.

posted by mmesker at 11:34 PM - reply - flag:

I'm worried about my Pack. I won't be like a typical Vikings' fan and scream about how horrible they are when they lose, but think they're God's gift to the NFL when they win. This is a team that depends so much on Brett Favre. When he's on, they dominate, when he's off (due to poor play and good defense) they're impotent. Must root for Atlanta and New Orleans to each knock off TB for the Pack to have a chance at home field in the playoffs.

posted by shackbar at 12:49 AM - reply - flag:

Shackbar, I feel the same way. Favre's been off since last week, and it's starting to feel like that hit he took that knocked his knee out of whack did more to his psyche than his physical person. And that's a bad, bad thing. Plus, that Mike Sherman thing, hats off for picking a fight with Sapp. One of the scariest men in football? He's not Ray Lewis, for crying out loud. Talking big and blustering like crazy does not a scary man make. Plus, that hit was pretty stupid -- Clifton was way upfield, far away from all the action! If you're going to fine Favre for an unnecessary hit, here's hoping they take a look at that one too, cos Clifton had absolutely no chance of getting near the Buccaneer with the ball at the time, so hitting him, especially so harshly considering the circumstances, was really stupid. I've got a lot of respect for Sapp but after this comment : "If I was 25 years old and didn't have a kid and a conscience, I would have given him an ass-kicking right there at the 30-yard line." bam, there goes a lot of the respect for his abilities. If you're a jackass about a play, do your career a favor and don't broadcast it by talking shit about another coach. There are lots of talented defensive tackles who know when to keep their mouths shut and not celebrate once you've rendered another player essentially motionless due to injury.

posted by evixir at 03:38 AM - reply - flag:

Welcome to the alternate universe. Up is down and down is up. The madness just never stops - thank you parity. I think this is the biggest NFL story of the year. Is everyone going to be 8-8 at the end of the year? Ok, everyone besides the Bengals?

posted by elsoltano at 06:44 AM - reply - flag:

Seattle vs KC - battle of the really crappy defenses. Hasslebeck was yesterday's passing leader and Green was second. i don't see any reason to 2nd guess Martz' Warner pick. i was concerned, but Warner played well. the 'Skins got to him. the Rams' OL didn't do their job. and the Rams are missing Marshall. i don't see how they can make it now. they dug themselves a hole with Martz not running enough and Warner ailing. and the injuries will keep them from doing anything herculean. the Pats passed too much and came back to the run. Spurrier found it yesterday. these mad scientists are cool, but they better remember the run.

posted by Sean Meade at 12:58 PM - reply - flag:

owillis, did you write Mike Vanderjagt: Holy. Crap. after the first kick and before the second (OT kick) or after the second? If it was before the second, I just wanted to add the following: Mike Vanderjagt: Holy. Crap.

posted by jacknose at 01:08 PM - reply - flag:

I wrote it after the first kick. The second kick warranted a: Holy. Freaking. Crap. Mike Sherman thing, hats off for picking a fight with Sapp Gimme a break. When the ball changes hands, the offense is now the defense. If you're a quarterback, you're going to get nailed - much less an offensive lineman. Sapp's move was totally legal, and its a sissy move for a coach to bitch out an opposing player - especially in the manner Sherman did it.

posted by owillis at 01:48 PM - reply - flag:

"When the ball changes hands, the offense is now the defense. If you're a quarterback, you're going to get nailed - much less an offensive lineman. Sapp's move was totally legal, and its a sissy move for a coach to bitch out an opposing player - especially in the manner Sherman did it." It may well have been totally legal, in the sense that it was not against the rules in any way, but it was a needless and unsportsmanlike hit to make. Sapp didn't need to level the guy, he didn't need to celebrate while the guy was still down, and he didn't need to make self-congratulatory comments like "I'm a heat-seeking missile". And it certainly was not a "sissy move" for Sherman to say something. I'm thrilled that he did it, even though he'll probably get fined for it.

posted by Jaquandor at 02:40 PM - reply - flag:

Sapp didn't need to level the guy Don't want to get hit - don't play football

posted by owillis at 04:33 PM - reply - flag:

Mike Vanderjagt gets to decide for the rest of his life if his team should kick a field goal, punt or go for it on 4th down. "We're on our own 45 yard line. What's the call Mike?" "I'm kicking it!" "But Hurricane Thelma is blowing pretty hard." "I'm kicking it!" "But you had your left leg broken by flying debris." "I'm kicking it!" "Alright...you're the man." [30 seconds later] "Jeezus fucking christ on a stick...he made it again!"

posted by grum@work at 05:24 PM - reply - flag:

"Sapp didn't need to level the guy Don't want to get hit - don't play football" Oh, well then. Why are they even wearing pads and helmets in the first place? I believe in sportsmanship. If there is no need to hit a guy -- if hitting him will have no effect on a play at all, as was the case here -- then there is no reason at all to do it, and the fact that football is a game of hitting doesn't suddenly make it all better.

posted by Jaquandor at 06:13 PM - reply - flag:

Is there video of the Sapp block? I watched the game, but didn't see the block or the celebrating afterward. Too bad TB and GB aren't in the same division anymore. This bad blood makes for one hell of a rivalry. I do have a feeling these two teams will meet again in the playoffs. Unfortunately, it will probably be in TB.

posted by shackbar at 06:50 PM - reply - flag:

If there is no need to hit a guy -- if hitting him will have no effect on a play at all, as was the case here -- then there is no reason at all to do it. Was Sapp needlessly headhunting? Maybe. His conduct after the play (probably not the best) could support that premise. But as long as the play is live, don't assume there's no effect from a clean, legal block. If nothing else, you've got the numbers, 11-10. Any player without any intention of making a play should go to the sidelines or watch his back.

posted by jackhererra at 11:21 PM - reply - flag:

Okay, not to beat a dead Sapp horse, and the last thing I want to see is Favre hurt again, but... At one point in the game after Favre threw an interception, the interceptor was making his way directly towards the end zone and a potential touchdown when Favre tackled him about fifteen yards short. Why does this matter? Because Sapp basically watched him do it, jogging right past Favre as he moved to make the tackle. Sapp made absolutely no move to block Favre whatsoever. I totally get the friendly rivalry that exists between them, but with that in mind, I don't understand how anyone can rationalize his behaviour towards Clifton earlier on. I know a hit's a hit, and you're in football for the hitting and all that, but to ignore an obvious block and take an unnecessary one later? Sapp didn't even try to stand between Favre and Favre's intended.... whereas Clifton was a good ten yards from any of the action and no threat at all, and suffered a seaon-ending injury. There's a thing called unsportsmanlike conduct, and I think Sapp's judgment towards Clifton demonstrates the phrase. If you're going to play the game, play the fuckin game... don't let your bestest buddy stroll by to tackle your teammate before a touchdown and instead take out a guy who by all accounts couldn't have gotten anywhere near the action in time to do anything to stop it. It almost looked like Clifton was just standing there, not even really making a move towards the action, it all developed so fast... and then Sapp puts the hurt down before Clifton even knows what's going on. Meanwhile, Favre can skip around the field all he likes and Sapp's not gonna touch him? Come on. That's football?

posted by evixir at 02:04 AM - reply - flag:

Hell, there may have been 14 or 15 other plays where Sapp dogged it out there. Who knows. I don't know why he chose one play to plaster Clifton, but the play was a clean one and no one would notice if Clifton hadn't been seriously hurt. A few other points. (1) I don't think people would feel much better about the injury if it had come any closer to the play. (2) I don't exactly think Sapp made a once-in-a-lifetime hit on the guy, particularly if you compare it to when Ray Lewis de-cleated the Broncos guy during Chris McAllister's kick return a month ago or so. Of course, the Broncos guy got up, which underscores the freak nature of these things. We'd disagree on the circumstances of the hit, but you have the same hit, two outcomes and two reactions.

posted by jackhererra at 06:38 PM - reply - flag:

NFL issues warning on heels of Beightol comments. Man, what's wrong with the Packers' coaching staff? Whine, whine...

posted by owillis at 08:34 PM - reply - flag:

Sunday, November 24, 2002

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