November 17, 2009

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle:

A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 22 comments

Did anyone else catch the last minutes of the Browns-Ravens game on Monday Night Football? As the great Jon Gruden and the two non-Grudens were wrapping up the broadcast with talk of whether Brady Quinn was the answer at quarterback for the Browns, Quinn threw two of the worst long passes I've ever seen. They landed so far out of bounds they were beyond the thick white stripe surrounding the field, a fact noted by the broadcasters.

If that's his audition for the job, he'll be lucky to get a clipboard holding job somewhere next season.

posted by rcade at 07:14 AM on November 17, 2009

Gruden just got re-upped by ESPN, so no coaching job for him next year.

Gruden has really improved over the course of the season. He'll have to start dialing back his excitement level and verbal emphasis a bit though, or he's going to turn in to another Lou Holtz spitting machine.

It's getting to the point where Jaws is becoming the third fiddle in that booth. They may put someone else in there instead next year.

posted by beaverboard at 07:35 AM on November 17, 2009

Gruden has really improved over the course of the season...It's getting to the point where Jaws is becoming the third fiddle in that booth.

I was thinking the same thing. Last year, Jaws was looked upon as the go-to man with the information since he was teamed up with Tony Kornheiser who was more or less there for comic relief. Since Chucky has been added as Tony's replacement this year, he has done a hell of a job and is only getting more comfortable in front of the cameras and has surpassed Jaws as the MNF information man.

I don't know if they would want to replace Jaws because he's pretty damn good himself but that might be something to remember for next year.

posted by BornIcon at 10:15 AM on November 17, 2009

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan's postgame speech to his players Sunday was so inspirational he brought himself to tears.

posted by rcade at 10:23 AM on November 17, 2009

He'll have to start dialing back his excitement level and verbal emphasis a bit though

He'll have to talk with his hands out of his pockets too. Flipped over to the game the instant he had his hand jammed deep, playing with the boys ... alternating from the left to the right. He seemed to favor the right one. was I the only one that saw that?

posted by smithnyiu at 11:27 AM on November 17, 2009

I've been on this site a couple of times pushing how Brady Quinn needs to get some time to start. I don't know if it was the 13/31 for 99 yards and two picks or the awful chop block that put Terrell Suggs out but he did not look like an NFL caliber quarerback last night.

I am cooking some delicious crow if anyone would like to come over for dinner.

posted by dfleming at 11:58 AM on November 17, 2009

I think Quinn has forgotten the David Carr Rule of Quarterbacking; the amount of time you spend on your lovely hair is directly inverse to quality of on the field performance.

posted by Ufez Jones at 12:22 PM on November 17, 2009

This 24 hours of college basketball thing ESPN's running is a bit on the ridiculous side.

posted by boredom_08 at 12:34 PM on November 17, 2009

Agree. Like it is something special to have a 6 am tip-off. What is the point

posted by Debo270 at 12:41 PM on November 17, 2009

Bengals sign Johnson ...

Cincy is 7-2 and playing well.

Interesting to see if this pans out to be a TO / Pacman scenario where a good team is destroyed, or if it works (Moss New England, Favre Vikings)

posted by cixelsyd at 12:50 PM on November 17, 2009

I'm not a college hoops fan, but I think the odd tipoff times are a good way to spark some enthusiasm for the start of the season. If I was living near one of these games I'd be tempted to go.

posted by rcade at 01:31 PM on November 17, 2009

It makes an interesting conundrum for schools hosting these games, however. The announcers at the Siena-Northeastern game currently airing were discussing the number of students who attended the game, compared to the fact that the university president or some official of the school had declared that going to the game was NOT an acceptable reason for missing class. Don't get me wrong, I don't think going to the game is a good reason to ditch class, but it's certainly giving students a big fat reason to not go to class. I'm glad that these morning games are just a one-time thing. I know if they'd had a noon start game at my school, there would be a lot of people there and not a lot of people in the academic buildings.

posted by boredom_08 at 01:51 PM on November 17, 2009

On Quinn's bad passes: the long balls were pretty bad but they weren't the ones that really got me. Anyone notice that quick throw to the right sideline near the end of the first half (I think), trying to pick up about 8 yards for a first down?

Before the receiver had even finished his cut the ball was caught about 10 ft out of bounds and 3 yards behind the target. I can't remember a throw that inaccurate/bad from any game this season - high, far behind, way too early, gunned with no touch and only half the required distance for the first down. Seriously, Ryan Leaf on a tequila bender doesn't make that throw. I didn't like Quinn as a pro QB but what happened to make him so heroically bad?

posted by deflated at 01:56 PM on November 17, 2009

Ryan Leaf on a tequila bender doesn't make that throw. I didn't like Quinn as a pro QB but what happened to make him so heroically bad?

posted by deflated at 01:56 PM on November 17

Time to give Leaf a call. "Ryan, this is Da Browns. Suit up. You are starting next Sunday."

Wait a minute though, isn't he in jail or something? Busted in Canyon, Tx for stealing some prescription drugs or something. Last job was QB coach and golf coach for DII West Texas A&M University. Maybe he can get an early release.

posted by kerrycindy at 02:10 PM on November 17, 2009

It should be noted that David Carr lost the locks, went for the Camp Lejeune buzz look, and earlier this year played pretty well for the Giants.

In fact, with the way the Giants are going at the moment, if Bill Belichick were the head coach, he might well give Eli the Kosar/Bledsoe treatment and make Carr the starter.

Yes, THAT Bill Belichick. (We're not done with him yet. It's only Tuesday.)

Also it should be noted that all hope should probably not be given up on Brady Quinn, because no less an authority than Charlie Weis is totally convinced that Quinn is a bona fide NFL QB. He is totally sure of it. Totally.

After the chopper that Quinn put on Suggs last night, I think Lyle Lovett has some choice words to sing to ol' Brady:

And if you go to Baltimore,

Then I'll see you in heaven,

For if you go to Baltimore,

Then you shall surely die.

posted by beaverboard at 02:11 PM on November 17, 2009

I can't remember a throw that inaccurate/bad from any game this season

Then you evidently have not been watching Alex Smith.

posted by irunfromclones at 02:43 PM on November 17, 2009

A new report out in Australia says Government funding should be spent on high participation sports that 'reflect the national ethos' and not elite athletes.

Predictable whining from the Australian Olympic Committee. Confusion over what 'national ethos' means.

posted by owlhouse at 03:02 PM on November 17, 2009

Naslund has un-retired to play with Forsberg for Modo. Apparently both of them have turned down salary offers and are playing for free. How Swedish!

posted by fabulon7 at 03:54 PM on November 17, 2009

Zack Greinke wins the AL Cy Young. 25 of 28 first place votes.

posted by smithnyiu at 04:48 PM on November 17, 2009

The Silverdome has been sold for a song.

posted by trox at 06:11 PM on November 17, 2009

The Silverdome has been sold for a song.

Not so fast...

posted by MeatSaber at 08:27 PM on November 17, 2009

Zack Greinke wins the AL Cy Young. 25 of 28 first place votes

Hard to believe this wasn't unanimous, lots of quality pitchers in the AL but none even deserved to be mentioned in the same class as ZG this year.

posted by cixelsyd at 12:22 AM on November 18, 2009

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