Two great NFL games this weekend

[ImTripN2]

You know I cant help thinking that if Sherman had come out and said " How about our defense! Did you see Lyunch running over people! What a great game Wilson had! We are the best and now were going to the Super Bowl baby, and btw Crabrtree sucks!!" how different this whole conversation would be. By all accounts Sherman is an extermely smart, funny, and generous guy who is a favorite not only among the fans and his teammates and the people who know what he truly is about. Problem is that nobody will see that about him now, and will only remember this self serving, angry rant. You also have to realize that Seattle is pretty much a sports backwater as far as the rest of the nation and the world is concerned. We get little coverage and less respect from the east coast media. All national stories lead with a negative... Seattle never wins... it's the other team that just didn't play well and lost. I remember when the Mariners had (tied) the best record EVER in MLB history, but ESPN kept repeating that the Atlanta Braves were the "best team in baseball" because they were leading in the other league. The list of slights is endless, but they have to pander to their viewers and fan bases so I guess it is understandable, but we are a just a little sensitve up here, and is a big reason Seattle plays with such a huge chip on their shoulder. Anyway, the fact is, not many folk outside of the NW knows who and what this team is about. So instead of creating a whole new fan base, he has alieniated a whole lot of people who now consider the Seahawks and their fans as boorish assholes. Nothing could be further from the truth, but seeing as how we seem to live in a world that views everything as black and white, right and wrong, and us vs.them, that's just the way it will be from now on. In just that 6 seconds, he did himself, his teammates and the fans a huge diservice, and instead of the focus being on how good the Hawks are, its all about him and his temporary poor behavior, even if he is the best cornerback in the game. Anyway, that's my .02 CUC... now, GO HAWKS!!

[Peacock]

Manning was not sacked once in the NE game. I think the Bronco's offensive line is up to the task.

And I respectfully disagree wholeheartedly. NE's 26th ranked defense is no where near the caliber of the Seahawks 1st ranked defense...(Stats from NFL.com)...So the observation that Manning wasn't sacked by NE doesn't really count as much of a comparison.

GO HAWKS

[ramon_cojones]

^same with the lakers and dodgers, espn always ragging on them and when they lose by 2 runs or 12 points they "got scorched" but when celtics or red sox lose by the same margins headlines always read something like they had an off game or not playing well or some other excuse, etc, extremely comical

and excellent post greg, people are always so quick to judge who don't even know the backstory

i don't have a team but i'm rooting for the seahawks to win this after sunday's game, so glad the fortywhiners lost

[Ken Gargett]

ahhhh...it's football people.

let's review some core facts:

1. Football Players directly after a game are not necessarilly the best public speakers.

2. Football Players are not necessarilly "Role models"

3. Fan bases in a stadium will include everyone from rednecks to corporate's (not mutually exclusive) and everything in between. Not all saint's, not all sinners.

rob, the problem is that, like it or not, footballers and other sportsmen are role models.

you'll now have thousands of kids thinking that sort of behaviour is not only acceptable but to be encouraged. so the next load do that and take it to the next level and on and on, until finally the admin steps in and those players/kids are justifiably mystified as to why they have been targeted.

to sherman's credit, i believe he has apologised. what irritated me was the choke symbols he was throwing at kaepernick. just made him look like a grub. i've no doubt that with a little research, i'd find plenty of examples of equally poor form by 49ers and broncos so i'll lose no sleep.

to many, it come down to sportsmanship. whether you understand it or not. and if you understand it, whether you care or not

i may be wrong but i've not seen any of that crap from peyton. that, and because i think he deserves it, is why i'd like to see the broncos win. also like wilson but he has plenty of time. but i'm more interested in seeing a good game.

as for idiot fans, spot on. by far the worst run-in i've ever had at a sporting game was at a bledisloe in nz when a bunch of pig-ignorant kiwis in the corporate box of a multi-national bank, next to ours, not only refused to stand for the australian national anthem but yelled abuse through it. needless to say, post game, i made life as miserable as possible for these morons and even ended up with letters of apology and a personal call of apology from the international managing director of the bank - i bet he really enjoyed doing that and i suspect that those dills never got near the box again, if they kept their jobs. banks do so enjoy being publically embarrassed by their employees. football teams don't seem to mind as much.

[ImTripN2]

i may be wrong but i've not seen any of that crap from peyton.

Ah, perhaps you missed it 3-4 years ago when Peyton stormed off the field and refused to shake Drew Brees hand after the Saints beat the Colts in the Super Bowl. Or last week when Kapernick was mocking Cam Newton after the 9ers scored the deciding TD against the Panthers? Everybody, and I do mean everybody has the occasional lapse of judgement.... although I agree making the choke sign is taking it a bit too far. Looks like it will all get settled on the field a week from Sunday, should be an outstanding game.

[Ken Gargett]

Ah, perhaps you missed it 3-4 years ago when Peyton stormed off the field and refused to shake Drew Brees hand after the Saints beat the Colts in the Super Bowl. Or last week when Kapernick was mocking Cam Newton after the 9ers scored the deciding TD against the Panthers? Everybody, and I do mean everybody has the occasional lapse of judgement.... although I agree making the choke sign is taking it a bit too far. Looks like it will all get settled on the field a week from Sunday, should be an outstanding game.

ta for that and there you go.

i did see the kaep/newton thing. it was obviously premeditated so i wondered if they had history.

but they are all idiots at times because you can bet your house that at some time, it will come back to bite them. you reckon that the 49ers don't have even more motivation for next year. and if they happen to beat the seahawks in a similar game next year, won't they rub it in.

not shaking hands post game is a bit poor. one of the reasons i so admired jonah lomu was, aside from huge ability, when the french came from nowhere in the most massive upset in world cup rugby to win the semi in 1999, lomu was the only kiwi (honestly didn't set out today with the intent of kiwi bashing - sometimes, it just happens) to remain on the field and shake the hand of every frenchman. the rest, led by that grub richard lowe, just bolted for the dressing room. not lomu.

[FLB03TT]

And I respectfully disagree wholeheartedly. NE's 26th ranked defense is no where near the caliber of the Seahawks 1st ranked defense...(Stats from NFL.com)...So the observation that Manning wasn't sacked by NE doesn't really count as much of a comparison.

GO HAWKS

We'll see in less than two weeks.

GO BRONCOS

And I respectfully disagree wholeheartedly. NE's 26th ranked defense is no where near the caliber of the Seahawks 1st ranked defense...(Stats from NFL.com)...So the observation that Manning wasn't sacked by NE doesn't really count as much of a comparison.

GO HAWKS

[Skyfall]

Everybody, and I do mean everybody has the occasional lapse of judgement....

I respectfully disagree. One time, I saw Cal Ripken Jr. score a hat trick, the game winning 3 point shot, threw a game winning touchdown, hit a game winning home run (one handed), scored a record time in a chess win, hit a hole in one - all in the same day, and then served food at the volunteer shelter, brought gifts to wounded soldiers, gave children free vaccinations , did the dishes so his wife could rest , took communion at church, held a private confessional for Chuck Norris, and mowed his lawn that night. Cal does not have lapses in judgement.

Good day sir!

[Dozerhead]

I'm not making excuses for Sherman because he is a grown man, but he was interviewed just moments after that big play so I know he was still in game mode. I can't speak for everyone but I know I am ready for the story to go away. I usually listen to sports talk on the radio when I am in the car and they have pretty much played the story out.

I am looking foward to the game. I love the style of D the Seahawks play matched against the surgical precision of the Bronco's offense. It should be fun to watch. I am amazed by Peyton Manning. He throws some of the ugliest looking passes that seem to wobble in the air for an eternity like some kind of shot duck only to land in a receivers hands whether he be wide open or in double coverage. It's infuriating yet amazing at the same time, unless you're a Bronco fan then it's never infuriating. I think the game will be won in the trenches. If Seattle can get to him and rough him up early then I think the Hawks will take it, but if not, then the Broncos have a chance to wear them down. Either way, it should be entertaining!

[ImTripN2]

I respectfully disagree. One time, I saw Cal Ripken Jr. score a hat trick, the game winning 3 point shot, threw a game winning touchdown, hit a game winning home run (one handed), scored a record time in a chess win, hit a hole in one - all in the same day, and then served food at the volunteer shelter, brought gifts to wounded soldiers, gave children free vaccinations , did the dishes so his wife could rest , took communion at church, held a private confessional for Chuck Norris, and mowed his lawn that night. Cal does not have lapses in judgement.

Good day sir!

Hahah, right you are, I did forget about Cal..... and you and I of course !

[Ken Gargett]

I respectfully disagree. One time, I saw Cal Ripken Jr. score a hat trick, the game winning 3 point shot, threw a game winning touchdown, hit a game winning home run (one handed), scored a record time in a chess win, hit a hole in one - all in the same day, and then served food at the volunteer shelter, brought gifts to wounded soldiers, gave children free vaccinations , did the dishes so his wife could rest , took communion at church, held a private confessional for Chuck Norris, and mowed his lawn that night. Cal does not have lapses in judgement.

Good day sir!

only seen two or three games of baseball in my life (actually one at fenway park and a double header with the orioles) and ripken was playing. most people in DC were fans of the orioles when i was there. no other options.

[Hugomarink]

I'm not a fan of either team. Both teams are pretty damn good this year. However, trust me, Peyton is going to dismantle them and completely embarrass Sherman.

I hope you are right but great defenses tend to win out over great offenses more often than not in the big games. Kinda like how great pitching usually wins out over a team stacked with hitters in the baseball postseason. But, without the 12th Man home field advantage the Seahawks will be without one of their biggest weapons.

[Hugomarink]

And now... let's talk about the whining some of you have been doing concerning the Bowman injury and the popcorn being tossed at Bowman while he was being carted off.

For starters, you people are making ignorant conclusions without having any context at all. Bowman... this piece of crap player has a pretty big history with the Seahawks fans. Here's just one example of the douchebag pretending he's going to sign a fan's poster and then tearing it up instead before the game last December:

But you whiners... please go on... please speak like you have any understanding of this issue at all. Condemn an entire city's fan base because of the actions of one person who dropped a harmless amount of popcorn upon a player who has gone out of his way to mix it up with the fans before. Worst fans in the league? Whatever. It's something the 12th Man can live with because the 12th Man doesn't really care about some of you people who are too quick to judge and not quick enough to actually learn what's really going on. Because research hurts. Boo hoo.

Now... please go fill out those Hurt Feelings reports.

Cheers,

~ Greg ~

I shortened the original quote so as to reply to just a couple of points. Bowman tearing up the fan's "poster." It's clear in the vid that it's a homemade sign that, I expect, probably says something not too kind. And it's not clear the fan wanted it signed. Maybe, but you don't know for sure. Given that other fans in the vid are encouraging Bowman to rip it up I expect that fan must have been hurling some expletives or something Bowman's way to garner his attention as such. I have trouble believing that the fan in question is some wide-eyed 12-year-old kid at his first NFL game who was looking to get an autograph from his favorite player on his beloved limited edition lithograph poster only to have it snatched from him and torn up. Certainly doesn't seem to be the case from what I see in that video.

Also, if Seattle's "12th Man" doesn't mind the label as worst in the league then why does the 12th Man get so defensive when they're called out for their poor behavior? If the 12th Man really doesn't care then you should all embrace the notoriety. Also, for the record, Seahawks fans clearly aren't the worst in the league -- they do a great job supporting their team -- but they may in fact be the most annoying fans, which is an assertion that has not only come forth from the 49ers fans and media.

Anyway, these are indeed silly things to argue about, and I'm sorry I could not lay off of this one. But we do get passionate about these things and losses in the BIG games do sting. A lot. As a 49er fan, believe me, despite the five Super Bowl rings, they have suffered many a crushing defeat in the playoffs over the years. The Super Bowl last year, the NFC Championship loss to the Giants the year before for starters, and many even during the Joe Montana and Steve Young years (especially during the Steve Young years! Hello Dallas and Green Bay!) But it all has to be put into perspective. After all, it's just a game. But I do hope that Richard Sherman and the Seahawks fans will be feeling that same bitter sting come Super Bowl Sunday. I rooted for the Seahawks in the Super Bowl against Pittsburgh and, of course, they lost. This time I'll be rooting against them, although if I have to pick the best team in the league at this point I do have to go with Seattle. And if I were to put money on it I'd certainly bet that the Seahawks defense will stop Peyton and the Broncos and that Seattle will prevail as SB champs.

OK, I'll stop now. :-)

[Laxman]

Well Sherman is not even worth commenting on. As far as the Superbowl is concerned it is a very tight match up on paper. Best defense vs the best offense. If the game was being played in Seattle I would say the Seahawks would be a lock.

They always say defense wins championships and it pans out more times then not. The problems I see are Seattle's offense has not looked too good. Denver is decent vs the run and that is Seattle's main weapon. Seattle's defense on the road is not as devastating as it is on the road.

It is no lock but I think my money goes on Peyton.

[ptrthgr8]

I shortened the original quote so as to reply to just a couple of points. Bowman tearing up the fan's "poster." It's clear in the vid that it's a homemade sign that, I expect, probably says something not too kind.

Well... sign, poster, whatever. You're sorta arguing semantics there. I never said it was some sort of limited edition lithograph poster. I said it was a poster. Because it was clearly made from something that looks like poster stock of some sort. I also think the quality/construction of the sign/poster is really beside the point.

Given that other fans in the vid are encouraging Bowman to rip it up I expect that fan must have been hurling some expletives or something Bowman's way to garner his attention as such.

The majority of the other fans in the video are Niners fans. Of course they're going to egg on Bowman.

I have trouble believing that the fan in question is some wide-eyed 12-year-old kid at his first NFL game who was looking to get an autograph from his favorite player on his beloved limited edition lithograph poster only to have it snatched from him and torn up. Certainly doesn't seem to be the case from what I see in that video.

Where are you getting that bit? I certainly never said that, nor do I think anyone else in this thread said that. It's almost like you're creating some sort of extreme example of what could have happened in order to rationalize what Bowman actually did. But beyond that, I don't see how you can really argue with the video proof - Bowman tore up a Seahawks fan's poster (or, geeze, "sign") before a game. Whether you agree with it or not, I think the video speaks for itself and clearly illustrates the point I was making - that Bowman has a history with these fans in Seattle that goes back before this past weekend.

Also, if Seattle's "12th Man" doesn't mind the label as worst in the league then why does the 12th Man get so defensive when they're called out for their poor behavior? If the 12th Man really doesn't care then you should all embrace the notoriety.

...As a 49er fan...

Aha! You're a Niners fan. Okay... now I completely understand your bias. LOL

I don't know of any fan base that doesn't get defensive in similar situations. Any sport, any city, any time. People defend their teams, especially from fans of arch rival teams. Do you not think that is true? LOL

Cheers,

~ Greg ~

[Paul3]

Anybody smoke a good cigar lately?

[FLB03TT]

Nope. Can't smoke a cigar when you're hyperventilating about who did or will do what to who in and around the NFL.

[ptrthgr8]

Heck ya! Had a great Monte #4 yesterday and had a great Upmann RR the day before. Both from 2013, I believe. Had an outstanding Partagas 898v from 2011 on Sunday during the game. Been having lots of great cigars recently. Hope to keep that trend going for quite some time indeed!

Cheers,

~ Greg ~

[ptrthgr8]

Nope. Can't smoke a cigar when you're hyperventilating about who did or will do what to who in and around the NFL.

No hyperventilating here. Makes it hard to enjoy the flavors of a nice cigar. Well, that and it makes breathing a hard chore. LOL

Cheers,

~ Greg ~