InClement Weather: Super Bowl XLIII Approaches...
While I admittedly was in and out of much of the Steelers/Ravens game (it's not like they pay me to do this), I did decide to collect a few thoughts on the two championship games. Luck you, right???Arizona defeated 32-25 to win the NFC Championship
Darnell Dockett and the Cardinals have to plant Big Ben every time they get the slightest of grips on him. Otherwise, he will make them pay.Credit: Yahoo! Sports
1) If anyone had Arizona in the Super Bowl at the following points, you are either crazy or a mad genius. Funny how the two intersect so easily.
A) Pre-season
B) After their Thanksgiving meltdown out east in the Linc
C) After the "snow-bowl" BEATDOWN (even with nothing to play for) against the Patsies
D) Before the Atlanta game
E) Before the Carolina game
F) When Philly took the lead 25-24 on that insane TD pass to DeSean Jackson.
2) Kurt Warner proved that even though Peyton Manning won the NFL, there is no more important quarterback to his team than Warner is to his Cardinals. 21-28, 279 yards, and 4 TDs in the franchise's biggest game (and then some) in Arizona. Not to mention the poise on that last drive. Wow.
3) Tim Hightower, a 5th round pick, couldn't handle being "the man" in Arizona down the stretch. Nevertheless, thanks to guys like Edgerrin James (more on him later), he's a rookie making major contributions on a Super Bowl team.
4) Edgerrin James had to leave Peyton Manning and Indianapolis and go out west - to the desert of Arizona - to get his Super Bowl trip. Funny, eh?
5) Larry Fitzgerald is worth the price of admission. I hope Anquan prays he's both healthy and Todd Haley wants him heavily involved in two weeks.
6) Donovan F. McNabb showed a lot of class, poise, and even a smile or two Sunday afternoon. Philly fans still don't deserve him.
7) Andy Reid is 1-4 in NFC Title games. Question is: how many of those "should" his teams have won?
8) DeSean Jackson is electric. I hope he's not a flash-in-the-pan wideout/returner.
9) Assante Samuel wasn't himself Sunday afternoon. Neither was Brian Dawkins.
10) That was a pass interference call the refs missed. You know the play. However, Curtis knows he had to somehow still catch that ball and the Eagles know they left that game on the field. They didn't lose because of the refs.
Pittsburgh defeated Baltimore 24-13 to win the AFC Championship
Joe Flacco didn't lay the biggest turd on the field Sunday. Instead, this guy was the biggest turd. And it wasn't even close. Nice job faking an injury.Credit: Yahoo! Sports
1) Two Super Bowls in five years for Big Ben. Not too shabby.
2) Troy Polamalu doesn't care who anyone considers the best safety in the NFL, he just delivers when it matters most.
3) Hines Ward's health will be a major factor come two weeks.
4) Don't automatically assume Pittsburgh will cakewalk their way to Super Bowl XLIII. They won't.
5) LaMarr Woodley looked a lot more today like the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year.
6) Props to Terrell Suggs on a gritty effort.
7) Ray Lewis deserves better quarterbacks. Plain and simple.
8) Joe Flacco was exposed for what he truly is: a nice kid who is not going to be a very productive NFL quarterback in crunch time.
9) Prayers out to Willis McGahee.
10) Ryan Clark led with his helmet and may have broken a man's neck. Of course, he didn't mean to hurt someone. Nevertheless, that was helmet to helmet and a devastating illegal hit. He's lucky his own neck didn't break. The only realistic, sensible, and fair punishment is a suspension for the Super Bowl. However, the NFL is gutless - especially when dealing with top-tier organizations - and won't lift a finger to even fine Clark. Roger Goodell is a sham and probably a crook for not dealing with situations just like these. It makes his organization cower to the owners and the franchises. Pathetic. Speaking of which, Walt Coleman's crew should be ashamed of themselves for allowing such a hit to go unpenalized. Ashamed.
Congrats to both teams. Except Limas Sweed. Who clearly faked an injury after dropping a crucial potential touchdown pass. I hurt too when I blow easy touchdowns. Everyone in the room (in houses across the nation) knew he was gonna fake an injury too. Even Nantz (an idiot altogether) knew his pride was hurt and nothing more. He will forever be a yellow-bellied coward. And a faker. And butterfingers. Loser.
By the way, please don't be that Steelers fan who thinks his team is 100% class and Sweed was genuinley hurt. Don't be so naieve.
Think I'm angry? Not at all. But seriously, how did this movie make over $30-million on opening weekend? Aren't we in a recession???
Chelsey Buhler
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Comments (10) Add A Comment
the Ravens are STUDS. Flacco had an amazing year and shows ever sign that he'll be a pain in the Steelers' (and the rest of the AFC's) ass for some time to come.
Harbough is a great coach. The Ravens' defense is what a defense should be: fast, aggressive, arrogant and opportunistic. I hate the Ravens (I've no choice, being from Pittsburgh), but I respect them and know that they bring it every time we face each other. They're men who play the game the way that it should be played.
I think it's ironic that they spend 2/3 of the week leading up to the Steelers game talking trash and referring to bounties and "bringing it" talking about taking players out of the game, but that's who they are.
The Steelers are professionals, not thugs, and they keep their eye on the ultimate prize, dismiss that empty Ravens' bravado and while we NEVER want to see ANY player (Steelers OR Raven) get injured on the field (and McGehee's report says that he's fine - thank God), we respect our opponents, hit them twice as hard as they say they'll hit us, send them back on that PA turnpike to MD with their "oh so hard to come by third loss to the same team in one year" still ringing in their head, to stay with them (and a few lumps) ALL off season. That said, my prayers go out to McGehee and anyone else hurt tonight. These teams hate but respect each other, and the **** fans that can't see or understand that (on both sides) will never get it.
Again, I hate the Ravens and (in a competive way) their fans, but my hat's off to you and your amazing D, great QB (he's no rookie any more) and coaches. I look forward to our
future battles, and sending you home again in January disappointed. Go Steelers| weldose
weldose
Total Comments (40)
Sweed did make a punk injury fake. However, the article does not note his AWESOME block that he throw after the punk injury fake and the good catch that he made. GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE TAPE! PUNK!
IbleedBlackandGold
Webster, NY
Total Comments (2)
Sweed did make a punk injury fake. However, the article fails to mention his AWESOME block thrown after the punk injury fake and the good catch that he made. GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE TAPE! PUNK!
IbleedBlackandGold
Webster, NY
Total Comments (2)
Sweed did redem himself with the big block and also knocking the ball away in the endzone for what would have been an interception. Yes he has to catch that ball!! YES he has done this all season! he also kept the drive going by catching a 14 yard ball on 3rd down which was huge!
Steelers dont have a cake walk in the Super Bowl it is what it is the 2 best teams fighting for the Lombardi trophy.
Woodley
Total Comments (38)
Clark led with his shoulders - when an offensive player and defensive player are moving in opposite directions (fast) they both lean, and helmets will always collide. That was a legal hit - helmets are hit on almost EVERY tackle. Have you ever played or coached football? Suspend him for the Super Bowl? What an idiotic comment. And by the way, Limas Sweed is awful - we definitely need Hines Ward for SB XLIII.
SteelerManiac
Aurora , IL
Total Comments (2)
Clark led with his shoulders - any time an offensive and defensive players are moving in opposite directions and they are both leaning - helmets will collide. It happens on almost EVERY tackle. Suspend Clark for the Super Bowl? That's ridiculous. Limas Sweed is awful - you cannot be in the NFL and drop that pass - we definitely need Hines Ward for S.B. XLIII.
SteelerManiac
Aurora , IL
Total Comments (2)
The guy was already making his yards. He made a crunching block that was past the run! Hell of a hit tho'
'94 Bearden Bear
Columbia , MO
Total Comments (287)
Clement : are you looking for the Super Bowl of Flag Football ? What is your problem dude? When Willy Parker gets stood up and then is hit helmet to helmet by Bart Scott,not a freakin' peep ! When Ngota drills Roethlisberger in the back with his helmet, count of 2 after the ball is out,not a peep out of you ! When Brian Dawkins practically broke Adrian Peterson's neck with a late hemet spear the week before...while he was on the ground....not a freakin' peep out of you weasels ! Now,you all want Ryan Clark suspended for the Super Bowl ? Get a life,and a real job,you don't have a clue man.
Lion43
Altoona , PA
Total Comments (6)
the only reason the clark hit was legal was cause willis had the ball...i hate both teams fyi...clark led with the head and if willis didnt have the ball would have been called for a personal foul...stupid but neccessary play...ones job is to separate the opponent from the ball and i say he did a pretty damn good job but on the same token he is an idiot...can we just look back into the short past and see ppl who have not led with the head and have been hurt worse...clarks tackling technique is gunna get him seriously hurt
PACMAN6
Canton , OH
Total Comments (16)
10) Ryan Clark led with his helmet and may have broken a man's neck. Of course, he didn't mean to hurt someone. Nevertheless, that was helmet to helmet and a devastating illegal hit. He's lucky his own neck didn't break. The only realistic, sensible, and fair punishment is a suspension for the Super Bowl. However, the NFL is gutless - especially when dealing with top-tier organizations - and won't lift a finger to even fine Clark. Roger Goodell is a sham and probably a crook for not dealing with situations just like these. It makes his organization cower to the owners and the franchises. Pathetic. Speaking of which, Walt Coleman's crew should be ashamed of themselves for allowing such a hit to go unpenalized. Ashamed.
tomlin has this whole team acting an playing like THUGS
saints#12
Saucier , MS
Total Comments (11)
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