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[Rekwest]

Just got my tickets.

Just got my beer

 

[SonnyBoy]

Man, Rod Woodson is just LAYING into the HOF committee. Said it should be balanced because none of those journalists strapped up a helmet. Apparently they got wind of his comments and got pissed.

When did Ron say this? And I assume it was the comitte that got pissed...?

 

[Wellington]

Who was the Giants? I won the game as the Giants too. :lol

I plan on playing my game today. :lol Should be a romp, I can crush the AI on All Madden with the Jets, so the Giants will make it an even easier game. :lol

 

[Nabs]

I got the Patriots by at least 10

 

[kbear]

Absolutely despicable stuff from Belichick and the Patriots. Further comments from Kurt Warner:

Ex-Ram Warner wants NFL to expand probe of Patriots

"It is obvious that it wasn't as thorough as it could have been," Warner says of the league's probe. "I don't have any information on why they didn't talk to him or how far back they went, but just knowing that there was somebody that was involved in that [video department], and he wasn't talked to or they didn't go back that far -- I guess it is disappointing. You would think that if they do an investigation for the integrity of the game, that they would try to do everything possible. And maybe they did, and they just missed it. But as a purist and someone who wants to see the integrity of the game stay where it is, it is a little disappointing that they didn't [look] under every rock to figure this out and to do something to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Reached late Saturday afternoon, Mike Martz, now the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers but the head coach for the Rams in that Super Bowl, told ESPN.com: "I hope that is not true. I have great respect for Bill Belichick. It's hard to believe that is true. It's a serious allegation and I hope it is not true.

"Again, they had a great game plan," Warner says of the Patriots' performance in Super Bowl XXXVI. "Coach [Bill] Belichick has been known for that. They executed it very well. And I think you look back from our side and say, 'Well, we had played them once [that] year. They had a good feel for what we were doing and how to stop us. I go back and look at that game and say, 'The approach they took with us is that we're going to beat them up and beat them up and beat them up until the officials make a call.' And I think they went in with a premise that in a Super Bowl, the officials don't want to dictate the course of action. So they're going to be slow to throw flags, especially a bunch of flags.

"At the same time, I think everybody wonders to what extent did they [illegally tape opponents]? Was this something that was just done on game day, or was it something they did throughout the week? [Did] they go to practice facilities? And I think that is the question. And I think that is the unfortunate question, because New England has done a tremendous job. They have been very good for a long time.

"But anytime you have something like this go on, and you get caught doing that, it raises questions. And I think rightfully so. I mean, to what degree did this go on? To what degree did this help them? For how long did it help them? Those are natural questions that you ask when somebody gets caught doing something like this. It does go through your mind. And then, at the same time, as a player, you say, 'OK, even if they had our signals, how much would it help?'"

Another former Patriots quarterback, who spoke to ESPN.com on condition of anonymity, says that New England pushes the envelope further than most teams and that the Patriots were doing so long before they were caught in September.

As Warner paints the picture, that Super Bowl wasn't like any other loss. It derailed a franchise and damaged careers and reputations.

"Let's just say, for instance, that what they did had an effect on the second Super Bowl that I played in," Warner says. "And then to see the course of my career from that point forward -- there was some dramatic changes. Had I won two Super Bowls, some of the things may not have happened through the course of my career. Now, obviously, I put my faith and trust in a much higher source than any cheating that is going on, and believe that God has a distinct purpose in what goes on. But I'm just one example of how our situation in St. Louis deteriorated after the loss of that Super Bowl.

"After we lost the Super Bowl, the organization went into a little bit of a downward spiral, as you see with a lot of teams that lose the Super Bowl. You see how career situations were altered after losing that game. You look at Mike Martz. If he is a Super Bowl winner, that is a whole different thing. Or just maybe guys, that was their only chance to be in a Super Bowl. And to go away losing it instead of winning it, that is a huge deal.

"So if [the Patriots] did something that affected that game, I would hope that all the parties involved would do everything they could to make sure that it doesn't happen again. And to make sure that something that somebody earned wasn't taken away from them in any way, shape or form by somebody not doing or abiding by the league rules."

I've always thought they were such a fluke of a dynasty... and now we know why.

 

[Rorschach]

I plan on playing my game today. :lol Should be a romp, I can crush the AI on All Madden with the Jets, so the Giants will make it an even easier game. :lol

MiG and I play it every year against each other. AI is too easy. :[

This is the first time I go NFC. We've been 100% so far (including AFC/NFC championship games)! Giants better not ruin our streak. >:|

 

[Eric WK]

Absolutely despicable stuff from Belichick and the Patriots. Further comments from Kurt Warner:

Ex-Ram Warner wants NFL to expand probe of Patriots

I've always thought they were such a fluke of a dynasty... and now we know why.

You're taking a rumor that arose the day prior to the Super Bowl and parading it around as fact with some quotes from Kurt Warner.

Roger Godell was just on Mike & Mike and literally said that signal stealing in the NFL has been pervasive and going on for years. The reason the Patriots got in trouble was because they used an electronic device. Furthermore, he said that the league has investigated any allegations of signal stealing in the past by the Patriots (before the Jets game) and didn't find any evidence to suggest they were guilty.

EDIT: Godell's quotes are going to be on Sportscenter within the next half hour.

 

[dkeane]

Super Bowl Day!

Frying two turkeys, going to be a crazy day. Have fun everyone. GO PATS!

 

[kbear]

Furthermore, he said that the league has investigated any allegations of signal stealing in the past by the Patriots (before the Jets game) and didn't find any evidence to suggest they were guilty.

So you'd rather believe Goodell, who destroyed evidence and has huge incentive to cover this all up so to not tarnish the NFL's image, over Walsh and these other guys who have absolutely nothing to gain?

Btw, I hear people saying that this is awful timing by Specter, the media, newspapers, etc., to bring this story back up to the forefront during Superbowl week. In reality, it's perfect timing. Never will there be a time where more people can be enlightened to the devious nature of this franchise. I hope the Patriots are tarnished forever and that the Giants dismantle them tonight.

 

[chase]

You're taking a rumor that arose the day prior to the Super Bowl and parading it around as fact with some quotes from Kurt Warner.

Roger Godell was just on Mike & Mike and literally said that signal stealing in the NFL has been pervasive and going on for years. The reason the Patriots got in trouble was because they used an electronic device. Furthermore, he said that the league has investigated any allegations of signal stealing in the past by the Patriots (before the Jets game) and didn't find any evidence to suggest they were guilty.

EDIT: Godell's quotes are going to be on Sportscenter within the next half hour.

Shhhhhhhhh this doesn't get the hits and so it doesn't matter.

 

[Zep]

When did Ron say this? And I assume it was the comitte that got pissed...?

Yesterday during NFL Total Access. Him and Schefter were getting into it and Rod completely lit into the committee.

 

[Eric WK]

So you'd rather believe Goodell, who destroyed evidence and has huge incentive to cover this all up so to not tarnish the NFL's image, over Walsh and these other guys who have absolutely nothing to gain?

Btw, I hear people saying that this is awful timing by Specter, the media, newspapers, etc., to bring this story back up to the forefront during Superbowl week. In reality, it's perfect timing. Never will there be a time where more people can be enlightened to the devious nature of this franchise. I hope the Patriots are tarnished forever and that the Giants dismantle them tonight.

You're out of your mind. You must honestly believe that the Patriots are the only organization to ever attempt to gain a competitive advantage through signal stealing. You know, despite the fact that Mike Shanahan has bragged in the past about times where his staff has used binoculars to watch a practice. There isn't a franchise in the league who hasn't done some sort of signal stealing in the past.

The Patriots used a camera, they shouldn't have, the were caught, they were punished. Arlen Specter calling Godell into his office and even trying to get Tom Brady to meet with him because he's concerned the Patriots had an advantage over the Eagles in 2005 is absolutely absurd. That's not a direct quote, but it's pretty damn close paraphrase.

Specter was also on Mike & Mike this morning and was essentially revealed to be a disgruntled Eagles fan. After interviewing both of them, Mike Greenberg admitted for the first time that this entire thing is downright ridiculous. And it is.

Out of curiousity, do you believe that the Pats have been taping their opponents' practices since Week 1? I'm assuming you don't. I'm guessing you'll admit that okay, they haven't cheated since Week 1, but clearly you think they've cheated for the duration of their dynasty. So I then ask how this "fluke of a dynasty" may be culminating the best single season in the history of professional sport in a year when you don't (or at least shouldn't) believe them to have "cheated" for seventeen of eighteen games?

 

[kbear]

You're out of your mind. You must honestly believe that the Patriots are the only organization to ever attempt to gain a competitive advantage through signal stealing. You know, despite the fact that Mike Shanahan has bragged in the past about times where his staff has used binoculars to watch a practice. There isn't a franchise in the league who hasn't done some sort of signal stealing in the past.

The Patriots used a camera, they shouldn't have, the were caught, they were punished. Arlen Specter calling Godell into his office and even trying to get Tom Brady to meet with him because he's concerned the Patriots had an advantage over the Eagles in 2005 is absolutely absurd. That's not a direct quote, but it's pretty damn close paraphrase.

Specter was also on Mike & Mike this morning and was essentially revealed to be a disgruntled Eagles fan. After interviewing both of them, Mike Greenberg admitted for the first time that this entire thing is downright ridiculous. And it is.

Out of curiousity, do you believe that the Pats have been taping their opponents' practices since Week 1? I'm assuming you don't. I'm guessing you'll admit that okay, they haven't cheated since Week 1, but clearly you think they've cheated for the duration of their dynasty. So I then ask how this "fluke of a dynasty" may be culminating the best single season in the history of professional sport in a year when you don't (or at least shouldn't) believe them to have "cheated" for seventeen of eighteen games?

I'm not saying other teams don't steal signals. Signal stealing has always been a part of football. It's just that the Pats took it to the next level by using a camera. That's blatant cheating and they were caught. I have no doubt they've been doing it for years but just now got caught. Goodell saying there was no evidence it happened before the Jets game is meaningless... it's obvious they've been doing it for years. What do Walsh and these other sources have to gain from this? They have so much more to lose than to gain, which is exactly why Walsh didn't go into specific details or hand over evidence. I have much more reason to believe them than the NFL which will do anything to protect it's image.

Regarding the perfect season so far... come on? They should've lost that Ravens game. They could've easily lost the Colts game. Does it really matter? That monster Vikings team with Cunningham and Moss went 15-1, didn't they? The Steelers went 15-1 that year. So have a bunch of other teams. There's so much luck involved in the NFL. Just because the Pats have one less loss than those teams... got one lucky break or one bad call go their way, etc., doesn't mean that this regular season is so much better than those ones. By the way, the Patriots' past success has made it enticing for free agent prospects to join the team. So it's not at all unreasonable to think that past cheating had an effect on this season. The Moss deal was ridiculous... he was given away for peanuts. And a major reason he wanted to join NE was because of their success, which might very well have been influenced by their past cheating if these revelations are true.

 

[Artie]

Alright Eli, today you have a chance to become the new Messiah. You can defeat the Lord of Darkness, and prove to all of the haters that you are indeed a Manning.

Channel the Elway, Montana, GOOD Favre, and Dilfer. Expel the cheating of Bellicheat and the Pat babies.

Believe, for you are...

 

[Tom Penny]

They obviously beat St Louis because they cheated. For 3 quarters St Louis didn't even sniff the red zone and that's the only thing they went over in the walkthrough so even if this claim was true it's a joke to think it aided them. So much bitter tears and sour grapes. Likely more to come tonight. The bottomline is Pats players and coaches out prepare and out play teams and everyone else is jealous. What next taking away all the Steelers SB's for letting the players use steriods, the receivers use stickem on they're hands and vaseline on they're jerseys. Only people who buy this garbage are haters.

 

[jman2050]

All this cheating talk is useless. It'll all be forgotten when the Giants win and the 2007 Pats get relegated to a footnote in NFL history

 

[Kintaro]

Regarding the perfect season so far... come on? They should've lost that Ravens game. They could've easily lost the Colts game. Does it really matter? That monster Vikings team with Cunningham and Moss went 15-1, didn't they? The Steelers went 15-1 that year. So have a bunch of other teams. There's so much luck involved in the NFL. Just because the Pats have one less loss than those teams... got one lucky break or one bad call go their way, etc., doesn't mean that this regular season is so much better than those ones. By the way, the Patriots' past success has made it enticing for free agent prospects to join the team. So it's not at all unreasonable to think that past cheating had an effect on this season. The Moss deal was ridiculous... he was given away for peanuts. And a major reason he wanted to join NE was because of their success, which might very well have been influenced by their past cheating if these revelations are true.

See, I was fine with you bringing up whatever you wanted to believe whatever you want. That's fine.

However, this paragraph right here completely paints you as a pretty petty sports fan. If not person.

 

[teruterubozu]

I'm a heartbroken Rams fan, but this whole cheating thing is stupid.
The Rams got outplayed in that game - the Pats roughed up the receivers pretty good.
Besides, Kurt hasn't been the same since.

 

[woodchuck]

this is like a no-win situation.

i hate both teams, but i'll be rooting for the pats.

38 - 27 new england

 

[kbear]

See, I was fine with you bringing up whatever you wanted to believe whatever you want. That's fine.

However, this paragraph right here completely paints you as a pretty petty sports fan. If not person.

How does that paragraph paint me as petty? It paints me as the complete opposite of petty. In it I say that "does it really matter 15-1 and 16-0... a bad call here, a lucky break there... the one less loss means little to nothing" to paraphrase. That's the opposite of petty. The one less loss doesn't make their regular season SO much better than the others who had a single loss or whatever.

 

[vas_a_morir]

this is like a no-win situation.

i hate both teams, but i'll be rooting for the pats.

38 - 27 new england

34-24 GIANTS

Bradshaw ascends to heaven to sitteth at the right hand of God.

 

[kbear]

Let me just say one more thing. Never have I rooted for a non-Philly team in a big game like I have for the New York Football Giants tonight. I want to see Brady mauled to the ground over and over and over again by the Giants' superior pass rush. I want the Giants to systematically dissect the Patriots tonight... offense, defense, special teams, I want to see an absolute massacre in every sense of the word. Do any of you know the ramifications of a Patriots win tonight? They'll be legendary... we'll never ever hear the end of it. Anytime a debate about the best football team ever is brought up, we'll hear about the 2007-2008 Patriots. Every season when a team is going undefeated and finally loses, we'll hear about the 2007-2008 Patriots popping champagne in celebration. It's not relegated to just football, either. Whenever a debate rolls around about the greatest teams in sports history, this team and this evil franchise will be mentioned.

Do you guys realize what is at stake here? The Giants must win this game, for all that is good in football.

 

[Wellington]

Let me just say one more thing. Never have I rooted for a non-Philly team in a big game like I have for the New York Football Giants tonight. I want to see Brady mauled to the ground over and over and over again by the Giants' superior pass rush. I want the Giants to systematically dissect the Patriots tonight... offense, defense, special teams, I want to see an absolute massacre in every sense of the word. Do any of you know the ramifications of a Patriots win tonight? They'll be legendary... we'll never ever hear the end of it. Anytime a debate about the best football team ever is brought up, we'll hear about the 2007-2008 Patriots. Every season when a team is going undefeated and finally loses, we'll hear about the 2007-2008 Patriots popping champagne in celebration. It's not relegated to just football, either. Whenever a debate rolls around about the greatest teams in sports history, this team and this evil franchise will be mentioned.

Do you guys realize what is at stake here? The Giants must win this game, for all that is good in football.

Fuck man I think you want them to win more than I do. :lol

 

[Eric WK]

Let me just say one more thing. Never have I rooted for a non-Philly team in a big game like I have for the New York Football Giants tonight. I want to see Brady mauled to the ground over and over and over again by the Giants' superior pass rush. I want the Giants to systematically dissect the Patriots tonight... offense, defense, special teams, I want to see an absolute massacre in every sense of the word. Do any of you know the ramifications of a Patriots win tonight? They'll be legendary... we'll never ever hear the end of it. Anytime a debate about the best football team ever is brought up, we'll hear about the 2007-2008 Patriots. Every season when a team is going undefeated and finally loses, we'll hear about the 2007-2008 Patriots popping champagne in celebration. It's not relegated to just football, either. Whenever a debate rolls around about the greatest teams in sports history, this team and this evil franchise will be mentioned.

Do you guys realize what is at stake here? The Giants must win this game, for all that is good in football.

God forbid a team just excel.

 

[Greg]

Today is my birthday.

When I found out the date of the big game, it seemed to be destiny that the Packers were going to make it... would've been the best present ever.

Enjoy the game, Pats/Giants fans, I'll be crying in the corner eating my cake. :lol

 

[teruterubozu]

Let me just say one more thing. Never have I rooted for a non-Philly team in a big game like I have for the New York Football Giants tonight. I want to see Brady mauled to the ground over and over and over again by the Giants' superior pass rush. I want the Giants to systematically dissect the Patriots tonight... offense, defense, special teams, I want to see an absolute massacre in every sense of the word. Do any of you know the ramifications of a Patriots win tonight? They'll be legendary... we'll never ever hear the end of it. Anytime a debate about the best football team ever is brought up, we'll hear about the 2007-2008 Patriots. Every season when a team is going undefeated and finally loses, we'll hear about the 2007-2008 Patriots popping champagne in celebration. It's not relegated to just football, either. Whenever a debate rolls around about the greatest teams in sports history, this team and this evil franchise will be mentioned.

Do you guys realize what is at stake here? The Giants must win this game, for all that is good in football.

Although it's like getting both eyes poked out, I think I prefer a lifetime of Pats over an offseason of New York glee.

 

[Kintaro]

How does that paragraph paint me as petty? It paints me as the complete opposite of petty. In it I say that "does it really matter 15-1 and 16-0... a bad call here, a lucky break there... the one less loss means little to nothing" to paraphrase. That's the opposite of petty. The one less loss doesn't make their regular season SO much better than the others who had a single loss or whatever.

But it does. The fact you can't understand that, and you wish to lessen what they accomplished up to that point, IS petty. You said it, there's so much luck involved in the sport that no one since '72 managed to do it. Those 15-1 teams did lose and probably played games they "should have lost" too. The Pats no doubt played some games where they should have lost, but they didn't AND they didn't lose a single game. If you cannot recognize why that is big, and you want to take away from that, then you are a petty sports fan and person.

That Vikings team lost in week nine and the Steelers team in week two. Any pressure of a perfect season the Vikings had was gone by the halfway point of the season and the Steelers didn't even sniff it. It's simply not comparable to what the Pats did (love them or despite them) not to mention what kind of pressure they face in the Superbowl (win or everything you ever did in the season means nothing).

 

[vas_a_morir]

OMG Fuck Chad Johnson.

 

[Wellington]

The real question... who is Konex going for?

 

[teruterubozu]

The real question... who is Konex going for?

I don't know but he sounded pretty psyched on Eli 2 weeks ago.

 

[Piscopink]

Want to spoil the outcome of the game for yourself? Here's what's gonna happen:

Spoiler

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22950902/

 

[Hootie]

You bought into “New Eli”, Plaxico’s prediction, Brady’s bad ankle and those playoff wins at Tampa, Dallas and Green Bay. You hold out hope for an epic upset. You KNOW it’s going to be tight. I’m sorry. It’s not going to be that way. The Giants have…no shot.

Thank you!

 

[Big-E]

Heading out soon to get an early start on drinking. To Wellington and the rest of the Giant faithful, I wish you guys luck and may the best team win today.

 

[Wellington]

Heading out soon to get an early start on drinking. To Wellington and the rest of the Giant faithful, I wish you guys luck and may the best team win today.

Thanks bro, likewise. I am about to get ready to go too.

In all honesty I just want the hype to freakin end.

 

[Hootie]

Thanks bro, likewise. I am about to get ready to go too.

In all honesty I just want the hype to freakin end.

4 and a half more hours of pure unadulterated hype!

 

[LiveWire]

Time for my SuperBowl prediction.

Spoiler

GIANTS over Patriots

Giants 38
Patriots 17

Super Bowl MVP: Michael Strahan, 3 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR, 1 DTD

 

[Hootie]

Anyone up for a ban-bet?

 

[gray_fox224]

Getting my food prepared as we speak.

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

A question that needs to be answered: Why the fuck is Keyshawn wearing a sash?

 

[gray_fox224]

A question that needs to be answered: Why the fuck is Keyshawn wearing a sash?

:lol :lol

He reminded of me of Deion Sanders'
time at CBS.

 

[MiamiWesker]

And so the sad sad people that try to find any reason they can to discredit the Pats continue to do so even today, and its even going to be worse when they do win.

I will be rooting for the Giants, hoping a miracle happens but I doubt it. If the Pats win, congrats and enjoy having an undeafeted team Pats fans, its a legacy that will never die out.

 

[Xeke]

I've never seen people cheer against a team so much.


Go Patriots!

 

[GitarooMan]

And so the sad sad people that try to find any reason they can to discredit the Pats continue to do so even today, and its even going to be worse when they do win.

I just try to ignore it.

Anyway, I'm glad (and pretty surprised to be honest) that Andre Tippett made the HOF, one of my first favorites, guy toiled away on mostly shitty teams for years but was a great pass rushing linebacker (100 sacks). Only the 4th Patriot to make it (and Mike Haynes played for the Raiders for a good chunk of his years)

 

[LiveWire]

The real question... who is Konex going for?

Seriously.

 

[HolyStar]

Not even Konex's curse can destroy the winning aura of the Patriots.

Do not be decieved my bretheren less you spend the night lamenting at your foolish hopes of the Giants crushing the Patriots.

 

[Wellington]

I've never seen people cheer against a team so much.


Go Patriots!

Ever heard of the Yankees?

 

[arts&crafts]

Anyone up for a ban-bet?

patriots are 4 to 1 favorites :lol

 

[kbear]

patriots are 4 to 1 favorites :lol

Then just use 4 to 1 odds for the bet

For example... if the Patriots were to win, the guy who bet with the Giants would get a week long ban. If the Giants were to win, the guy who bet with the Pats would get a month long ban.

 

[BlueTsunami]

This is the first time my football fandom has been put in the fire being a Giants fan in Patriots country (Massachusetts). The last game of the regular season wasn't that bad but Pats fans are really sticking it to me now. My Boss at work mocks me, my cousin says my team is going to get owned and I get shifty looks from people everywhere. I WILL NOT BE BROKEN ;_;

 

[CajoleJuice]

I can't believe I'm saying this...GO GIANTS