OFFICIAL 2010-2011 NFL season & predictions thread:

[mikemarrs]

meanwhile the packers are 2-0 and they have this left.....


3 Mon, Sept. 27 at Chicago Bears ESPN 8:30 p.m.
4 Sun, Oct. 3 vs. Detroit Lions FOX 1 p.m.
5 Sun, Oct. 10 at Washington Redskins FOX 1 p.m.
6 Sun, Oct. 17 vs. Miami Dolphins CBS 1 p.m.
7 Sun, Oct. 24 vs. Minnesota Vikings NBC 8:20 p.m.
8 Sun, Oct. 31 at New York Jets FOX 1 p.m.
9 Sun, Nov. 7 vs. Dallas Cowboys NBC 8:20 p.m.
10 Bye
11 Sun, Nov. 21 at Minnesota Vikings FOX 1 p.m.
12 Sun, Nov. 28 at Atlanta Falcons FOX 1 p.m.
13 Sun, Dec. 5 vs. San Francisco 49ers FOX 1 p.m.
14 Sun, Dec. 12 at Detroit Lions FOX 1 p.m.
15 Sun, Dec. 19 at New England Patriots NBC 8:20 p.m.
16 Sun, Dec. 26 vs. New York Giants FOX 4:15 p.m.
17 Sun, Jan. 2 vs. Chicago Bears FOX 1 p.m.


meanwhile 2-0 chicago bears have this schedule left......


3 Mon, Sept. 27 vs. Green Bay Packers ESPN 8:30 p.m.
4 Sun, Oct. 3 at New York Giants NBC 8:20 p.m.
5 Sun, Oct. 10 at Carolina Panthers FOX 1 p.m.
6 Sun, Oct. 17 vs. Seattle Seahawks FOX 1 p.m.
7 Sun, Oct. 24 vs. Washington Redskins FOX 1 p.m.
8 Bye
9 Sun, Nov. 7 at Buffalo Bills FOX 1 p.m.
10 Sun, Nov. 14 vs. Minnesota Vikings FOX 1 p.m.
11 Thu, Nov. 18 at Miami Dolphins NFLN 8:20 p.m.
12 Sun, Nov. 28 vs. Philadelphia Eagles FOX 1 p.m.
13 Sun, Dec. 5 at Detroit Lions FOX 1 p.m.
14 Sun, Dec. 12 vs. New England Patriots CBS 1 p.m.
15 Mon, Dec. 20 at Minnesota Vikings ESPN 8:30 p.m.
16 Sun, Dec. 26 vs. New York Jets CBS 1 p.m.
17 Sun, Jan. 2 at Green Bay Packers FOX 1 p.m.



the NFC North is anyone's division at this point.chicago does have an easier slate.

[lights1961]

meanwhile the packers are 2-0 and they have this left.....


3 Mon, Sept. 27 at Chicago Bears ESPN 8:30 p.m.
4 Sun, Oct. 3 vs. Detroit Lions FOX 1 p.m.
5 Sun, Oct. 10 at Washington Redskins FOX 1 p.m.
6 Sun, Oct. 17 vs. Miami Dolphins CBS 1 p.m.
7 Sun, Oct. 24 vs. Minnesota Vikings NBC 8:20 p.m.
8 Sun, Oct. 31 at New York Jets FOX 1 p.m.
9 Sun, Nov. 7 vs. Dallas Cowboys NBC 8:20 p.m.
10 Bye
11 Sun, Nov. 21 at Minnesota Vikings FOX 1 p.m.
12 Sun, Nov. 28 at Atlanta Falcons FOX 1 p.m.
13 Sun, Dec. 5 vs. San Francisco 49ers FOX 1 p.m.
14 Sun, Dec. 12 at Detroit Lions FOX 1 p.m.
15 Sun, Dec. 19 at New England Patriots NBC 8:20 p.m.
16 Sun, Dec. 26 vs. New York Giants FOX 4:15 p.m.
17 Sun, Jan. 2 vs. Chicago Bears FOX 1 p.m.


meanwhile 2-0 chicago bears have this schedule left......


3 Mon, Sept. 27 vs. Green Bay Packers ESPN 8:30 p.m.
4 Sun, Oct. 3 at New York Giants NBC 8:20 p.m.
5 Sun, Oct. 10 at Carolina Panthers FOX 1 p.m.
6 Sun, Oct. 17 vs. Seattle Seahawks FOX 1 p.m.
7 Sun, Oct. 24 vs. Washington Redskins FOX 1 p.m.
8 Bye
9 Sun, Nov. 7 at Buffalo Bills FOX 1 p.m.
10 Sun, Nov. 14 vs. Minnesota Vikings FOX 1 p.m.
11 Thu, Nov. 18 at Miami Dolphins NFLN 8:20 p.m.
12 Sun, Nov. 28 vs. Philadelphia Eagles FOX 1 p.m.
13 Sun, Dec. 5 at Detroit Lions FOX 1 p.m.
14 Sun, Dec. 12 vs. New England Patriots CBS 1 p.m.
15 Mon, Dec. 20 at Minnesota Vikings ESPN 8:30 p.m.
16 Sun, Dec. 26 vs. New York Jets CBS 1 p.m.
17 Sun, Jan. 2 at Green Bay Packers FOX 1 p.m.



the NFC North is anyone's division at this point.

yep... every team is vastly improved... I think the Lions are really close to getting over the hump... please make it against the Vikes this weekend... did I say that??? hehe...

it should end up being a three way race with the Vikes, Pack and Bears...injuries could be deciding factor... as the season wears on...

[mikemarrs]

in our thread here before the season i picked the green bay packers to win the north.i think they'll get it done.i had a feeling before the season minnesota would struggle.chicago has been a surprise as i didn't see them going 2-0.green bay is my super bowl pick this year.

[Everett]

Here's hoping the vikings go 0-8.

Not gonna happen but hey one can dream

[lights1961]

Here's hoping the vikings go 0-8.

Not gonna happen but hey one can dream

believe you me... WOULD be amazing if this is what Brett's last season would be like... but, I dont want to WISH that on any of the teams...as my Packers could go that direction if rash of injuries hits them...

[YoungJRNY]

in our thread here before the season i picked the green bay packers to win the north.i think they'll get it done.i had a feeling before the season minnesota would struggle.chicago has been a surprise as i didn't see them going 2-0.green bay is my super bowl pick this year.

I was telling lights last season that if Green Bay could put the right men into that relentless 3-4 style defense, they will be on their dominating ways. It looks like they have finally arrived and their defense, led by the fierce Clay Matthews, are playing up to expectations. Rodgers is the stud QB and IMO, will be that next generation of elite QB's like Manning gives us now. If they can protect Rodgers and keep building around him, they will contend for the title for YEARS. My prediction is that Green Bay wins the SB this year and I'm sticking by it.

[lights1961]

in our thread here before the season i picked the green bay packers to win the north.i think they'll get it done.i had a feeling before the season minnesota would struggle.chicago has been a surprise as i didn't see them going 2-0.green bay is my super bowl pick this year.

I was telling lights last season that if Green Bay could put the right men into that relentless 3-4 style defense, they will be on their dominating ways. It looks like they have finally arrived and their defense, led by the fierce Clay Matthews, are playing up to expectations. Rodgers is the stud QB and IMO, will be that next generation of elite QB's like Manning gives us now. If they can protect Rodgers and keep building around him, they will contend for the title for YEARS. My prediction is that Green Bay wins the SB this year and I'm sticking by it.

cautiously thinking the Pack have a chance... got to win those tough divisional games during the season to have a chance to be there in the end... but yes... they are building an amazing attack... really good draft choices and not spedning all their money on has beens...but young studs that can help right away...

[mikemarrs]

i could see something like indianapolis vs. green bay as a super bowl but you never know there could be a strong offense like green bay that meets up with a great defense like pittsburgh.going to be an interesting season.

[YoungJRNY]

Week 2 is the hardest pick-em week to the start of any NFL season. You never know who will respond positively OR negatively to their week one performances and we had just that.


My week 2 Power Rankings:

1. New Orleans Saints: They finally went on the road to weather a storm from a tough '9ers team. Seems like Brees and the Saints have been in the comfort of their own home for a long time so going on the road and mounting a comeback with 1:19 left to win the game is something this team needed.

2. Houston Texans: After coming off their most important opener in their franchise, the Texans needed to show they were ready for the NFL. After being down 17 against a very tough Redskins team on the road, Matt Shaub took the reigns and threw for 497 yards passing and 3 touchdowns to mount an enormous & impressive comeback to rally the Texans to 2-0 and leader in the AFC SOUTH.

3. Green Bay Packers: After a very hard fought game in week 1 against Philly, Aaron Rodgers and the Pack needed to come back home and destroy a terrible team in Buffalo. They did just that, even without their star starting running back in Ryan Grant. With their defense now in place and with Rodgers due to put up godly numbers, the Pack will be tough to stop.

4. Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning and the Colts couldn't afford to go down 0-2 in their division, esp after Houston, who they have already lost to, climbled to 2-0. Manning does what Manning does best, and we aren't talking about Eli. Peyton absolutley dominated the Giants with ease and gave their home fans a sigh of relief. Indy looks to be back on track after a blow out win against little brother Eli's Giants.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers once again are ripping people apart on the defensive side of the ball. This might be the nastiest Steelers defense yet, forcing 7 turnovers against the unstoppable tandem of Vince Young and Chris Johnson. Still, the bad fortune continues at quarterback. Not only is their franchise quarterback still out for another 3 weeks, but starter Dennis Dixon will be out the next 2-3 weeks with a knee injury and the only healthy quarterback on the roster is 4th string QB Charlie Batch. Byron Leftwhich is set to be back, but if the Steelers keep playing their kind of defense, then the offense will do whatever it takes to give Roethlisberger a winning team when he returns.

6: N.Y Jets: The Jets and Mark Sanchez needed to prove something after their beyond pathetic showing on offense in week 1 against Baltimore. The Patriots jumped on them early, but after Rex Ryan uncuffed Sanchez in the second half, he went on to have a breakout game and completley torch a young New England secondary, paving the way for their tough as nails defense to force Brady and the Patriots out of rhythm & outscoring New England 18-0 in the second half for a big division victory.

7: San Diego Chargers: After an always tough game at Arrowhead stadium and a very disappointing home opener, the Chargers took out their frustrations on a Jacksonville team who looked impressive in week 1. This is the kind of winning ways the Chargers are use to and they needed this one big after their sluggish starts to practically every season. If S.D can play like this every week, then their Super Bowl expectations can be more realistic.

8: New England Patriots: The AFC East is closing its gap on the Patriots. After an impressive and dominating performance against Cincinnati at home in week 1, the Pats looked to do the same early against the hated Jets, jumping out to early leads in the new Meadowlands. That quickly changed as their defense showed their youth and got sliced up by Mark Sanchez and getting out scored 0-18 in the second half. Brady's post-game irritation and anger could become more common if N.E can't bounce back in a tough division with a so-so defense.

9: Philadelphia Eagles: Let the controversy begin. Kevin Kolb might not stand a chance with the Philly fans the second he will make a mistake and this could pave way to the official comeback story of Michael Vick, who could very well be on his way back to his dominating days of yesteryear. Andy Reid says it's a beautiful problem to have, but a beautiful problem handling a young QB could become very delicate. A situation that will closely be monitored judging by the teams overall performance from here on out.

10: Baltimore Ravens: There's just something about Joe Flacco that I don't seem to like. Other than Tony Romo & Carson Palmer, I believe he is this leagues most overrated Quarterback. Sure he has a nice deep ball and will take chances, but more times than not he will turn the ball over and that's exactly what he did against a Bengals D that got SCORCHED by the Patriots a week before. The Bengals barely needed to do anything while Flacco threw 4 picks literally right to the defense. They need more out of that offense with the kinds of weapons they seem to have. That defense will always play tough but they can be scored on if they play a team who can eventually give them an offensive threat.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the brink:

11. Miami Dolphins

12. Chicago Bears

13. Cincinnati Bengals

14. Atlanta Falcons


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Up for grabs:

Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Turning some heads:

Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49'ers


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disappointing efforts:

N.Y Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Work in progress:

Jacksonville Jaguars, St.Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals

[Ehwmatt]

Trav, I'm with you 100% on Flacco - I think you know that already. I haven't bought into him at all the last two years.

[YoungJRNY]

Trav, I'm with you 100% on Flacco - I think you know that already. I haven't bought into him at all the last two years.

Defiantly. He just seems so lanky and club-footed and barely uses the talent around him and is very indecisive. He does make some impressive throws and could make any throw on the field but other than that I think he rely's on the deep ball way too often and that takes away from the player he could be and is a major cop-out. With Ray Rice & McGahee back there and Boldin, Mason, Heap, and T.J Houseyourmama then there's no doubt that they should be able to put more than 10 points on the board weekly. They get away from their run game way too often and gives Flacco too much he can handle throwing the ball 40 times and only having 150 yards to show for it. Terrible.

[S2M]

Travis, the Jets didn't do anything to NE. I explained it in an earlier post. NE stopped going to Welker underneath. That's the ballgame right there. No run game, and trying to force the ball to Moss once Revis left....Agreed that NE defense is young and dumb, but so wasn't the '99 Rams. They just scored more points than their opponents. NE dropped the ball on play calling. Instead of playing possession ball, they chose to try and grab huge chunks of real estate on long bombs to Moss....

[S2M]

Trav, I'm with you 100% on Flacco - I think you know that already. I haven't bought into him at all the last two years.

Defiantly. He just seems so lanky and club-footed and barely uses the talent around him and is very indecisive. He does make some impressive throws and could make any throw on the field but other than that I think he rely's on the deep ball way too often and that takes away from the player he could be and is a major cop-out. With Ray Rice & McGahee back there and Boldin, Mason, Heap, and T.J Houseyourmama then there's no doubt that they should be able to put more than 10 points on the board weekly. They get away from their run game way too often and gives Flacco too much he can handle throwing the ball 40 times and only having 150 yards to show for it. Terrible.

BTW, the play in your sig should have been called a penalty....lifting the QB off the ground and driving him into the ground.

[YoungJRNY]

Travis, the Jets didn't do anything to NE. I explained it in an earlier post. NE stopped going to Welker underneath. That's the ballgame right there. No run game, and trying to force the ball to Moss once Revis left....Agreed that NE defense is young and dumb, but so wasn't the '99 Rams. They just scored more points than their opponents. NE dropped the ball on play calling. Instead of playing possession ball, they chose to try and grab huge chunks of real estate on long bombs to Moss....

New England's passing game is New England's running game so that's not really a mystery. It's not like all of a sudden the Patriots just threw their hands up and decided to forget their weapons and stop calling the game they are use to call. The Patriots have been playing the same kind of ball for years with Brady under the helm and everyone labeled Bellichick a genius that can never do wrong. That's a typical Bellichick/Brady connection: go for the juggler rather than possess.

Don't you think it was the Rex Ryan defense that forced New England to go elsewhere with the football? It was more of the Jets than it was New England's play calling. Very rare do you see a New England offense struggle with play calling issues. Wonder why? Could it be that the Jets were taking away options? I think so. Give the Jets more credit.

My sigs beautiful. I don't care if we're called for 500 roughing the passers. After last season and how soft we have become during that stretch, that is beautiful. That is what you call a gang tackle and the whistle wasn't even blown and Young still had possession of the ball, he didn't release it. You could either have that or the refs calling every single hit on the women that call themselves quarterbacks like the Ravens had to endure against the Bengals. Tomlin said he wants his team to be violent. Nothing will stop us from hitting hard. Throw the flags if you want, we're coming after you. Old school football players like Ronni Lott, Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert, Mike Singleterry, or hell, even Ray Lewis will appreciate that slam.

[S2M]

Travis, the Jets didn't do anything to NE. I explained it in an earlier post. NE stopped going to Welker underneath. That's the ballgame right there. No run game, and trying to force the ball to Moss once Revis left....Agreed that NE defense is young and dumb, but so wasn't the '99 Rams. They just scored more points than their opponents. NE dropped the ball on play calling. Instead of playing possession ball, they chose to try and grab huge chunks of real estate on long bombs to Moss....

New England's passing game is New England's running game so that's not really a mystery. It's not like all of a sudden the Patriots just threw their hands up and decided to forget their weapons and stop calling the game they are use to call. The Patriots have been playing the same kind of ball for years with Brady under the helm and everyone labeled Bellichick a genius that can never do wrong. That's a typical Bellichick/Brady connection: go for the juggler rather than possess.

Don't you think it was the Rex Ryan defense that forced New England to go elsewhere with the football? It was more of the Jets than it was New England's play calling. Very rare do you see a New England offense struggle with play calling issues. Wonder why? Could it be that the Jets were taking away options? I think so. Give the Jets more credit.

My sigs beautiful. I don't care if we're called for 500 roughing the passers. After last season and how soft we have become during that stretch, that is beautiful. That is what you call a gang tackle and the whistle wasn't even blown and Young still had possession of the ball, he didn't release it. You could either have that or the refs calling every single hit on the women that call themselves quarterbacks like the Ravens had to endure against the Bengals. Tomlin said he wants his team to be violent. Nothing will stop us from hitting hard. Throw the flags if you want, we're coming after you. Old school football players like Ronni Lott, Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert, Mike Singleterry, or hell, even Ray Lewis will appreciate that slam.

I'm 100% positive Rex told his defense to knock Welker's block off....Eric Smith's dirty hit should've resulted in a penalty, ejection from the game, and a suspension....just like that dirty fuck Ryan Clark. Wes Welker runs rampant in the secondary....teams are afraid of him, and what he brings to Pats....Smith was trying to knock him out of the game, and he succeeded...I'm sure he has a concussion....

[YoungJRNY]

Travis, the Jets didn't do anything to NE. I explained it in an earlier post. NE stopped going to Welker underneath. That's the ballgame right there. No run game, and trying to force the ball to Moss once Revis left....Agreed that NE defense is young and dumb, but so wasn't the '99 Rams. They just scored more points than their opponents. NE dropped the ball on play calling. Instead of playing possession ball, they chose to try and grab huge chunks of real estate on long bombs to Moss....

New England's passing game is New England's running game so that's not really a mystery. It's not like all of a sudden the Patriots just threw their hands up and decided to forget their weapons and stop calling the game they are use to call. The Patriots have been playing the same kind of ball for years with Brady under the helm and everyone labeled Bellichick a genius that can never do wrong. That's a typical Bellichick/Brady connection: go for the juggler rather than possess.

Don't you think it was the Rex Ryan defense that forced New England to go elsewhere with the football? It was more of the Jets than it was New England's play calling. Very rare do you see a New England offense struggle with play calling issues. Wonder why? Could it be that the Jets were taking away options? I think so. Give the Jets more credit.

My sigs beautiful. I don't care if we're called for 500 roughing the passers. After last season and how soft we have become during that stretch, that is beautiful. That is what you call a gang tackle and the whistle wasn't even blown and Young still had possession of the ball, he didn't release it. You could either have that or the refs calling every single hit on the women that call themselves quarterbacks like the Ravens had to endure against the Bengals. Tomlin said he wants his team to be violent. Nothing will stop us from hitting hard. Throw the flags if you want, we're coming after you. Old school football players like Ronni Lott, Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert, Mike Singleterry, or hell, even Ray Lewis will appreciate that slam.

I'm 100% positive Rex told his defense to knock Welker's block off....Eric Smith's dirty hit should've resulted in a penalty, ejection from the game, and a suspension....just like that dirty fuck Ryan Clark. Wes Welker runs rampant in the secondary....teams are afraid of him, and what he brings to Pats....Smith was trying to knock him out of the game, and he succeeded...I'm sure he has a concussion....

You're damn right he did. If you're going to run across the middle and think you're going to get away with it, esp of Welker's stature, you must take the speed of the game into consideration and know you're entering a lions den. These guys are truck hitters, esp the safeties of the league. If they have a clean shot, they'll take it. It's up for the receiver to make that decision. They just better be ready to get their block knocked off. It's football. It's a collision sport, going across the middle has been suicide for a long time.

[S2M]

Yeah, but Welker has NEVER had alligator arms, and Smith went for his head with a forearm shiver....PENALTY, EJECTION, SUSPENSION.

[S2M]

Example of a dirty hit....Leaving his feet with a forearm shiver, and KNOWING the ball was nowhere near Wes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf4yrMNMxoc&feature=related

[YoungJRNY]

Yeah, but Welker has NEVER had alligator arms, and Smith went for his head with a forearm shiver....PENALTY, EJECTION, SUSPENSION.

During the game these guys can't slow down and will use any kinds of techniques that were taught to them. I'm sure if is as bad as it was or is, he will be hearing from the league sooner rather than later. These are just guys doing their jobs but eventually, every player will be fined for something with the kind of direction this league is heading with hits.

As for the Clark hit on Welker, how do you know for a fact Clark didn't know the ball was nowhere near Welker? More times than not, Clark's ALWAYS going for the hit, never the ball. (Last week, Clark DID pull up on a defenseless reciever, probably because he saw the ball wasn't in reach, if he didn't, I say he pulls that trigger.)

Welker has a history of scorching defense's across the middle and New England made a 16-0 living off of it at one time. Clark saw him and braced for an impact, not even locating the ball. It's just the way these dudes go about business. Football is a dirty game all around, these guys will do anything to instill fear. It's been taught since day one to go out there and hit someone as hard as you can, at ALL costs. These guys can't slow down and change their game in mid-play.

[S2M]

Yeah, but Welker has NEVER had alligator arms, and Smith went for his head with a forearm shiver....PENALTY, EJECTION, SUSPENSION.

During the game these guys can't slow down and will use any kinds of techniques that were taught to them. I'm sure if is as bad as it was or is, he will be hearing from the league sooner rather than later. These are just guys doing their jobs but eventually, every player will be fined for something with the kind of direction this league is heading with hits.

As for the Clark hit on Welker, how do you know for a fact Clark didn't know the ball was nowhere near Welker? Welker has a history of scorching defense's across the middle and New England made a 16-0 living off of it at one time. Clark saw him and braced for an impact, not even locating the ball. It's just the way these dudes go about business. Football is a dirty game all around, these guys will do anything to instill fear.

He left his feet....admitted it the next day. Claims he apologized to Faulk. Clark said he tried to locate Wes to apologize - to no avail.

[YoungJRNY]

There isn't really any reason to go back and forth over this really. This won't be the last you see NFL safeties take WR's heads off over the middle. If a flag isn't thrown, that player will eventually hear from the league, no question about it. I don't sweat it, if it was Hines Ward going across the middle, your damn right someone is aiming to hurt him badly.

Here are some of the comments after the fact of the hit:

League comes clean: says Clark's hit was OK.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08339/932643-66.stm


Clark:

"I try to hit everybody," Clark said yesterday, hours after learning the league judged his hit on Patriots receiver Wes Welker clean. "I don't care which one. I'll take them all, I don't turn any of them down. We're just going to go out there and play.

"Like I said Sunday, I thought the hit was clean," Clark said. "I was just playing football. It's good they said something like that but if you look at that situation, if we'd have lost that game, if that drive would have cost us the game, it would not have mattered much what they say after the fact."

Hines Ward:

"They will get smashed," Ward said of receivers going across the middle. "That comes with the territory. I'm just glad it wasn't me."

The Boston Herald:

"A lot of people think it's a foul to leave your feet," Mike Pereira told the Boston Herald. "Launching is not a foul. ... It is a foul to hit with your helmet against a defenseless receiver. It is a foul to throw a forearm into the neck or head area of your opponent. I don't think either of those things happened. I'm not a fan of those high hits, but if you do it with your shoulder, you're OK."

It is what it is. These players must have that mentality or they won't last long in the NFL.

[lights1961]

There isn't really any reason to go back and forth over this really. This won't be the last you see NFL safeties take WR's heads off over the middle. If a flag isn't thrown, that player will eventually hear from the league, no question about it. I don't sweat it, if it was Hines Ward going across the middle, your damn right someone is aiming to hurt him badly.

Here are some of the comments after the fact of the hit:

League comes clean: says Clark's hit was OK.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08339/932643-66.stm


Clark:

"I try to hit everybody," Clark said yesterday, hours after learning the league judged his hit on Patriots receiver Wes Welker clean. "I don't care which one. I'll take them all, I don't turn any of them down. We're just going to go out there and play.

"Like I said Sunday, I thought the hit was clean," Clark said. "I was just playing football. It's good they said something like that but if you look at that situation, if we'd have lost that game, if that drive would have cost us the game, it would not have mattered much what they say after the fact."

Hines Ward:

"They will get smashed," Ward said of receivers going across the middle. "That comes with the territory. I'm just glad it wasn't me."

The Boston Herald:

"A lot of people think it's a foul to leave your feet," Mike Pereira told the Boston Herald. "Launching is not a foul. ... It is a foul to hit with your helmet against a defenseless receiver. It is a foul to throw a forearm into the neck or head area of your opponent. I don't think either of those things happened. I'm not a fan of those high hits, but if you do it with your shoulder, you're OK."

It is what it is. These players must have that mentality or they won't last long in the NFL.

Favre was great at passing over the middle when he had Freedman and Brooks as his receiving core... those guys would get smashed bounce back up and Favre would do it again... over and over...

Rick

[YoungJRNY]

There isn't really any reason to go back and forth over this really. This won't be the last you see NFL safeties take WR's heads off over the middle. If a flag isn't thrown, that player will eventually hear from the league, no question about it. I don't sweat it, if it was Hines Ward going across the middle, your damn right someone is aiming to hurt him badly.

Here are some of the comments after the fact of the hit:

League comes clean: says Clark's hit was OK.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08339/932643-66.stm


Clark:

"I try to hit everybody," Clark said yesterday, hours after learning the league judged his hit on Patriots receiver Wes Welker clean. "I don't care which one. I'll take them all, I don't turn any of them down. We're just going to go out there and play.

"Like I said Sunday, I thought the hit was clean," Clark said. "I was just playing football. It's good they said something like that but if you look at that situation, if we'd have lost that game, if that drive would have cost us the game, it would not have mattered much what they say after the fact."

Hines Ward:

"They will get smashed," Ward said of receivers going across the middle. "That comes with the territory. I'm just glad it wasn't me."

The Boston Herald:

"A lot of people think it's a foul to leave your feet," Mike Pereira told the Boston Herald. "Launching is not a foul. ... It is a foul to hit with your helmet against a defenseless receiver. It is a foul to throw a forearm into the neck or head area of your opponent. I don't think either of those things happened. I'm not a fan of those high hits, but if you do it with your shoulder, you're OK."

It is what it is. These players must have that mentality or they won't last long in the NFL.

Favre was great at passing over the middle when he had Freedman and Brooks as his receiving core... those guys would get smashed bounce back up and Favre would do it again... over and over...

Rick

I cringe when a QB lays out his receivers over the middle. You just see it coming and even brace for it watching the television screen. I guess going for it is the difference between 3-13 teams VS 13-3 teams. Taking a chance.

[S2M]

Alligator Arms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls794MhIkU4

[YoungJRNY]

Alligator Arms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls794MhIkU4

Oh man I remember watching that live! I about changed the channel after that one. How do you get to that level and be scared is beyond me. Hilarious.

[S2M]

Alligator Arms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls794MhIkU4

Oh man I remember watching that live! I about changed the channel after that one. How do you get to that level and be scared is beyond me. Hilarious.

Yeah, and who was the Redskin player getting ready to give him the shiver? None other than Mr. Ryan Clark.

[YoungJRNY]

Alligator Arms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls794MhIkU4

Oh man I remember watching that live! I about changed the channel after that one. How do you get to that level and be scared is beyond me. Hilarious.

Yeah, and who was the Redskin player getting ready to give him the shiver? None other than Mr. Ryan Clark.

Yep, Theisman pretty much stated how I see it: Not being able to take the hit is a good way at losing your job in the NFL.

[Eric]

http://rikkerpowerrankings.blogspot.com ... _8288.html

[RPM]

in our thread here before the season i picked the green bay packers to win the north.i think they'll get it done.i had a feeling before the season minnesota would struggle.chicago has been a surprise as i didn't see them going 2-0.green bay is my super bowl pick this year.

I was telling lights last season that if Green Bay could put the right men into that relentless 3-4 style defense, they will be on their dominating ways. It looks like they have finally arrived and their defense, led by the fierce Clay Matthews, are playing up to expectations. Rodgers is the stud QB and IMO, will be that next generation of elite QB's like Manning gives us now. If they can protect Rodgers and keep building around him, they will contend for the title for YEARS. My prediction is that Green Bay wins the SB this year and I'm sticking by it.

They will lose to the Bears Monday night. The same Bears who are not in your "TOP TEN"
NO running game, an excellent pass defense, however ill take Martz over capers. Rodgers is
very good, but without Grant, one dimensional.

[YoungJRNY]

in our thread here before the season i picked the green bay packers to win the north.i think they'll get it done.i had a feeling before the season minnesota would struggle.chicago has been a surprise as i didn't see them going 2-0.green bay is my super bowl pick this year.

I was telling lights last season that if Green Bay could put the right men into that relentless 3-4 style defense, they will be on their dominating ways. It looks like they have finally arrived and their defense, led by the fierce Clay Matthews, are playing up to expectations. Rodgers is the stud QB and IMO, will be that next generation of elite QB's like Manning gives us now. If they can protect Rodgers and keep building around him, they will contend for the title for YEARS. My prediction is that Green Bay wins the SB this year and I'm sticking by it.

They will lose to the Bears Monday night. The same Bears who are not in your "TOP TEN"
NO running game, an excellent pass defense, however ill take Martz over capers. Rodgers is
very good, but without Grant, one dimensional.

I don't think the Bears are in anyones top ten. I give them credit for going into Dallas and beating a Dallas team that right now, has no identity and doesn't know how to win right now. But they should be 1-1 if Calvin Johnson holds onto that ball at the end of regulation. Da Bears defense has improved, esp with Urlacher back in the lineup, but Rodgers sure can have his way with any defense in the league and if they can protect him, the Pack will be hard to beat. It's a hard game to judge since rival division games could go either way, but I like the Pack in a good one.