Archive for the ‘NFL News’ Category
Tuesday, February 26th, 2008
Top 10 Super Bowl champions
WhatIfSports.com used its free NFL SimMatchup technology (you could do this too!) to simulate the 42 Super Bowl champions against one another — 100 times each. This means that each team played 4,100 games and 86,100 games were played in total. At the end, we looked at all of the games and ranked teams by winning percentage to find the top 10. This is the most accurate and thorough approach to answering “the question.”
The conclusion may not be “the 2007 New England Patriots,” but the question is still relevant — and WhatIfSports.com has a definitive answer.
The debate in question is precisely why the site exists and it’s one of the major reasons why sports talk radio exists. It is why we all talk sports with our fathers and grandfathers, just like we do or will with our children and grandchildren. That’s because the conversation concerns historical context. On the heels of one of the most exciting and dramatic Super Bowls ever, and with so much recent discussion about NFL history, the specific question is; “Which team was the greatest Super Bowl champion of all time?” Or, more appropriately, “what if” the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins and other elite teams played all of the other Super Bowl champions? The answer: The Dolphins would win just more than 60% of the time, while the 1985 Chicago Bears and 1999 St. Louis Rams would each win well over 70% of their games.
When running these games, the simulation engine factors in actual regular season statistics that are adjusted equally on a historical and relative (to other teams that season and to strength of schedule) basis. This means that if a team or player had a record-breaking rushing season against a schedule that includes very weak rush defenses, the team or player will still perform well, but may not perform as well it did that year. This also means that the computer does not have to try to figure out how a 230-pound offensive lineman can block a 330-pound defensive tackle. Everything is in the numbers and relative to the context of that season.
Record has nothing to do with this analysis, but do not confuse that with a neglect for “heart” or “clutch.” Strengths, weaknesses, consistency, comfort under pressure, and the like are all “intangible” factors that show through in the numbers. And teams with better numbers typically win — especially when the games are played often.
The 2007 New York Giants rank No. 23. Although the Giants looked like the better team in Super Bowl XLII, it was still an upset. Had the Patriots just won, they would appear among the top few on this list. Now they are not on it. That is how big that game was.
The top 10 Super Bowl champions list starts with a bit of a surprise:
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Monday, February 4th, 2008
Looking back, quarterback Kurt Warner says Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans is a blur. The underdog New England Patriots simply outschemed Warner’s St. Louis Rams, parading out six and at times seven defensive backs and roughing up the Rams’ sleek receivers to slow down an offense then dubbed “The Greatest Show on Turf.” St. Louis, Warner says, just got beat. The final score read 20-17. That result can’t be changed. But for peace of mind, the two-time MVP wants the league to investigate reports that the Patriots might have benefited from a videotape of the Rams’ final practice before that Super Bowl six years ago. In the latest flurry of news surrounding the Patriots’ videotaping activities, a report in Saturday’s Boston Herald indicated that a member of the Patriots’ video staff might have filmed the Rams’ final walk-through in the Superdome the day before the game.
The story cited a lone source, described as someone close to the New England team that season. Rumors of the Super Bowl videotaping incident first circulated shortly after the “Spygate” affair this past September, in which a Patriots employee was caught taping the New York Jets‘ signals from the sideline, although ESPN.com has been unable to confirm the rumors. Matt Walsh, a former Patriots video assistant who has suggested he has information potentially embarrassing to the team and the league, has refused comment on whether he played a part in the alleged Super Bowl taping in February 2002. “Really, it is nothing that I care to go on the record about or talk about,” Walsh recently told ESPN.com. Warner, who since has moved on to the Arizona Cardinals, was surprised to learn the league didn’t speak to Walsh during its investigation of Spygate.
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Friday, September 14th, 2007
By Bernie Miklasz
Friday, Sep. 14 2007
I had great hopes for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. But with his remarkably lenient ruling on the Bill Belichick videotape cheating case, Goodell failed to take tough action.
And the timidity raises serious questions as to whether Goodell is willing to stand up to powerful NFL owners and iconic figures like Belichick.
Goodell has tried to be the law-and-order commissioner by coming down hard on players for their off-field conduct. But when Goodell had an opportunity to forcefully protect the competitive integrity of the game, and punish Belichick and the Patriots in a way that would have sent a resounding message to the fans, owners, coaches and players, The Commissioner eased up.
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Friday, September 14th, 2007
By Bryan Burwell
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Every morning you can find him roaming the expansive backyard of Rams Park. If
the Rams are on the pristine practice fields, then Dan Linza is on the scene,
carefully scanning the shadows, parking lots, rooftops, hillsides and gullies
and warehouse lots and loading docks that surround the team’s Earth City
training facility.
Linza is a small man with a big job. As the head of team security, he’s
constantly on the lookout for eavesdropping strangers and suspicious characters
eager to catch a glimpse of Rams practices. Sometimes he is perched on the big
grass berm with large binoculars in his hands. Other times he stalks the other
end of the field, peeking over the tree-lined fence for spies lurking in the
woods. So far, no spies have fallen into Linza’s security web, just the
occasional overzealous gawker. Every team in the National Football League has a
man like Linza, and they are on perpetual homeland security alert, which ought
to tell you one thing about life in the NFL:
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Thursday, April 5th, 2007
The final few weeks leading up to the NFL draft will seem like a “Groundhog Day” version of April 1 as every storyline is full of innuendo, speculation and falsehoods that keep happening over and over until commissioner Roger Goodell reaches the lectern at noon Eastern on April 28.
The Raiders have the first pick and could use it on a quarterback or a wide receiver. The Lions have the second overall pick, but might not be in love with anyone enough to pay the price for that choice. The door is open for a trade, but can they find a suitable partner?
Here’s the latest mock draft.
ROUND 1
1. Oakland Raiders – LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Russell has set a big impression on folks with his eye-opening raw skill level and arm strength. However, the Raiders are also working out a number of the second-tier quarterbacks. If they find a guy they really like, then Calvin Johnson’s name could come into focus. A trade, while not likely, is not the worst-case scenario for a team looking to add more than just one new playmaker.
2. Detroit Lions – Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas. Several teams are trying to deal up for this pick and based on who goes No. 1 overall, it should allow the Lions the chance to deal down at least once in order to obtain extra draft choices. Unless they make a deal to go way down the draft board, there is still a chance they could land Thomas – though Denver or Chicago could be eyeing a move into the top 10 to get him.
3. Cleveland Browns – Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. The Browns could be sitting pretty if the draft plays out differently and the Raiders take Calvin Johnson. Such a scenario would give Cleveland its choice of quarterbacks. But even with just one still on the board, they come out as winners as they could potentially flip-flop picks with the Buccaneers.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson. The Bucs have spoken publicly about both quarterbacks, Adrian Peterson and Joe Thomas, while keeping their desire to add Johnson under wraps. If the receiver were to go No. 1 overall and the Lions were to deal down, the Bucs could be at No. 4 with Johnson, Russell and Quinn all off the board.
5. Arizona Cardinals – Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams. The signing of Mike Gandy potentially fills their hole at offensive tackle, so it seems even more likely that they will take the top-rated defensive player on their board. There has been some speculation that they will either play a hybrid 3-4 scheme or have plans to incorporate it into their future plans. Jamaal Anderson is a better fit in a 4-3, while Adams would give them the versatility of being able to rush the passer from either alignment.
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Monday, March 26th, 2007
PHOENIX - Call it an unexpected surprise. The Rams arrived in Arizona for the
NFL’s annual owners meetings fully expecting to receive no compensatory draft
picks for the first time in five years.
But the Rams were awarded two seventh-rounders Monday, Nos. 248 and 249 overall
in the draft April 28-29.
Since the start of the current system of free agency in 1993, compensatory
draft picks have been awarded to teams that lose more free agents than they
sign. The complicated formula is based on salary, playing time and postseason
honors of free agents signed and lost.
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Monday, March 19th, 2007
For once I found something I might agree with a 49er about. Mike Nolan head coach of the Niners wants to change the pass interference penalty to give the officials some discretion to decide if a pass interference penalty is worthy of a 15 yard penalty or a spot foul. I’m not sure what the determining factor should be between the two, but I have often seen a slight bump down field turn in to a game changing play because of an official’s flag. It would be nice to turn some of those slight indiscretions in to 15 yard penalties and make teams earn the yards rather than officials give them the yards. If it is a true mugging to stop the team from scoring a TD then spot the ball at the site of the foul.
The only thing I don’t like about it is the element of subjectivity that it adds to the rule. Fans will yell on Monday that it should have been a spot foul or my player was mugged in the end zone and we only got 15 yards, it cost us the game. To me that is the biggest negative, it adds another subjective call to the officials that may determine the outcome of the game. See the complete article below.
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Friday, March 16th, 2007
This time, the Philadelphia Eagles got the better of the Tennessee Titans.
The Eagles agreed to a six-year deal, worth $32 million, with free agent wide receiver Kevin Curtis of the St. Louis Rams. It contains $9.5 million in guaranteed money, including a $7.5 million signing bonus.
The Titans had had Curtis in Tennessee for a visit Tuesday and were in the mix to land him, according to agent Bruce Tollner.
“They were very close. It was a very intriguing opportunity to have the chance to go down there and be a part of coach [Norm] Chow’s offense,” Tollner said. “Their offer was very intriguing.”
The Titans managed to snatch restricted free agent linebacker Ryan Fowler away from the Eagles on Monday with a four-year, $11.5 million offer sheet, that the Dallas Cowboys have until Monday to match or let Fowler go to the Titans.
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2007
Technorati Tags: Football, NFL, Sports, St Louis Rams
A recent headline caught my attention, Allen’s Jet Helps Smooth Free Agents’ Paths To Seattle. The article goes on to explain that NFL free agent Deon Grant was “wooed” by the private jet of Microsoft co-founder and Seahawks owner Paul Allen in his trip to Seattle.
That plane ride helped convince Grant that Seattle is where he needed to be, “”It was smooth. Everyone can’t ride in a private jet, “Grant said while laughing Monday, days after he completed his six-year contract worth a reported $30 million to replace free agent Ken Hamlin as Seattle’s free safety.”
I ask, Is it fair to give the big money teams this advantage?
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Monday, March 12th, 2007
I found this story while searching the web and thought it was hilarious. It just goes to show that these guys make a lot more money than their NFL contracts pay them.
Here’s the scoop: It seems that Peyton Manning got paid a whopping $200,000 for a one night appearance at a Sweet 16 Party. I have no real problem with this, I would have gone for $5,000, and 
danced just like Peyton for an extra $2,000. I guess Peyton hid behind the cake and yelled surprise at the opportune time to enthrall the attendees. It must have cost too much to have Peyton actually jump from the cake. Surely the cake jumping was a part of the negotiations, but was at least another $100,000 in special services fees.
Once again, let me state my problem is not with Peyton Manning on this, I would have taken the money too. My problem is this: I don’t think I ever got a lousy clown or even pony rides for any of my birthday parties, and here this kid gets a Superbowl MVP ?? I wonder how much it would have cost to keep Peyton Manning for the week? Now that would be cool, to wake up every morning and have a Peyton Manning in your room all tucked in to his sleeping bag in his footed jammies, you could feed him breakfast, find out what cartoons he likes to watch, show him to all your friends.
Maybe next year Daddy will negotiate the week long “Peyton Manning Happy Birthday Package”…and the pony rides too.
Kevin
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Sunday, February 4th, 2007
MIAMI (Feb. 4, 2007) AP — Wet and wild — and the perfect winning conditions for Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl.
A team built for indoors found its footing on a rain-soaked track and outplayed the Chicago Bears to win the NFL title 29-17. The Colts were far less sloppy, particularly their star quarterback, who proved he can indeed win the big game — the biggest game.
That’s what it was for Tony Dungy, too. He became the first black coach to win the championship, beating good friend and protege Lovie Smith in a game that featured the first two black coaches in the Super Bowl.
“It’s hard to put into words,” said Manning, the game’s MVP after hitting 25 of 38 passes for 247 yards with one touchdown and one interception. “I’m proud to be part of this team. We stuck together, won this game for our leader, Tony Dungy.”
It was a game of firsts: the first rainy Super Bowl and the first time an opening kickoff was run back for a touchdown when sensational Bears rookie Devin Hester sped downfield for 92 yards.
And not since the Buffalo Bills self-destructed with nine turnovers in losing to Dallas 14 years ago had there been so much messiness. The first half was marred by six turnovers, three for each team. Even football’s most clutch kicker, Adam Vinatieri, missed a chip-shot field goal, and an extra point attempt was botched, too.
The second half wasn’t quite so ugly, but when much-maligned Bears quarterback Rex Grossman’s wobbler was picked off and returned 56 yards for a touchdown by Kelvin Hayden with 11:44 remaining, it was over.
“I’m so proud of our guys,” Dungy said. “We took the hit early with Devin Hester. We talked about it; it’s going to be a storm. Sometimes you have to work for it. Our guys played so hard and I can’t tell you how proud I am of our group, our organization and our city.”
Chicago (15-4), which led the league in takeaways this season, finished with five turnovers, including two interceptions by Grossman.
The Colts (16-4) will take it. It’s their first title since the 1970 season, when they played in Baltimore.
It was confirmation of Manning’s brilliance, even if he didn’t need to be dynamic. The son of a quarterback who never got to the playoffs, Manning has been a star throughout his college career at Tennessee and his nine pro seasons with the Colts.
Now he is a champion.
It also was a validation of Dungy’s leadership. He helped build Tampa Bay, one of the NFL’s worst franchises, into a contender before being fired after the 2001 season. The next year, the Bucs won the Super Bowl under Jon Gruden.
The Colts hoisted their coach on their shoulders and he switched his blue Colts cap for a white one that read “NFL champions.” Dungy was carried from the sideline, then was lowered so he could share a long embrace and a handshake with Smith.
“I’m proud to be representing the African-American coaches and the first African-American coach to win this,” Dungy said.
Then he waded through the mob to find his quarterback, giving him a big hug.
The Colts reached the pinnacle by winning four postseason games with a defense that made a complete turnaround in the playoffs.
And with a running game that perfectly complemented Manning, thanks to Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes, who combined for 190 yards — 113 on 21 carries by Rhodes and 77 on 10 carries by Addai, who also had 66 yards receiving.
Chicago was denied its first Super Bowl title since the powerhouse 1985 team. These Bears could have used Da Coach, Sweetness and their buddies.
It rained from start to finish; there was even “Purple Rain” during halftime when Prince sang some of his signature songs. And though Vinatieri twice was a victim of the slop, he kicked three field goals.
Hester’s spectacular return provided a stunning beginning — and a severe jolt to the Colts. The local product and only rookie All-Pro this season pumped his arms to excite the crowd before the kickoff, then lifted the fans from their seats with an electrifying run on which he never was touched.
He barely touched the ball again as Indy went to squibbing kickoffs.
Leading 16-14 at halftime, the Colts spent half the third quarter with a march to Vinatieri’s 24-yard field goal. Twice on the drive, Manning fell to the ground while throwing. But he completed them.
Grossman had it even worse on Chicago’s initial possession of the second half, twice in a row slipping and getting sacked. Maybe he would have done better on icy turf.
Thomas Jones, forced to carry the Bears’ entire rushing load when Cedric Benson was hurt in the first half, was Chicago’s best player. But with Grossman ineffective, even inept, all the Bears managed in the second half was Robbie Gould’s 44-yard field goal late in the third period.
After Hester’s opening dagger, Manning tried to force a pass to Marvin Harrison in double coverage and was picked off by Chris Harris to spoil Indy’s first possession, but the Colts struck back on their next series, converting three third-downs. The final one was the most important as Manning got everything on a long pass to the uncovered Reggie Wayne even though Tank Johnson had his hands on the quarterback. Wayne trotted into the end zone for a 47-yard score.
Then the rain ruined three consecutive plays.
Holder Hunter Smith dropped the snap on the extra point and Vinatieri couldn’t get off a kick. Then Vinatieri, well aware of who was lurking deep, squibbed the kickoff to tight end Gabe Reid, who fumbled at his 35, with Tyjuan Hagler recovering for the Colts.
But Manning and Addai botched the handoff on the next snap and Chicago’s Mark Anderson recovered, the third turnover in the first 8 1/2 minutes.
Couldn’t anybody play this game?
Jones certainly could. He used a sharp cutback to break a 52-yard run, the longest of his career, to the Colts’ 5, and Grossman found Muhammad in the front of the end zone for a 14-6 lead.
Jones finished with 100 yards rushing.
A fourth giveaway in the opening quarter, by Benson on his first carry before injuring his knee, didn’t damage Chicago.
Vinatieri, who made two Super Bowl-winning kicks for New England, nailed a 29-yard field goal early in the second period but was wide left from 32 yards at the end of the half.
Vinatieri still set a record with 49 postseason points.
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