The Official Superbowl XLII Thread!!

[Huckleberry]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

My god, have you and others completely lost your memories?? Just go back to last season when he had 0 receivers and still led the team to a great record. Or look at all of the times where he has been able to stand in a collapsing pocket and still spot the open receiver. Very, very few pcoket QBs have ever been that consistent and accurate.

Yes. That's why he's great.

What was your point?

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by Cringer

That was one kickass Superbowl. I had held onto the Bronco's win over the Packers as the best Superbowl I had ever seen, but I am pretty sure that just replaced it.

Congrats Giants fans.

SirFozzie, stop making those sig bets.

Ayup. That's my last sig bet. As you can see from my current sig, it's no good

[Maple Leafs]

I have to say, there's a part of me that's kind of happy that the Pats lost simply because I really enjoyed their run at a perfect season and like the idea that it will be even meaningful the next time it happens.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by ace1914

OMFG. If the Giants win...remember that play. Forever.

will do.

years from now i''ll be able to tell my first born that they were born in the year that Eli Manning made The Play and won Super Bowl 42 for the New York Giants.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry

5.5 yards per attempt is bad.

That is true but most other QBs in the NFL would go 13-43 in similar situations, not to mention a couple of picks.

[flounder]

If Asante Samuels makes that interception at the end, everyone is talking about how Brady cemented his reputation as the greatest QB of all time. It bounces off his hands and now Brady's mediocre?

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Also check out the "tags customers associate with this product".

I fail to see what buttsecks has to do with this book

SI

[Jas_lov]

http://www.amazon.com/19-0-Historic-...2097764&sr=8-1

I hope nobody pre-ordered the paperback copy of 19-0: The Historic Championship Season of New England's Unbeatable Patriots.

[Galaril]

With all the NFL QBS banging hot girls I was curious who ELI was sharing the sheets with. I am surprised to seeas the link shows he i doing pretty well for himself. Oh and no it isn't the short one in the brown pants suit I am guessing

http://64.111.216.59//ul/2423-eli%20abby.jpg

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I know most of us tend to be focused on most recent events, but as I'm thinking back right now, I'd have to say that Eli's pass to Tyree on that final drive is going to be one of the top 10 SB signature plays.

i would say top 5. that play is the reason why the Giants won the Super Bowl. there is no other reason. i was shouting from my seat "he's a WARRIOR!!!"

[dime]

Originally Posted by flounder

If Asante Samuels makes that interception at the end, everyone is talking about how Brady cemented his reputation as the greatest QB of all time. It bounces off his hands and now Brady's mediocre?

this is exactly why QB play is so terribly evaluated. for example, terry bradshaw is not one of the best QBs of all time, neither is brady. marino is not "missing" something because he didn't win one. marino was much, much better than brady.

the giants' gameplan was basically to take away moss deep, take away the run and make brady beat them. he could only put up two scoring drives. not terrible, but a play here or there would have gotten the pats the win and wouldn't have made him any better of a player than he is now.

[Huckleberry]

Originally Posted by flounder

If Asante Samuels makes that interception at the end, everyone is talking about how Brady cemented his reputation as the greatest QB of all time. It bounces off his hands and now Brady's mediocre?

No, not everyone. Some people are able to look past more than just the QB on great teams.

Troy Aikman won 3 Super Bowls and after his first two Super Bowl victories had the highest postseason QB rating in history. He's not even close to an all-time great quarterback.

Brady is far better than Aikman. But winning 4 Super Bowls isn't enough to be the greatest QB ever. And Brady wasn't before tonight and wouldn't have been even if Samuel had caught that ball.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry

5.5 yards per attempt is bad.

He missed at least 3 wide open receivers as well, which is very un-Brady like. Give him credit for hitting Moss when the corner fell down I guess for the go-ahead TD, but the play before Moss was wide open and it was a terrible, terrible pass that missed him by a couple of yards.

I don't think that Brady is any less of a great QB. Even the great ones can't make that many plays when 2 out of every 3 plays they are on their back. Anyone who thinks he is only good because he has been surrounded by great players is smoking crack. But definitely not Brady's best game (and he was pretty bad against the Chargers as well)

The vaunted Pats line take the blame for this one, they absolutely laid a huge fucking goose egg in the most important game of their careers. Giants pass rush is good, but one on one the Pats linemen were just getting bitchslapped. I lost count of the number of times the Giants DT's pushed the Pats interior line into the backfield, and on the outside Kaczur couldn't have done a worse job if he'd have just laid down on every play. Pretty embarrassing for a unit that is supposed to be one of the best in the league.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by molson

I'd put the '07 Giants ahead of that fraud Dolphins team that beat exactly ONE team with a winning record all season.

This is an example of how the Pats fans have jumped the shark. From now on, when you guys wonder why people treat your team unfairly or hate on Pats fans, just remember posts like this.

The fact is, The 72 Dolphins didn't make their schedule. They had no hand in that. All they did was win every game they played, including the regular season, including the postseason, and the Superbowl. No other team in NFL history has ever done that, including your New England Patriots.

You can whine like a pathetic baby about it as much as you want, but that's a fact. It's in the books and it will be there no matter how much you try to diminish it because you can't stand that your beloved team actually lost.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

He missed at least 3 wide open receivers as well, which is very un-Brady like. Give him credit for hitting Moss when the corner fell down I guess for the go-ahead TD, but the play before Moss was wide open and it was a terrible, terrible pass that missed him by a couple of yards.

I don't think that Brady is any less of a great QB. Even the great ones can't make that many plays when 2 out of every 3 plays they are on their back. Anyone who thinks he is only good because he has been surrounded by great players is smoking crack. But definitely not Brady's best game (and he was pretty bad against the Chargers as well)

The vaunted Pats line take the blame for this one, they absolutely laid a huge fucking goose egg in the most important game of their careers. Giants pass rush is good, but one on one the Pats linemen were just getting bitchslapped. I lost count of the number of times the Giants DT's pushed the Pats interior line into the backfield, and on the outside Kaczur couldn't have done a worse job if he'd have just laid down on every play. Pretty embarrassing for a unit that is supposed to be one of the best in the league.

+1

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by flounder

If Asante Samuels makes that interception at the end, everyone is talking about how Brady cemented his reputation as the greatest QB of all time. It bounces off his hands and now Brady's mediocre?

Samuels not only cost the Pats the game, he probably cost himself millions of dollars in the off-season.

[st.cronin]

Brady did not have a good game, but come on, he was obviously playing with an injury. He wasn't nearly as mobile as he usually is, and his mechanics were obviously affected on some plays. He's still an all-time great QB.

[Huckleberry]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

He missed at least 3 wide open receivers as well, which is very un-Brady like. Give him credit for hitting Moss when the corner fell down I guess for the go-ahead TD, but the play before Moss was wide open and it was a terrible, terrible pass that missed him by a couple of yards.

I don't think that Brady is any less of a great QB. Even the great ones can't make that many plays when 2 out of every 3 plays they are on their back. Anyone who thinks he is only good because he has been surrounded by great players is smoking crack. But definitely not Brady's best game (and he was pretty bad against the Chargers as well)

The vaunted Pats line take the blame for this one, they absolutely laid a huge fucking goose egg in the most important game of their careers. Giants pass rush is good, but one on one the Pats linemen were just getting bitchslapped. I lost count of the number of times the Giants DT's pushed the Pats interior line into the backfield, and on the outside Kaczur couldn't have done a worse job if he'd have just laid down on every play. Pretty embarrassing for a unit that is supposed to be one of the best in the league.

I'm in 100% agreement with you. Tonight does nothing to change my opinion of Brady. He is a great quarterback that tonight had to deal with what most other great QBs have had to deal with far more often than he has: tremendous pressure.

Brady was working with one of the most gifted WRs of all time and one of the greatest slot receivers of all time. Tonight just showed that every QB will have trouble when under pressure. Brady is no different.

[kurtism]

Originally Posted by flounder

If Asante Samuels makes that interception at the end, everyone is talking about how Brady cemented his reputation as the greatest QB of all time. It bounces off his hands and now Brady's mediocre?

Phil Simms? Welcome to FOFC!!!

[Noop]

Originally Posted by molson

I'd put the '07 Giants ahead of that fraud Dolphins team that beat exactly ONE team with a winning record all season.

Bitter? LOL

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by flounder

If Asante Samuels makes that interception at the end, everyone is talking about how Brady cemented his reputation as the greatest QB of all time. It bounces off his hands and now Brady's mediocre?

Well, this is the criteria that has been set by the Patriots fans. Myself, I think it's pretty ridiculous that (for example), Jim Kelly is suddenly a much better QB if Scott Norwood makes that FG. If Viniateri misses all those clutch kicks, Brady isn't any better or worse a QB in my mind.

[Huckleberry]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Brady did not have a good game, but come on, he was obviously playing with an injury. He wasn't nearly as mobile as he usually is, and his mechanics were obviously affected on some plays. He's still an all-time great QB.

Not the way I saw it. He stepped away from pressure and moved in the pocket about the same as always. The difference was the frequency of the pressure.

Brady played poorly because that's what QBs do when they're harrassed all game long.

[dime]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Brady did not have a good game, but come on, he was obviously playing with an injury. He wasn't nearly as mobile as he usually is, and his mechanics were obviously affected on some plays. He's still an all-time great QB.

bill simmons, is that you?

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

He missed at least 3 wide open receivers as well, which is very un-Brady like. Give him credit for hitting Moss when the corner fell down I guess for the go-ahead TD, but the play before Moss was wide open and it was a terrible, terrible pass that missed him by a couple of yards.

I don't think that Brady is any less of a great QB. Even the great ones can't make that many plays when 2 out of every 3 plays they are on their back. Anyone who thinks he is only good because he has been surrounded by great players is smoking crack. But definitely not Brady's best game (and he was pretty bad against the Chargers as well)

The vaunted Pats line take the blame for this one, they absolutely laid a huge fucking goose egg in the most important game of their careers. Giants pass rush is good, but one on one the Pats linemen were just getting bitchslapped. I lost count of the number of times the Giants DT's pushed the Pats interior line into the backfield, and on the outside Kaczur couldn't have done a worse job if he'd have just laid down on every play. Pretty embarrassing for a unit that is supposed to be one of the best in the league.

Have to remember the line did lose Neil at the end of the 1st half which didn't help.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Brady did not have a good game, but come on, he was obviously playing with an injury.

If he was seriously hurt, it would have been on the injury report. NFL teams are required to report on injuries, and Belichik respects the rules.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

If he was seriously hurt, it would have been on the injury report. NFL teams are required to report on injuries, and Belichik respects the rules.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Samuels not only cost the Pats the game, he probably cost himself millions of dollars in the off-season.

As a Titans fan this just isn't true. I am certain they would dropa ton of coin on him like a bunch of teams will. He won't be in NE next season for sure. I hope they enjoy having Hobbs as their #1 CB.

[dime]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Samuels not only cost the Pats the game, he probably cost himself millions of dollars in the off-season.

I call BS on that...samuels has been carrying that secondary all year, and it's not like he dropped a gimme in the breadbasket or something. He will make al ot of money, the question is whether the patriots will be paying him or not. They don't like to do that, all their players (except brady, apparently) are just replacable parts to be used by the genius of bill.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by Galaril

Have to remember the line did lose Neil at the end of the 1st half which didn't help.

Off the top of my head, Neal was the second worst lineman in the first half after Nick "turnstile" Kaczur. Big fricking deal. They just didn't show up to play today, and it cost them the game.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by dime

I call BS on that...samuels has been carrying that secondary all year, and it's not like he dropped a gimme in the breadbasket or something. He will make al ot of money, the question is whether the patriots will be paying him or not. They don't like to do that, all their players (except brady, apparently) are just replacable parts to be used by the genius of bill.

It's not that he won't get a big contract. It's just that "and on top of all that, I made the game-winning pick in the dying minutes of the super bowl" would probably have added some dollars to whatever he winds up getting.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Brady did not have a good game, but come on, he was obviously playing with an injury. He wasn't nearly as mobile as he usually is, and his mechanics were obviously affected on some plays. He's still an all-time great QB.

We kept talking about it during the game - his medium to long throws were no where near as crisp and accurate as usual. Something was definitely going on with his health.

Obviously, the Giants got more pressure on him than any team this season, but when Brady did have time he just didn't seem completely healthy.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Anyone else really looking forward to this week's "NFL: In Pictures"?

Well, duh. But, then again, it's my favorite thread pretty much every week

SI

[st.cronin]

Samuels had an excellent game, I thought, and an excellent post-season. He was on Tyree that one TD, but he made sure it had to be a perfect throw.

[dime]

the pats oline wasn't THAT bad...the cowboys' line was getting beat on every single play in their playoff game vs the giants, and they weren't even bringing blitzers.

so when brady plays poorly it's his oline's fault, but when romo puts up more points under more pressure it's his fault for going to mexico with some broad. perception is a funny thing.

[vtbub]

Woot!

[st.cronin]

I also didn't think there was THAT much of a gap between how the New England O-line played today, and how they played Week 17. There was a little bit more pressure, but not much. The difference was Brady, and the Giants secondary playing 100% better.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Some of the comments that Pats-haters have made are far more classless than anything I saw any Pats fans post here this season.

Pats fans are held to a higher standard by the FOFC "classiness" police for some reason.

[Deattribution]

Brady is a great QB, and still one of the best but the better team won tonight. No other way to put it, it doesn't make Brady shitty, him and his team got beat - he didn't lose the game for them by himself.

With that said, I'm glad that the Giants won, and that the Patriots lost. With all the spygate stuff, I really didn't want to see them go undefeated, especially with some of the classeless (mainly the coach) people on their team. Also seeing Eli step up big, and Strahan finally get a ring is great.

[dime]

Originally Posted by molson

Pats fans are held to a higher standard by the FOFC "classiness" police for some reason.

sorry to break it to you, but it's in the rules.

being obsessed with and attempting to control everyone else's perception of your team = not classy. (actually, it's just irritating as hell, but close enough)

[Racer]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry

Not the way I saw it. He stepped away from pressure and moved in the pocket about the same as always. The difference was the frequency of the pressure.

Brady played poorly because that's what QBs do when they're harrassed all game long.

Agree. I always get tired of the quarterback getting primarily blamed for losses (i.e. Peyton Manning). The Patriots lost because the Giants won the battle at the line on both sides of the ball and miraculous play by Eli at the end of the game. Brady is still one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. I'm really glad the Patriots lost though because I think the media would have crowned him as the greatest ever and I think that would have been ridiculous considering how much of a team sport football is.

[MikeVic]

Hahahaha! Greatest thing I could ask for in the Super Bowl. Giants win, Eli playing well, awesome play near the end of te game, TD by Burress. Very nice!

[MikeVic]

I haven't read the thread, but will someone summarize for me if the Pats' fans are being tasteful in defeat or making excuses?

[molson]

Originally Posted by dime

sorry to break it to you, but it's in the rules.

being obsessed with and attempting to control everyone else's perception of your team = not classy. (actually, it's just irritating as hell, but close enough)

I'm not sure you know what "classy" means. But I appreciate the thought that I can apparently control things.

[molson]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

I haven't read the thread, but will someone summarize for me if the Pats' fans are being tasteful in defeat or making excuses?

I've said about 1,000 times how much the Giants kicked ass but am apparently still "not classy".

Oh well, I tried my best...

[Izulde]

I figured out what the blackout was due to. Low blood sugar.

I'm now plowing through a bunch of bananas and a couple apples and feeling much better.

Oh yeah, and the phrase: the 1972 Miami Dolphins, still the only undefeated team in NFL history, is still sweet, sweet music to my ears.

One hell of a Super Bowl and I have to give props to Eli. He did what I never thought he had the ability to do.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by molson

I've said about 1,000 how much the Giants kicked ass but am apparently still "not classy".

Oh well, I tried my best...

Yeah, calling the 72 dolphins a "fraud" is very classy.

What a joke.

[dime]

Originally Posted by molson

I'm not sure you know what "classy" means. But I appreciate the thought that I can apparently control things.

Dude, lighten up. You're always hunting nfl threads for anything patriot-related that may injure you. Your team lost the super bowl and you're on the internet crying about whether or not you or someone else was called "classy" or "not classy" or whatever...why?

it is clear that you are a masochist. that's cool, but don't expect me to humor you with it.

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by molson

I've said about 1,000 times how much the Giants kicked ass but am apparently still "not classy".

Oh well, I tried my best...

I'm just asking, don't want to wade through pages of comments. I thought it was an amazing Super Bowl. Final quarter has to go down as one of the best ever.

[Karlifornia]

Brady's post-game conference was a testament to himself....I give him kudos for being extremely professional in defeat. +1 to Tom Brady. Mercury Morris is still a jerkoff, even if I was rooting for the same result he was.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by molson

The '72 Dolphins are still an overrated embarrassment.

How can a team that is the only undefeated Super Bowl champions be overrated?

An embarrassment? Sure some of them comment when any team has been talked about matching their undefeated record. But I do believe if another team does go undefeated the majority of those guys will congratulate them, including Mercury. Personally I've never had a problem with the 72'ers discounting the greatest season talk whether it's the current Patriots, Colts of last year, or Ditka's Bears. Today's game proves the point, lots of talk all season long and yet the Dolphins are still the only ones in the club. Is it the pressure? Luck? Doesn't really matter does it? They have the only perfect season and have every right to be proud of that.

I'm curious if you are old enough to have watched the 72 Dolphins play? I am (fwiw I've been a Rams fan since 1968 so I'm not an old AFLer or homer for the Fish). They were a great team that had a great 4-5 year run mostly in a 3 yards and a cloud of dust era. They were a bunch of "team first" type of guys, much like todays Patriots, and I would say the majority of football fans wanted to see them go undefeated unlike the Patriots (at least the poll I read was something like 54% wanting the Pats to lose). Not really sure why the Pats get so much hate. More media than 35 years ago with 24 hour coverage? Belicheck? Boston now winning multiple titles in both football and baseball with the Celtics on the rise?

Too me people get lost in trying to make the greatest team argument, ie are the 72 Dolphins the greatest or if the Pats went 19-0 are they the greatest.
IMHO the greatest team argument is something that can never be proved because of different eras. But the greatest season argument at least IMHO is still valid and has to go to the Dolphins as the only undefeated Champions.

And on topic. Congrats to the Giants they played a great game especially on defense. The Pats played hard and had every chance to win. Mercury may claim the pressure of going undefeated did them in, I don't believe that for a moment. Brady did his thing getting a late TD to get the lead and the NE defense didn't fold in the end. Manning just made a great play escaping what looked like a sure sack and Tyree made a great catch despite NE being in positions to deny them. Sometimes that's just the way it goes. NE ends up 18-1, a great accomplishment, but without the championship a disappointment.