Football Outsiders

21 Dec 2004, 02:24pm by Aaron Schatz

TMQ: All-Unwanted All-Pros

Our friend Gregg Easterbrook has more on the mediocrity of the NFC, his all-released All-Pro team, and his usual look at sweet plays, sour plays, good blocks, and chickening out. He also thinks the Patriots are a little distracted right now. Oh Notre Dame, why do you hurt us?

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20 Dec 2004, 06:22pm by Russell Levine

Owens Likely Out for the Season

Uh oh, Philly fans, here comes the news you really, really didn't want to hear. There's an "outside shot" Terrell Owens could return in time for the Super Bowl, but he's likely out for the season.

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20 Dec 2004, 05:07pm by Michael David Smith

Ferguson Remains Hospitalized After Hit

The Packers' Robert Ferguson will spend tonight in the hospital after being clotheslined by Donovin Darius. Darius insists he didn't mean to hurt anyone. I'm not sure from looking at the tape. But here's my real question: Why is it that the penalty for a cheap shot is 15 yards, and the penalty for pointing at someone after making a big play is 15 yards? Yes, I know Darius was also ejected, but players who deliver illegal blows usually get only the 15 with no ejection. I'm thinking that if I played in the NFL I'd rather have someone taunt me than try to decapitate me.

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20 Dec 2004, 04:50pm by Aaron Schatz

Snap Judgment: Eli in Trouble

I'm setting new records for mean e-mail with today's Snap Judgment QB ratings at ESPN.com, thanks to a look at quarterbacks whose rookie years were similar to Eli Manning. Let's get the angry e-mails out of the way now. Yes, I know there are a number of reasons why Manning has struggled this season that have nothing to do with him personally. Yes, he had a very good game on Saturday and his numbers could look very different in two weeks. But the list of similar rookies is, shall we say, unpleasant, even after taking Saturday into account.

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20 Dec 2004, 02:26pm by Aaron Schatz

MMQB: The Kid Stays in the Picture

This week Peter King sings the praises of Eli Manning, criticizes Jake Delhomme for his play-faking ability, calls out Shaun Alexander for being a wuss (!), and tells an odd story about a woman at a bar with some really strange ideas about the NFL.

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18 Dec 2004, 05:07pm by Aaron Schatz

Jacksonville -- an NFL Town?

If Jacksonville loves its Jaguars so much, why can't the team sell out the stadium? The Jaguars have put a tarp over 10,000 seats so they can broadcast locally. Did the NFL make a mistake putting a team in such a small market -- and is a Jaguar move likely down the road? The Sports Economist comments, based on this (free registration required) Orlando Sentinel article by David Whitley.

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1 comment, Last at 22 Dec 2006, 7:09pm by Baccarat

17 Dec 2004, 06:35pm by Michael David Smith

Dr. Z: Commissioner for a Day

The Doc is in fine form today, as he tells us what he'd do if he had Paul Tagliabue's job:

"I'd get rid of all artificial surfaces. I'd make sure all NFL sponsored products were made in the USA. For all the phony flag waving the league does, all the NFL-sponsored clothing I've come across is made in places like Honduras or the Philippines, none in the U.S. To paraphrase the slogan of the British firm of Marks & Spencer ("British Goods mean British Jobs"), American goods mean American jobs."

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16 Dec 2004, 01:30pm by P. Ryan Wilson

The Knock On Urlacher? Here It Is

I hesitate to even mention this, but the Sporting News has named Brian Urlacher the most overrated player in the NFL...again (CBS Sportsline crowned Urlacher with the same title back in August). Of course Lovie Smith feels differently, and the Chicago Tribune has a story in today's paper that gives mixed reviews on Urlacher's status based on discussions with more than a dozen NFL scouts.

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14 Dec 2004, 03:47pm by Aaron Schatz

TMQ: A Lesson Learned

This week our man TMQ discusses how Pittsburg of Kansas has been punished by the football gods, plus sweet plays, sour plays, good blocking, stupid punts, Christmas albums, and the approaching mediocrity of the NFC playoffs.

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1 comment, Last at 10 Dec 2006, 5:23pm by College Cheerleaders

14 Dec 2004, 10:00am by P. Ryan Wilson

Pinkston: "I Lost it in the Lights"

Anyone watching the Eagles-Redskins game Sunday night might've wondered why WR Todd Pinkston pulled up short on a long pass over the middle from Donovan McNabb. Apparently he lost it in the lights. I was watching the play in question, and unless "I lost it in the lights" is a euphemism for "I stopped running because I didn't want to get the stuffing knocked out of me by the safety," then I'm not convinced. To make matters worse, Joe Theismann spent the next few minutes accusing Pinkston of having "alligator body." Nice. (free registration/bugmenot required)

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