<p>Bad calls are just part of the game. A “touchdown” that didn’t get within two yards of the end zone knocked the Seahawks out of the playoffs several years ago, and was the reason the NFL added instant replay that offseason. A ref for their last Super Bowl appearance publicly apologized for his game-changing bad calls a couple years later. The Steelers would probably have been in the playoffs this year if the refs had called San Diego’s illegal formation for the missed field goal the last week of the season. Every team can point to bad calls that changed a key game.</p>
<p>Too bad that Richard Sherman forgot to shift from on-the-field mode to on-the-microphone in his excitement for making the play that sealed the game for his team. I’d rather not have seen that, but I’m not going to think that it’s a big deal.</p>
<p>It was not just any game- it was the NFC Championship Game. Win and you’re in the Super Bowl. I can’t imagine working hard all season and coming up that short in going to the big game. It’s like working all year in school and scoring an 89.845.</p>
<p>According to ESPN, this will be the first time since the merger that the #1 offense faces the #1 defense in the Super Bowl. This could be very interesting indeed. Will Seattle find the holes in Manning’s pocket? Will Manning find the holes in Seattle’s secondary? Could be epic!</p>
<p>As to the bad calls, in the 4th quarter alone Kaepernick took a delay of game penalty, took a sack which resulted in a fumble, and threw two interceptions. You can’t play like that in a conference title game and expect to win, bad officiating or not.</p>
<p>ek – D texted me: “The internet is calling it the Stoner Bowl.”</p>
<p>Since I don’t care one bit about either of the superbowl teams this year, I am looking forward to enjoying the commercials, with some occasional football highlights inserted here and there.</p>
<p>Actually I like the football better when I’m not emotionally involved. It’s amazing how you can get a physical reaction to the tension of a football game that actually means something to you personally (or you perceive it does). I think this has been a really great football season - or so it seems that way, both in college and pro.</p>
<p>I am beginning to think Richard Sherman is a genius. If he had just said how good the 49ers were and what a great game it was all we would be seeing today would be clips of the final play. Instead, the airwaves are filled with whether his comments were appropriate, is he the best corner in the league, how the conflict arose with Crabtree, etc. He has shifted the conversation to himself – a marketing genius. </p>
<p>One of the commentators on TV said that Sherman’s reference to LOB was a reference to Legion of Boom which is the name the Hawk’s defensive backfield gave them selves. Great name.</p>
<p>YES THIS! I was literally raised to be an Alabama football fan (you may send sympathy cards for how our season ended! ), but I HATE how emotional I can get when watching their games. Good news is I tend to clean when nervous, so my kitchen and, in particular, my gas range, gets REAL clean during games. </p>
<p>I do love football, though, and tend not to watch professional football as much because the players and fans don’t usually seem all that emotionally invested in the game (contradiction, I know). HOWEVER, that game last night was great and, for once, I am really looking forward to the Super Bowl! I will definitely be pulling for the Brocos. But not to the extent that any cleaning will occur.</p>
It’s bad enough to be a jerk in the heat of the moment. If that was deliberately planned? That’s even worse.</p>
<p>
Really? How many Seahawks have been suspended for drug violations over the last couple of years? Including Sherman himself, who managed to get off on a technicality.</p>
<p>To most of us, it’s just a game, but of course to the players and coaches, i
t’s their livelihood. And imo, Harbaugh always looks like a sourpuss.</p>
<p>Well, if you want to go there, consider “spygate” and New England’s offer of a long-term contract extension to Aaron Hernandez. Bill Bellichick may be one of the best football coaches who ever lived but from all outward appearances comes across as a completely amoral human being. But, in the context of his sport, that’s fine. No one is paying him to do anything but maximize his team’s chances of winning. </p>
<p>Likewise, Jim Harbaugh kept Aldon Smith on the field this year through his DUI proceedings, more or less oblivious to any calls from the public to take a moral stand. </p>
<p>Hell, at least it’s now legal to get baked in Washington (albeit still against league rules). </p>
<p>Long story short: If you’re looking for moral inspiration on Saturdays and Sundays, you need to be in a house of worship, not watching anyone who coaches modern-day football.</p>
<p>“The roughing versus running into the kicker judgement call”</p>
<p>The commentators pointed out that the hit was on the plant leg (the one that was injured) requiring a 15 yd penalty, which would have vastly changed the game in SF’s favor.</p>
<p>I know that’s what Pereirra said, but if that’s the way the rule works, it’s really stupid. The Seahawks rusher clearly was trying to pull up and stuck both arms into the turf to arrest his momentum. I had always thought the 5/15 line had something to do with that and not just which leg gets hit. Calling it the other way could increase injury; if a guy knows he’s going into the plant leg regardless of what he does, he may as well hit it hard and see if he can force the other team to use its back-up punter for the rest of the day.</p>
<p>The commentators are often hyperbolic. The official may have thought acting was involved. We can’t know. </p>
<p>Richard Sherman is a DB, double meaning intended. It’s too bad he plays for a coach who enables that kind of behavior. The deflection at the end had nothing to do with the receiver; the ball was thrown just low enough for the DBag to reach, which was the QB’s mistake. </p>
<p>The difference between Wilson and Kaepernick is Wilson makes a bunch of plays in a row, while Kaepernick makes a handful of plays and a bunch of relatively poor plays. In other words, Wilson is more reliable. He also throws a ball with more arc and touch.</p>
Are you saying the Patriots knew he was a murderer and signed him anyway? His contract was in August of 2012, the Odin LLoyd case happened in June 2013. They cut him within hours of his arrest, even though it will probably cost them a lot of money. The double murder he is now being investigated for happened in July 2012. Do you honestly think the Patriots would have given him millions of dollars if they had any inkling that he was involved in activities like this? I don’t think so.</p>
<p>As for spygate, their crime was having a camera in the wrong place after a memo went out. Big deal.</p>
<p>The Denver Broncos were fined and docked a draft pick in the 90’s for illegally circumventing the salary cap, which allowed them to keep both John Elway and Terrell Davis on the team. Think maybe that had any impact on their Super Bowl wins in’97 and '98?
<p>Gee whiz. I’m a big Patriots fan. This group is tough!</p>
<p>That said, I’m glad the Broncos made it to the Super Bowl. They played much harder, tougher and smarter yesterday. Manning looked much better yesterday than in other recent games.</p>
<p>Hope the Patriots re-group for next year in a big way and all the players are back and off the injured list.</p>
), but I HATE how emotional I can get when watching their games. Good news is I tend to clean when nervous, so my kitchen and, in particular, my gas range, gets REAL clean during games. </p>