NFL '13 SEASON THREAD

[FiddySicks]

All the Romo hate is kind of annoying, and I'm not even a Cowboys fan. He's the only QB that can torch a defense, score 49 points, lose, and get blamed for the loss. Again, Dallas would be looking at a high draft pick if not for Romo.

The problem is that while he really is a good quarterback, he so often makes soul crushing mistakes that costs his team the game it's almost hard to believe it's not staged. I mean, it's downright staggering how often he's blown it in the most critical moments. From the botched extra point in the playoffs vs Seattle in the 05 season, to the two awful interceptions that ultimately cost the Cowboys the game last week, it's been the only thing he's consistently known for. Is it all his fault? No, definitely not. Can it be attributed to bad luck? Yeah at times it definitely can be. But you don't cough up as many games as Tony Romo does and not face severe criticism and shoulder a lot of the blame.

[dfwabel]

Here's a big one. According to Adam Schefter and league source.

Romo done for the season, due to a back injury.

This should be a blessing for frustrated Dallas fans.

Gamesmanship or not, Garrett did not rule Romo out during his press conference. He did say that Orton will be prepared to start and that another QB was going to be signed. Bigger issue is that he has a $22MM cap hit for next year and $20MM hits the remainder of his contract which kicks in next season.

[BBTV]

I don't know the records, but just off the top of my head, I think Orton has a better winning pct against the Eagles than Romo does. The Eagles D isn't nearly as good as it's been made to look. They need mistakes or poor offensive gameplans to look good (or to essentially start with a 21 point lead which changes the opposing offense.) I don't think there's any universe in which Orton would be considered a better QB than Romo, however it could be that for this particular match up, he is.

[FiddySicks]

Did someone say the Cowboys need to sign another quarterback now?

[infrared41]

I want to take this time to thank the Philadelphia Eagles.

It pains me to say it, but so do I.

I'd also like to add that it is entirely ridiculous that the Packers are playing for the division title next week. I'm not complaining, but it is ridiculous.

Apropos of nothing, but I remember when you were a big-time Browns fan. That Packers stock sale sure changed things, huh?

My certificate is still sitting in the UPS envelope it came in. Had it been a standard size, I would have framed it ages ago. (Though I am changing offices in the new year; no time like the present to re-demonstrate how awesome I am.)

It did indeed. Those stock certificates had a much bigger impact on my "fandom" than I thought they would. Initially, I figured I'd just have the Browns and Packers as teams 1a and 1b. Then all the "owner" emails from the team, "owner" stuff like tickets to the shareholders meeting, and all the general "owners" stuff the Packers send in the regular mail, etc. started showing up and it was pretty much over. I knew the Browns were in real trouble when I noticed that I didn't really care what happened in their games while I'd find myself living and dying with the Packers. I still like the Browns and I still consider myself a Browns fan, but there's no doubt who my "favorite" team is - it's the one I "own."

I have one certificate in a matted frame. The rest are in still in their UPS envelope in a safe place. The matting for the framed one looks like a football. At first, I wasn't crazy about the football matte idea but it turned out pretty cool. Back when we were all lining up to buy Packers stock, you said the certificates would be a real conversation piece. Yeah, they are just a little bit. This Thanksgiving at the in-laws I was telling my GF's uncle about them. He got so fired up over the stock certificates that I ended up driving home to get one just so I could show it to him. If people get that fired up over the stock, I can't wait to see their reaction to a Shareholder's Super Bowl Ring. Now the Pack just need to win another Super Bowl.

[ninersdd]

Did someone say the Cowboys need to sign another quarterback now?

What about:

[Unocal]

With all due respect to Oakland/Jacksonville/Baltimore, the Buffalo Bills can fire the biggest rocket launcher at the AFC playoff picture- New England could potentially drop all the way to the 4 seed depending on other results.

Pats ceiling could be getting the #1 seed or have to go through the KC/Cincinnati/Denver trifecta gauntlet of death with only 1 home game.

New England could go all the way as a 1/2/3 seed, BUT if they're the 4- no way.

[dfwabel]

Here is a list of who is "available" most with playing experience. A who's who of Champions.....

(Credit: thesidelineview.com)

Vince Young
John Skelton
Matt Leinart
Tyler Thigpen
Byron Leftwich
David Carr
Caleb Hanie
Tim Tebow
Trent Edwards
Charlie Batch
John Beck
Mike Kafka
JaMarcus Russell
Graham Harrell
B.J. Coleman
Pat White
Nathan Enderle
John Parker Wilson
Levi Brown
Jerrod Johnson

[Rockstar Matt]

Here's a big one. According to Adam Schefter and league source.

Romo done for the season, due to a back injury.

This should be a blessing for frustrated Dallas fans.

Yeah, you're delusional. With Romo, we had a good chance at winning, now with him gone, I don't see how we can win this game.

Worse of all, this could mean Garrett will be back regardless of the outcome Sunday.

Time to focus exclusively on the Kings and Lakers.

EDIT: Other reports, including Garrett's own words, are saying that Romo is day-to-day. If he has some good practices, he'll play. Say what you want about Romo, but you can't say he isn't tough.

[Lee Noire]

Did someone say the Cowboys need to sign another quarterback now?

Yes swap one guy with a thing for picks with another. I'm in.

Seriously, losing Romo would suck because love him or hate him, he is the best we could hope to have right now. Hell he was the reason the Boys have a chance to get in the dance. As I type this I understand he is also one of the reasons it's down to this final game.

Wins your heart and also breaks it. Maybe Favre is perfect for the job.

[Alex Houston]

Aren't the Cardinals missing out on a playoff birth because the Top 4 have to go to a divisional winner? I know you have to have divisions stand for something, but that's just plain wrong.

[Kramerica Industries]

All the Romo hate is kind of annoying, and I'm not even a Cowboys fan. He's the only QB that can torch a defense, score 49 points, lose, and get blamed for the loss. Again, Dallas would be looking at a high draft pick if not for Romo.

Yeah, I'm going to need to agree with this. Romo makes his fair share of mistakes and many of them are ill-timed (too many for it to be a coincidence), but, jeez, this guy saved their bacon yesterday on the same back that has ended his season now. He deserves his due.

[dbadefense1990]

Aren't the Cardinals missing out on a playoff birth because the Top 4 have to go to a divisional winner? I know you have to have divisions stand for something, but that's just plain wrong.

It was plain wrong for a 7-9 Seattle team to have a home playoff game a couple of years ago, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Not only do the top four seeds go to division winners, they each are guaranteed at least one home playoff game. It's just a blip for Arizona to be in the position they're in with the chance of missing the playoffs, despite having a better record than anyone from the NFC's North and East.

Actually, it's incredible how in only four years, the NFC West turns from laughable to the toughest division in all the league.

[Kramerica Industries]

If what happened in 1985, or 2008, or likely 2013 happened in MLB (an 11-5 team missing the playoffs), you know Bud Selig would have one incredibly reactionary half-move in place for the next season.

All I need to prove that is what happened in 1993 and 2011.

[HedleyLamarr]

It's a good thing this game means nothing for the Falcons. Got a feeling that this game will wind up being like most Falcons trips to San Francisco....blowout win by the 49ers.

Gonna mute Tirico and Gruden (which I find to be a good listen) in favor of the Falcons' radio crew. They'll be about the only thing close to "neutral bias" tonight.

[Kramerica Industries]

Well, I can sometimes excuse it under special circumstances when one team receives the lions share of the attention.

ESPN had the final game at the old Yankee Stadium in 2008; it wasn't as if they were going to spend ~50% of the broadcast discussing Orioles-related matters. No one would've expected them to and, frankly, even Orioles fans would not have wanted to hear that.

Same thing with the Falcons here. Besides the fact that they've had a horrific season, Candlestick is a historic place in the history of the league; ESPN SHOULD be fixated on it for this occasion.

(not that you ever disagreed with any of this; just my two cents on why this broadcast will be highly slanted tonight.)

[ninersdd]

It's a good thing this game means nothing for the Falcons. Got a feeling that this game will wind up being like most Falcons trips to San Francisco....blowout win by the 49ers.

Gonna mute Tirico and Gruden (which I find to be a good listen) in favor of the Falcons' radio crew. They'll be about the only thing close to "neutral bias" tonight.

It's been 12 years since the Niners beat ATL at home. Last game before 9/11 I believe.

[HedleyLamarr]

It's a good thing this game means nothing for the Falcons. Got a feeling that this game will wind up being like most Falcons trips to San Francisco....blowout win by the 49ers.

Gonna mute Tirico and Gruden (which I find to be a good listen) in favor of the Falcons' radio crew. They'll be about the only thing close to "neutral bias" tonight.

It's been 12 years since the Niners beat ATL at home. Last game before 9/11 I believe.

Yeah, but how many games....like two?

When the two were in the same division, it seemed like just about every Falcons-49ers game in San Francisco had the 49ers up 17-0 in the first quarter. Been a ton of blowouts in the series.

[ninersdd]

Yeah I know. You can manipulate the stats to make it seem like it's a massive drought. I'll admit I kinda remember the Falcons and Saints being in the division, but was still little to remember the whippings the team would administer to the teams.

[Kramerica Industries]

9/9/2001, an OT victory for the Niners.

Jose Cortez kicked the winning FG, hahahaha. Haven't heard that name in years. I may be mixing kickers, but wasn't he one of the barefoot kickers, and wasn't he also freaking terrible as well?

Here's a full list of Falcons/Niners games.

EDIT: Well, apparently not on the first one, but I do remember that guy missing so many <30 yard field goal tries back in the day.