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This is doing nothing to diminish the disappointment of the Titan loss. As it stands now, everything worked perfectly for us to get in the playoffs. Except us winning.

Is he the disappointing former FSU quarterback? Name a Florida St. QB that hasn't been. Chris Weinke's about as bad as I expected him to be. :)

It was a great game, but you could tell it was a young team whose luck had simply run out against a veteran team that did just enough. I can't complain though, it was a great year and much better than I expected. Lots of great, young talent to build around. Plus, one of the best coaches in the league will be sticking around for a few more years (at the expense of a solid GM in Floyd Reese though). I didn't especially like Belichek letting Testaverde throw the final TD pass, it had a distinct lack of class. If he wanted Vinny to get a last touchdown, he should have put him in earlier.

I don't think it was a brutal decision. Paul Johnson had been coaching very aggressively the whole game, Kaipo's been throwing well from what I saw and a first down ends the game. I'm assuming he told Kaipo to be careful with the ball and not do anything dumb (which he wasn't careful). With a mobile QB like Kaipo, you have the added threat of the run which increases the likelihood that someone comes open or a hole develops for Kaipo to run through. Not a terrible call, but it should have been executed better. They needed 15 yards and BC was still looking run. If Navy got beat cause they were picked throwing a pass there, it'd be a lot more forgivable to me. It was simply far too much risk to take, when they were already in the driver's seat, only needing to not completely melt down on defense to win. I would have preferred a playaction pass there, especially with BC looking run like you said. But the option is the bread and butter of Navy and typically is a semi safe call for a team that specializes in it. Plus, after looking at it again, Campbell had a fair amount of room to run after catching the pitch. With his speed, it's quite possible he gains at least close to the needed yardage. And there is no reason he shouldn't have caught the pitch, it was fine, so I blame Campbell not Kaipo.

I don't think it was a brutal decision. Paul Johnson had been coaching very aggressively the whole game, Kaipo's been throwing well from what I saw and a first down ends the game. I'm assuming he told Kaipo to be careful with the ball and not do anything dumb (which he wasn't careful). With a mobile QB like Kaipo, you have the added threat of the run which increases the likelihood that someone comes open or a hole develops for Kaipo to run through. Not a terrible call, but it should have been executed better.

Penn State was just helped out. UT wide receiver Bret Smith was declared academically ineligible to play in the Outback Bowl. :cry: Granted he's our third receiver, but if we can't run on that Nittany Lion D we will need him. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls06/news/story?id=2714916

Interesting. I heard this morning on Sunday (actually Saturday) NFL Countdown that Tom Brady won't play significant time against the Titans tommorow. Great news for 1/4th of what we need to happen to make the playoffs.

That's what I thought, but from what I've read, they don't seem to be just handing him the job. Kelly Johnson is the guy they really want to slot in at 2b. I think it might have something to do with them wanting a "prototypical" lead off hitter, which Johnson sort of is. Maybe the plan is to trade LaRoche, move Chipper to 1b and move Aybar to 3b. But, I also read that they really want to find a spot in the line up for Scott Thorman. 1b makes the most sense for him if they move LaRoche. Is Kelly Johnson going to be healthy? He was injured all last year with two different injuries, I believe. Trading LaRoche would open up first for Thorman, then I guess it'll be a battle between primarily Johnson (if healthy), Aybar and Orr for second. I still think Aybar wins that, he's too good not to start somewhere.

If the intent was to re-sign him, the best idea would be to frontload the contract so that he's hitting the cheaper years as Soriano, et al hit their expensive years. Of course there is the option others have mentioned of letting him walk. The problem with that scenario is that MLB doesn't like/won't allow players to start off with frontloaded contracts. Players don't get to claim the 10-15% increase on their salary based on their highest paid year, just the last year. Hmm. Interesting, I had never heard that. Oh well, so much for that idea.

While I'm not aware that any of the guys the Braves have are the next Jeff Kent, they do have plenty of guys that they like at 2b for next year. Prado, Aybar, Johnson and Orr are all options, and all might or likely are better than Cedeno or Theriot. The production Giles has given them the last year wouldn't be hard to match from one of the above guys. I would be absolutely shocked if Willie Aybar isn't the starting second baseman for the Braves. They a traded Wilson Betemit, who Schuerholz has been very high on, for him and played Aybar as much as possible wherever possible. If he doesn't start for some reason (pitiful spring training or injury?) it'd likely be Orr as a stop gap, though he's better in a utility role I think.

If the intent was to re-sign him, the best idea would be to frontload the contract so that he's hitting the cheaper years as Soriano, et al hit their expensive years. Of course there is the option others have mentioned of letting him walk.

They've had injuries but have also grossly underperformed. Del Rio also allowed the rumors between Leftwich and Garrard to get too big. They should have 11-12 wins with the injuries, as it is they're likely to miss the playoffs. Plus they've been swept by the Texans.

Payton's done a great job, but if the Titans make the playoffs Fisher's got to win. The Titans have some of the least talent overall of anybody and Fisher (with some luck of course) would have turned them into a playoff team. If the Titans don't make the playoffs, then Payton probably should win it. I disagree. Before the season, no one thought the Saints had any talent either. Even at 3-0, people were doubting the Saints. While Fisher has done a nice job bringing a mid-season resugence to the Titans, Payton started his outstanding job in training camp and has his team which had a worse 2005 record than the Titans not only in the playoffs, but has secured them a first round bye. Payton has been the coach of the year, and it's not even close. The Saints have more talent than the Titans though - even at the beginning of the season, I don't think too many people would think otherwise. Sure, expectations were low for both teams, but with the Saints, expectations were low because of previous lack of success and questions over Brees' health. I figured the Saints would be much better than the Titans, so their being in the playoff hunt is as impressive to me as the Saints having the second best record in the NFC. Exactly. I'm not so much surprised the Saints are in the playoffs as that they are the second seed. I didn't think before the year that the Saints would be in the playoffs, but I thought they could be respectable. I'm surprised the Titans have more than 4 wins.

Payton's done a great job, but if the Titans make the playoffs Fisher's got to win. The Titans have some of the least talent overall of anybody and Fisher (with some luck of course) would have turned them into a playoff team. If the Titans don't make the playoffs, then Payton probably should win it.

The Packers are vying for a playoff spot. Jacksonville/KC features two teams are going for a playoff spot. And there are many other games where one team is going for a playoff spot, and their opponent might actually leave the starters in well into the 2nd half. :wink: Another good one (and maybe I'm just a homer) seems to be New England/Tennessee. Two teams fighting for playoff position (NE) and the miraculous hope that they can make it (TN). Seems like a great story to me, plus like ndistops said, both teams will leave in their starters. Also, it's an absolute crime that no one in the media has even mentioned Jeff Fisher for Coach of the Year. If the Titans miss the playoffs I don't think he should get it, but if we do there's no team more unlikely or generally less talented. Yeah. When I was setting up the scoreboard at work tonight I was looking at the games more closely and I would have liked to see the New England/Tennessee game moved to Sunday night. The only problem with that is, which I just thought of, is that all the other games will have been played so theoretically the playoff positions could all be determined already (i.e. if NY Jets and Denver both win then Tennessee is out). This is why the NFL should have all the games be played at the same. When Jamal Lewis got his 2000 yards a couple years ago, Billick didn't play him much in the second half (he could have set the single season record) because they were playing in the Sunday Night game and their playoff seeding was secured. If the NFL doesn't want to have all the games played at one time then in Week 17 they should have only NFC-NFC and AFC-AFC matchups instead of AFC-NFC matchups. Then all the NFC games can be played at one time and all the AFC games at the later time. That way, every team with a shot at the playoffs (or with their specific playoff seed in doubt) will have to give it their all. Good point, I hadn't thought of that. It could work the other way, though. Consider if the Broncos and Bengals both lose and the Chiefs win. All of a sudden the Titans are in a win and in situation. That would be a great story and game.

Yes, the Raiders defense is good. But doesn't it say something that the defense is good (4th least ypg allowed) but the team is 2-13? That offense is, by far, the worst in the league and is completely incompetent. Fewest ppg and ypg. Randy Moss doesn't care. Shell pissed off Jerry Porter in the beginning of the year. He picked an offensive coordinator who hadn't worked in football AT ANY LEVEL since 1999 and then replaced him with John Shoop. The offense has scored 12 touchdowns this year. 12. The Raiders have some talent on offense. It's not great, but it's there. It shouldn't be worst in the league bad. They play in a tough division but should have at least 4 more wins this year. I realize that the Raiders didn't really have any expectations the year so they aren't the biggest disappointment this year. But Art Shell is a horrendous coach. I would take any of the four coaches you listed over Art Shell any day of the week without even thinking about it. He certainly hasn't done a good job but he has significantly less talent than any of the other coaches on there. It's true that Randy Moss and Jerry Porter are on the offense, but Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter have been throwing them the ball. The o-line is awful and the offensive struggles have caused Moss and Porter to basically quit on the team (which they've been known to do-especially Moss). Shell should go out and find a good offensive coordinator, the Raiders should take Brady Quinn or another good QB in the draft and get rid of Moss and Porter. Will they be good next year doing that? No, but they also won't trying to patch the current issues. Rebuild around that solid, young defense and try to develop an offense. I still think it's too early to fire Shell.

Good point, except I think Jeff Fisher deserves consideration even if the Titans don't make the playoffs. How about worst coaching job? My ballot goes: 1. Art Shell 2. Tom Coughlin 3. Dennis "the Nutty Professor" Green 4. John Fox I actually wouldn't go with Art Shell at the top of the list. Sure he hasn't done great but there are coaches with far more talent that are getting less out of their team. At least Shell has the defense playing well. My bottom five are: 1. Tom Coughlin (even late injuries aren't an excuse for the team's horrible play the last few weeks) 2. John Fox (would be #1 but he gets some slack because he was missing Steve Smith early and Jake Delhomme recently) 3. Dennis Green (I never thought the Cards would be great- their o-line is still too young- but they should have been respectable) 4. Jack Del Rio (lots of talent but he couldn't even realize his best QB was Leftwich, plus that insanely talented D is showing some holes) 5. Art Shell (don't think he should be fired, let him work for a couple more years since the defense is solid)

Dangit, I didn't read your post before I posted my rant. :oops: Oh well, I agree with you that Fisher should win if the Titans make the playoffs and should be strongly considered if we don't. I've also said for a long time that he's easily one of the best coaches in the NFL and the Titans and our fans were rather silly for wanting rid of him.

The Packers are vying for a playoff spot. Jacksonville/KC features two teams are going for a playoff spot. And there are many other games where one team is going for a playoff spot, and their opponent might actually leave the starters in well into the 2nd half. :wink: Another good one (and maybe I'm just a homer) seems to be New England/Tennessee. Two teams fighting for playoff position (NE) and the miraculous hope that they can make it (TN). Seems like a great story to me, plus like ndistops said, both teams will leave in their starters. Also, it's an absolute crime that no one in the media has even mentioned Jeff Fisher for Coach of the Year. If the Titans miss the playoffs I don't think he should get it, but if we do there's no team more unlikely or generally less talented.

Now there's a good reason to go to work.

Solid signing by the Indians. Foulke hasn't pitched regularly since 2004, but that year he posted a 2.17 ERA and 79 k's to only 15 walks. Last year in 44 innings he had a 4.35 ERA but his k:BB was still great at 36 strikeouts to 7 walks. Quite a good signing for the Tribe really regardless of money since it's a one-year deal.

why does this seem oddly realistic? edit:oops puncuation Don't worry, it's not. The Cards are giving up way too much. One of those two might possibly be somewhat serviceable in a couple years for the Marlins.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the Vols take on Penn State. I realize we've played before, but I wasn't into football near as much as I am now and barely even remember us playing. This game is similar to the UT/Michigan game from 2001 in that it pits two schools with good (UT) to great (PSU) prestige who rarely play against each other. The outcome of that UM game was pretty favorable too. :D

The difference being that Cedeno has had some MLB experience and success. Izturis' hitting was terrible nearly his entire major league career, except for one half-season, where pitchers never saw enough of him to expose his crippling weaknesses at the plate. Once they did, he tanked as always has. He has little if any chance to improve, IMO You dislike the fact that Izturis has only had a good half season and then say Cedeno has a chance to improve because he was good for 41 games? If either has the better chance to improve it's Izturis who is closer to his peak than Cedeno. Also, Izturis' good half year lasted 159 games where he posted a .330 OBP. Granted not great, but he was 24 at the time. I just don't understand the opinion that there is no chance whatsoever that Izturis will even become a decent player. He's talked about like he's in his mid 30's and not mid 20's. And I'm not saying I think he will, just that because of his age there is the possibility. It seems like certain posters don't like Izturis and are very vocal about it. Others just like jumping in with them. Not everyone here thinks Izturis is going to be pitiful. God help Izturis if he gets off to a slow start. But, even if he starts off hot, then the ones that don't like him are going to be talking about how it's a fluke and he'll start sucking eventually and the cubs should trade him while he's got good value. It's really a no-win situation for some players. Don't get me wrong, I realize not everyone thinks Izturis has no hope. In fact, I'm not crazy about him, especially at $4 mil+ this year. I just feel like there is a chance he may begin to hit decently at some point. Certainly I don't think he's much more unlikely than Cedeno to begin hitting.

You sure we're eliminated? There's still two spots free and I believe we could still grab the other. Of course, whether the Jets win or lose, it's ridicoulously unlikely anyway.