KingPK

If it ends up causing Harrison and/or James to leave due to cap issues, no way. The Colts weren't exactly in great cap shape before this deal, and this might not help much. The Boston Herald reported yesterday that Ted Washington was "within 24-48 hours" of signing a new deal with the Pats, but his agent calls that report "premature." Also, Ty Law rejected the Pats' first contract offer, calling it a "slap in the face".

MLB: The SAWX~! NHL: Bruins, but not a serious fan of hockey NFL: NE Pats NBA: Haven't been a fan since the Basketball Jesus retired When you grow up in New England (except for Connecticut, and misguided Rhode Islanders *coughZACKcough*), you root for the Boston teams. It's preordained.

Guess it isn't really the offseason until the Skins fuck themselves over. Trust Dan Snyder to pick up the "guy everyone is talking about" and overpay for him. All he needs for motivation is Bill Callahan's head glued on the tackling dummies.

Hey Adam, sorry about the lack of reply of your PM about the match, I really haven't been online much due to an Attack of Real Life (read: my brother having a heart attack) that didn't really put me in the mood to do much. He's doing fine though, so things are slowly getting back to normal. Just so you all know, I may not come back full time until after Anglemania, since I really haven't been paying attention when it comes to storylines and I just don't think I have much to bring to the table. I know Sly wanted to do something with me for Anglemania, so he has free reign to use PK however he wants and I'll pitch in with ideas when I get them. Just wanted to give you all an update. .

Well, Confidential was a repeat, so I decided to pass on a recap, but I did write something regarding the game, including my score, so I might as well post it here. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You know, looking through all this coverage and “expert opinion” these past 2 weeks, I’ve seen a pretty common belief: the Carolina Panthers are the New England Patriots of two years ago, the team that upset a heavily favored Rams team to win the title. Now, I happen to agree with that for the most part, since there are similarities: a QB that wasn’t the starter on Opening Day, who does enough to win without screwing up, a power runner that is able to take the pressure off the QB, a special teams corps that can make plays, and a defense that plays very tough and doesn’t let teams into the end zone much. I definitely can see that comparison, but I don’t think it matters this time around. Why? Has anyone thought about that Rams team? Can you draw any comparisons between them and the ’03 Patriots? I can’t. The 2003 Patriots are no where close to that Rams team, and that’s a GOOD thing. Looking back at that game in New Orleans, the Rams were overconfident, VERY overconfident. The players were talking about dynasties (“Tonight, the dynasty is born!!”), and they seemed to figure that the Patriots team they faced earlier in the season would be the same one they would face in that game. But they were caught off-guard by how NE came out; instead of blitzing the QB like in the first game, the Pats D instead pounded the Rams receivers, getting into their heads and causing them to make mistakes. And I really believe that, on that last drive, the Rams kind of softened up, since they thought the Patriots were playing for OT, which was their last mistake. Where am I going with this? During these last two weeks, have you heard any Patriots player NOT talk about Carolina as “Our toughest game all year” or “We’re going to have to play our best to beat these guys”? There is NO WAY this team will be overconfident; their coach just will not allow it, and the players just don’t have that type of personality. Now, the Carolina Panthers are a good team, you have to be to make it this far, and their defense should be one of the best for the next few years, BUT, I believe that if Carolina wins this game, it will be a bigger upset than the one two years ago. The Patriots are just too focused to get overconfident, or collapse under pressure. The Carolina defensive line is probably the best in the NFL, but the Patriots have the better defense overall. And will people stop saying that the Patriots have no running game? Antowain Smith and Kevin Faulk are enough of a running game to get things done for this team. I’d like them to get a good RB in the first round of the draft, I admit, but it’s enough for right now. Earlier last week, I believed this to be a close, 20-13 game, but as I read all the articles and all the hype, I realized something; the Patriots are just a better overall team. And if you want to make a comparison to past Superbowls, a better comparison is probably the Superbowl in 1986, with NE as the Bears (dominating defense, but no one near the talent of Walter Peyton) and Carolina as the Patriots (scrappy team that won big games on the road to get to the Super Bowl). Carolina will fare a little bit better then that Patriots team did, but it won’t be a close game past the first half. Carolina may not even reach the end zone in this one. Final score: Patriots 28 Panthers 9 So there you go, crucify me if you must.

Confidential sounds like a repeat, but I might do a recap anyway just to get my Superbowl thoughts in.

Oh, I am SO glad I decided to watch the Celtics game tonight. It's becoming very obvious to me that Paul Pierce isn't the same player without Antoine to take some of the slack off. He can't do it by himself. We're playing for ping pong balls, kids!! Yep, it's the third "rebuilding" phase in 12 years for this team.

Yes you would, that's pretty much what a folder like The Junk Drawer would be for: threads that don't really fit any of the other folders, or ones that are just for shits and giggles. I enjoy some of those dumb threads too, but a folder name like "No Holds Barred" and "Hardcore Discussion" just doesn't sound right; it kind of invites people to flame and be mean spirited. And any thread in and other folder that gets off-topic or just dumb, it can be moved there, or, as the mods will be required to say every time, "I'm tossing this one in the Junk Drawer." (OMG PUN~!)

The recruiting in MM is just too simplistic: you get an allotment of "recruitment points" that you spend to woo players. A visit by the head coach costs the most, followed by a visit by an assistant coach, a call from the head, and a call from the assistant. You can also select something to emphasize to the recruit to try and convince him (location, coaching philosophy, playing time, prestige), but it doesn't really tell you which is effective. Recruiting boils down to using a bunch of points on your recruit and praying that he accepts. As far as ESPN's foul shooting, I think it remains the same.

*Creates Global Conquering Ltd.*

Actually, I was the one who started the original thread around Christmas, and I rented both games. My conclusion was that I'd be happy with either. I wound up with March Madness, and I've been enjoying myself. I'll hit each of your points: -Extensive dynasty mode with very real to life recruiting.: I'd probably go with ESPN here. You can keep in contact with high schoolers during the season and your team's performance, along with how much attention you give them, can either warm the player up to your school, or pass you up for a better program. -Solid gameplay, I don't need to be blown away by it but it's gotta at least be realistic.: ESPN plays a little too much like a pro game, where you don't really have to pass much to find a good shot. In MM, you have pressure on your guy almost all the time, and passing is key to get an open shot. The computer is also pretty unforgiving with bad passes; they steal or tip it quite a bit, but not enough to be frustrating (and there are gameplay sliders that you can adjust to your preference) -Ability to leave a team I'm coaching and coach another WITHOUT having to start a new career, which I remember March Madness used to suffer from: You can resign from your job at any time and go to another program in both games. -Good graphics, doesn't have to wow me but I'd also like it to be good enough so I don't laugh at them: The crowds don't look too hot in either game, but the graphics are pretty nice, and the animations are pretty smooth. Another tie here. Do what I did: rent them both, if you can, and see which one you prefer. But I don't think you will be disappointed with either game.

Just merge it with GC, rename the folder "The Junk Drawer" or something, and be done with it. Message boards shouldn't "require" a folder for people to act stupid in, especially if it isn't entertaining to everyone else.

8 from me. Good post-PPV show that set up some new things. I'm intrigued by the Axel-Crystal twist, the Panther-Bryte match was probably MOTN, but Zack-Hoff was very good in it's own right. I liked that little bit in the end with CWM collapsing, preventing the "OMG he was faking all along, he's not hurt!!" plot twist, which is kind of played. And the commentary was golden, as always, probably one of THE reasons I like reading HD over IZ.

And if they turn the ball over, then he's an idiot for not going for the tie and winning it in OT. The Panthers won the game. Plain and simple. They did what had to be done to win. Martz IS a bad coach --- but geez, you're giving Carolina NO credit for beating a team NOBODY thought they could beat, on the road, with their best player hurt. I know this topic was done to death, but I missed that debate for some reason. I'm not taking ANYTHING away from Carolina, but Martz had the momentum going for his team with that TD and onside kick recovery, managed to get down to the Carolina.....20 I think it was, and just STOPPED. If I recall correctly, the Rams got a first down and Martz killed something like 1:15 off the clock while the fans were booing and the commentators scratched their heads. He didn't even TRY to put it in the end zone. Imagine if Wilkins missed that FG? Martz wouldn't have been able to get out of the Taxpayers Dome alive. All I'm saying is that the Panthers almost let that game slip through their fingers, and Martz's lack of spine gave them life. They (eventually) took advantage of it, and that's why they went to the title game while Martz got crucified in St. Louis. There's no Warren Sapp or the like running their mouths and making their jobs easier. Neither team is really ripping on the other, so there isn't any "player feud" they can latch onto. This year, the Superbowl is actually about *gasp* THE GAME!!!!! The reporters will have to actually look at how the teams play and all that technical stuff, and it scares the hell out of them that they have to do actual WORK!

Correction: Martz lost that game, Carolina didn't win it. My bad. I missed Mike Martz not stopping a long pass pay in 2OT. Heck, if they have HIM playing CB, they deserved to lose. How whiny can fans be? -=Mike But you can't let Martz off the hook for having the ball deep in Carolina territory at the 1:30 mark or so (with one time out, I believe) and playing for a field goal and overtime instead of at least TRYING to put it in the end zone. Sure, his confidence in Bulger probably wasn't high at that point, but he could have just either put Warner in there, or better yet, run Marshall Faulk, who pretty much brought them down the field on their previous drive (the one before the onside kick). Martz pissed off the Football Gods with that decision. In Superbowl news, Steve Smith beat Troy Brown in the annual Gameday "Game Before the Game" faceoff. The previous 8 winners' teams won on Sunday, so that means one streak will end this Sunday: the Gameday streak or the Pats'.

Man decapitated in apparent suicide

Yeah, I think that might go both ways. If the score is 21-7 late in the third, the trailing team has quite a task in front of them.

Welcome to The Pitino Era, Part II. I swear, Ainge is going to move to the bench next year. Oh well, the Fleetcenter didn't need all those seats filled, anyway. This is pretty much being totally ignored up here, BTW.

I still don't get why teams are going for offensive guys when it's been proven for 4 years (soon to be 5) that in today's NFL, defense wins championships. That's why I would have said Crennel would get a job over Weis if they were still being looked at (which is a shame that no one could have waited a few weeks).

He went to New Orleans two years ago. That piece he wrote right after the win was a thing of beauty.

To violently yank this back on topic: Have those inane propositions come out yet? Like "Will the total number of passing yards of Jake Delhomme be more or less than the total number of points scored during [insert NBA game here]?"

That's the music he picked for his entrance. It doesn't always have to tie in with your character or anything.

YES!!! Sports Guy Superbowl Blog!!!! *MAWRKS*

I'm in the middle of the Rumble and, dear God, the commentary is GOLD~! JR BROCK AUSSTIN HAS LAID WASTE TO EVERYONE IN THIS RING! BROCK AUSSTIN IS A TRUE BEAST, A TRUE MONSTER, A TRUE PHYSICAL SPECIMEN FOR THE AGES! *CRACK* CABOOSE I guess not.

Absolutely. Delhomme is a MUCH better QB than anybody is giving him credit for, their receiving corps is horribly underrated, Davis should be healthy, and their D is actually REALLY good. The Pats definitely can't run and the Panthers showed what they can do to a passing game. I actually see a Panthers win 20-14. -=Mike The rushing point has been made already, but as far as Carolina's pass defense, look who they played: Quincy Carter, shaky, with no great receivers (Terry Glenn is way too inconsistent). Marc Bulger, who is seriously INT prone, but possibly could have won that game if Martz had a spine, and the Eagles receiving corps, who can lose a game by themselves via drops and bad routes. And I hope you aren't discounting NE's pass defense, who had the Great Peyton Manning shaking his head in disbelief. If Stephen Davis is stuffed, Delhomme will have to prove that he's as good as you think he is. 100 yards and 9 completions isn't going to cut it here.