NFL Football

I hate the Giants for no coherent reason at all, so I feel that anything I might add to this thread would be utterly without substance. Eli seems like a punk to me, but, again, that's based on little more than interviews and, let's face it, the kid can clearly lead a team.

A lifelong resident of the Philadelphia region and Eagles fan, I think that hating the Giants is in my DNA.

Jim

I can't fill out the roster, since I'm a Seahawks fan. But you have to at least feel a little sorry for me right?

As a matter of fact, I am a Redskins fan.

Although I can't stand Tom Coughlin, I don't really hate the Giants as much as maybe I should. I certainly didn't believe in Eli in the past but you can't deny the fact that he is leading that team to what appears to be another NFC title.

So, I guess I'll be the only Eli fan in the bunch. I went to Ole Miss and grew up an Archie/Saints fan, so I guess rooting for a Manning is in my DNA. In fact my dog's names are Eli (as in Manning) and Walt (as in Disney) Guess this is the perfect thread for me!

Eli has lived in his brother's shadow for so long, it's nice to see him break away on his own.

Can you imagine what it's like in that family?!?! If I were from their hometown, I'd move away---that place isn't statistically allowed to produce any more success for at least 50 years.

So as a Seahawks fan dsoup, are you ready to trade in Hasselback for Eli?

Brad,

Right now I'm in that Dire Straits song ("Get your bronchitis for nothing and your coughs for free") and have a 1:30 pm EST doctor appointment, so it may color my response.

Of the four major Philadelphia sports teams, only the Eagles haven't won a title in my lifetime. (The win over Green Bay--Vince Lombardi's only championship-game loss--in 1960 occurred more than two and a half years before I was born.)

McNabb and coach Andy Reid have in the last ten years won more games for the Eagles than anyone. So no, I'm not saying that Donovan should go. If he does, he'll come back and kill the Eagles.

Jim

The Giants knocked the arrogant Patriots off their pedastal in last year's Super Bowl, so for that I'm forever indebted to them.

In addition, my father is a lifelong Giants fan, so no anti-Giants trash talk from me.

@cdub

I think hasselbeck is done. He was underrated for a long time, but I just don't think he has it anymore. As much as it pains me to say, I'd probably take Eli in a heart-beat. Or his brother for that matter.

Philly fans used to be a long-suffering crowd, but I think we've easily taken the mantle. Our FB team is done for and we don't even HAVE a bball team anymore.

Brad:

McNabb looked horrible against the Ravens (few wouldn't) but great against Arizona on Thanksgiving. I personally like Donovan and think that he can still bring it, not every day, though. The local media have been typically negative.

Metro columnist Angelo Cataldi has been against Reid and McNabb ever since draft day 1999, when he brought all those drunk idiots from his radio show up to New York to boo the non-selection of Ricky Williams. I don't think Angelo Cataldi likes anyone.

The media had a field day after the Bengals game when McNabb admitted that he didn't know that NFL games could end in ties. I think that's understandable considering that: 1) the last tie NFL game was in 2002, and 2) no other sport allows ties (e.g., the equal-possession tiebreakers in high school and college football; hockey and soccer shootouts; and extra time in all other sports. Why are extra periods in the NHL only five minutes each in the regular season, but twenty minutes each in the playoffs?).

Come on, Donovan! Go up to the Meadowlands and kick their butts!

Jim

I thought far too much was made of the whole not knowing that there ties thing. He was just honest enough to tell something that's probably true of at least 1/2 of NFL quarterbacks. I was really confused by why he got so much negative press over that.

@ Brad:

I think that in a straight swap, I would trade Donovan for Eli. I don't dislike Eli Manning; I hate the team for which he plays. But this being Philly, it would doom the Eagles to the NFC East basement for about 20 years.

@ cdub:

I think that the negative press (especially locally) over his lack of knowledge (I don't like to use ignorance because to me that implies an unwillingness to learn) of tie games, is a case of "piling on". Philadelphia's sports teams don't have a winning tradition; you'd never call this place Titletown, USA. Prior to the Phillies' World Series win this year, the last league championship was by the 76ers in 1983. Since then, Philly's sportswriters have had a lot to criticize. This year, the Eagles' playoff chances are a loss away from being snuffed out, and both the Flyers and Sixers are below .500.

Jim

Bah, Seattle fans will trade with Philly in a heartbeat! Our teams don't just lose, we lost our team

Brad,

I have to agree there. Their defense played pretty well for most of the game but their offense stunk up the joint, and that fourth quarter, from both sides of the ball, was hideous. I hate the Cowboys, too, so loved seeing them lose.

I wasn't expecting the Eagles' defense to play as well as it did, or Westbrook to have another engantic (hey, if ESPN can make up a word like "ginormous", I can do this!) game. Thirty-three rushes for 131 yards and a touchdown; four catches for 72 more and another TD. Suh-weet!

Jim

I'm going to talk about the hawks, even though I know no one cares but me, since I'm the only Seahawks fan (in the world).

I was kind of happy with our game. I mean I know the Pats are having a down year, but at least they didn't walk all over us. I even managed to kind of talk myself into Seneca Wallace.

Also, am I the only one who's simultaneously moved by and yet getting tired of Mike Homgren's "Final tour?'

I have no strong feelings against Eli Manning-and I'm a Patriot's fan! Not sure I'd say the Pat's are arrogant though. You never hear Brady, Moss or any other member of the team trash talk other teams, which is more than you can say for many teams out there. They're doing pretty well too, considering they've had to do without Brady this season.

But, doesn't matter if people hate the Pats or not...they seem to thrive on it. And don't even get me started on the video taping thing considering that all the teams do it. A few years back(2005?) the Miami Dolphins did it to the Pats, and nothing was said.

It's funny how soap opera-ish football can be..what with the players whining the other team "ran up the score" and they've been "disrespected" by this..I've heard little girls whine less! Does somebody need a Midol?

Giants looked overmatched vs. the Cowboys this last weekend, but I don't think it was Eli's fault. No Jacobs really messes up their game.

Umm...actually you are not. I was reading this thread and actually shocked to see I was not the only Hawks fan!

I was so upset with the Patriots game. We were out watching it (with me being the only Hawks fan and my loyal husband rooting them on for me) and I was so happy with the whole game...until the end. Luckily we were home by then and I could watch in misery in the privacy of my home!

I disappointed with Holmgren's final year, am I the only one who feels like he just isn't the same coach that he has been? That fire just seems to be missing. Seattle football sucks this year.

As far as the Giants go, I just can't hate them. But that is purely because they beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl last year. It was a perfect ending to the year to see the Pats go down!!

Hi,

The Eagles are done. I'm surprised that they're not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs already. That offensive display Sunday against the Redskins on Sunday was putrid. They could still get into the playoffs with a miracle, but they sure don't deserve it. They don't deserve it because they can't beat teams in their own division. They're horrible when they need to be good. Boooooooooo!

@ dsoup: At least the Hawks probably knocked the Jets out of the playoffs.

Jim

@Jim

This season is really strange as a Hawks fan. I'm never quite sure what to feel. I will say that Favre's act has worn a little thin the last few seasons, so I might as well take some pride in that! I'll also agree that the Eagles have been just about the most up and down team I've ever seen.

I think that pretty much sums up the Eagles' season perfectly. In important games they were terrible. Then any time everyone counted them out they showed flashes that made you wonder why they were so terrible the rest of the time.

Jim,

Your Eagles have to be one of the most astonishing stories I can remember in recent NFL history. They have to be ASTOUNDED to be playing a playoff game. I think I will root for them in the playoffs. It would be an amazing story if they went deep in the playoffs.