NFL 2003 Season Wildcard Weekend Picks

	Scott - Ma'am, can you make sure your computer is turned on? 01/01/2004 @ 02:42:11 PM
Jon's stat about the Packer's recent playoff history has me concerned. :) ok, so not really that much.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - 4671 Posts 01/02/2004 @ 11:37:47 AM
So McNair and Manning tied for MVP this year. Ah ties, how wonderful! But, I think this was(is?) the year of the running back. We saw Jamal Lewis rush for over 2000 yards, only like the 5th time for a RB to do that in NFL history. That is truly a great accomplishment. So many other players ran for over 1500 yards. I mean Ahman Green ran for over 1800 yards, and he had a few games where he didn't even surpass 100 yards! That's just amazing! I leave for Lambeau tomorrow night!!!! Now that's amazing!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - How do you use these things? 01/02/2004 @ 12:05:04 PM
Matt- you really think so? I liken him more to hmm.. I can't think of a one. I'll get back to u.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jon - 1 bajillion posts 01/03/2004 @ 12:32:55 PM
Last time there was a tie in NFL MVP voting there was also a 2000 yard rusher as well as a split in the National Championship for NCAA Football. A mere coincidence? Yeah, probably.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Always thinking of, but never about, the children. 01/03/2004 @ 02:22:06 PM
Just a reminder to check out the blog. It was football related but spanned 2 weeks so I put the post there.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	icbizzle - 3619 Posts 01/03/2004 @ 05:16:23 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-packers-favoritenon-packer&prov=ap&type=lgns How funny is this?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - I hate our freedoms 01/03/2004 @ 06:41:22 PM
Other than being the most poor sport, lame ass, thing any organization/team/city has ever done it's fricken hilarious.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - How do you use these things? 01/03/2004 @ 06:59:19 PM
I think it's very funny. I've tried to keep my mouth shut but here goes. Some Vikings fans were actively rooting for Dallas and San Fran to lose on that last fateful weekend, just so the Packers wouldn't get into the playoffs at all, not even as 6th seed. Bad Karma my friends, what goes around comes around. Not that they should've wanted the Pack to make the playoffs, but give us a break. And this is what happened. Vikings fans should've rooted for San Fran and the Cowboys just like the Packer fans, but no they were too selfish and look what it got them. Nothing.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 01/03/2004 @ 08:04:21 PM
I was rooting for those teams because whenever they talked about the Cowboy loss/Seattle Win senerio on TV they only mentioned it would eliminate the Packers. I didn't realize it would have an impact on the Vikings. Secondly if they want to give the key to the city and a hero's welcome to anyone they should give it to the refs. Thirdly from the "Don't Beleive it For a Second Column" Sarah said she would still find this situation funny if it were reversed and the Packers were screwed on a call to win the Division for the Vikes and the Mayor of Minneapolis arranged a simmilar plan. This from a girl who still regularly complains about Rice fumbling in the 98 playoff game. Which contrary to popular memory, and unlike the blown call in the Viking game, didn't actually lose the game for the Packers.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - So's your face 01/03/2004 @ 08:14:40 PM
I just didn't appreciate the arrogance from some Viking fans who were so confident that they were going to win, that they didn't even care to learn what their other options were. I knew what our odds were of getting into the playoffs and I knew I had to root for those other teams. Those other teams let us down, but then the Cardinals came through. Poole was the guy who caught the ball, and the mayor made the decision to give Poole a key to the city and to invite him to the game. I think it's funny in a lame sort of way. I bet Poole is happy to have seats on the 50 yd line though. The mayor is doing this from his own pocket, so would it be any different if some other guy wanted to give Poole some tickets to the game? Just barely, because he wouldn't get the key to the city. Whatever, I'm thankful the guy got the TD. So, just to reiterate, I think it's funny in a lame sort of way. I wouldn't be mean about it. I would be upset that my team hadn't gotten into the playoffs, but I wouldn't rain on other people's parade. That fumble would have effectively ended the game. I realize that the eventual TD came from a pass from Young to Owens, and that the Packers blew it, but they shouldn't have been in that situation to begin with! Oh, has anyone else seen that NFL Playoff commercial with Don Cheadle talking about "the catch?" If that Clark guy hadn't caught it, then Bill Walsh wouldn't been thought of as a genius, Jerry Rice would've been drafted by the Bengals which would've created a Bengal dynasty. The Packers would've moved to Milwaukee and Favre would've never become a Packer. Wild. I'm not sure how much of that I believe, but it makes for good television.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - No one's gay for Moleman 01/03/2004 @ 08:33:58 PM
The calls were different for the following reasons. The packers had a chance to not let Owens find a lane for Young to laser it in. You even had a chance for a miracle return. The Vikings call was on :00, it was not reveiwable, there was NOTHING any one could do about it, or nothing anyone could say about it. It was done. Season over, division lost, thanks to ONE GUYS decision. A fumble/non fumble is the call of a group of refs, so despite the fact that instant replay was not in effect you effectively get a mini review. Given the situation the refs made the correct call in the Packer game in that if no one had a clear sight of it you need to err on the side of the offense. In the Viking game not only do you need to be 100% sure the receiver would have come down in bounds (which there was a 0% chance of) to call a push out, you can still call it an incomplete pass THEN go reveiw AND THEN decide in the review it was a push out and award the team a TD. It is not reviewable in the other direction, once the ref made the call it was done. Unlike in a fumble situation that call is the responsibility of that one guy, he can't be overruled after a discussion. It was quite clear from the expressions and body language of the other officials, and from the ensueing explanation of the reveiw that the other officials did not agree with him, yet could do nothing about it.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Robots don't say 'ye' 01/03/2004 @ 09:04:31 PM
there was just a push out called in the Dallas/Carolina game that was a text book call. The receiver was well in bounds and was then carried out of bounds by the defender. THAT is why the rules exists. NOT to be used when the reciever is already in the air above the white BEFORE he even gets hit.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 01/03/2004 @ 09:33:58 PM
For the record: 1)I probably would be pissed if the Poole-type call happened to the Packers, although I still think it was legite. 2)I'm still sore about the 49er game, and true that the Rice fumble did not end the game, but it would have if it was ruled a fumble. 3)I was sick when I was hearing all the talk about giving Poole the key to the city and all that. I was ashamed that it even was brought up. I do however will always have deeper respect for the Arizona Cardinals for even being in that situation at the end of a game.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 01/03/2004 @ 09:49:55 PM
I still don't see how anyone can think that was a legit call. His back foot was mere inches off the ground and going straight down when he was hit. The foot on the Vikings knee thing you keep talking about was AFTER the hit. The hit spun him around and if anything would have actually aided in the chance of him getting the second foot in.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	icbizzle - 3619 Posts 01/03/2004 @ 10:55:50 PM
How was the call in the Dallas/Carolina game not as close as the Vikings/Cardinals?? Smith was headed towards the sideline as he caught the ball, and he was clearly going to land rear-end first. With the hit, he landed way out of bounds, and I'm not sure his rear would've landed in bounds even if he didn't get hit. If that is what you consider a text book call, then you can't still disagree with the Poole catch.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 01/03/2004 @ 11:16:18 PM
Poole was above the white, well out of bounds, before he was even touched. Smith was like a yard in bounds coming down ass first and landed on the defender and was then carried out of bounds. They weren't the same at all. You saw both plays right?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Anon. Nut Can Fan (Guest) 01/03/2004 @ 11:46:40 PM
falling backwards like that... how do you think he could have possibly got his 2nd foot in... rip it off and thrown it in bounds?.... I'm pretty sure that wouldn't count... but you never know when it comes to refs and the vikings		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	icbizzle - 3619 Posts 01/03/2004 @ 11:59:38 PM
I did some measurements, and Poole's velocity towards the sideline before being hit was about 1/100 of Smith's. Smith was running full speed (and he's quite fast), Poole was posting up in the corner, not running towards the sideline.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Broadcast in stunning 1080i 01/04/2004 @ 12:51:21 AM
After watching the replay on sportscenter the smith play was closer than I initially thought. However, Poole's momentum isnt the issue he was already out of bounds!!! Who cares how fast he was moving and in what direction? He was in a staddled position wih one leg forward and one back. When the front one got in the other was still back about 3 inches off the ground and falling when he got hit.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	icbizzle - I don't need to get steady I know just how I feel 01/04/2004 @ 02:48:26 AM
Go Packers!!!!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 01/04/2004 @ 11:46:47 AM
I have definitely heard people complain that Packer fans always complain about the refs. Well, I think someone has surpassed us for that title.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 01/04/2004 @ 11:49:31 AM
also, calling the Rice non-fumble call the correct call is just plain wrong. Had the NFL had instant replay then the call would have been overturned. Even replay couldn't overturn the Poole catch.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Cube Phenomenoligist 01/04/2004 @ 12:58:10 PM
I never said the ref made the right call. I said that in the situation, when none of them saw it, they made the right call. Obviously it was a fumble.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	icbizzle - 3619 Posts 01/04/2004 @ 01:14:19 PM
Touchdown!!!!!!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	icbizzle - 3619 Posts 01/04/2004 @ 03:13:24 PM
YOU DON'T RUN FROM THE 30 YARD LINE WITH 12 SECONDS LEFT!!!!!!!!!!!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - The pig says "My wife is a slut?" 01/04/2004 @ 03:27:18 PM
This game would be like 45-7 if Seattle could catch a ball.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	scott - Resident Tech Support 01/04/2004 @ 03:31:26 PM
wooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 1.21 Gigawatts!?!? 01/04/2004 @ 03:35:03 PM
You've officially beat 3 teams with winning records (one of them twice) good luck in Philly		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	the scott (Guest) 01/04/2004 @ 07:40:35 PM
no National Champion this year, at least not from the sugar bowl, both teams suck.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jon and Jeremy (Guest) 01/04/2004 @ 07:46:07 PM
It's like 5 minutes into the first quarter. What are you talking about? =)		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - 4671 Posts 01/04/2004 @ 08:18:11 PM
Al Harris is my new hero. Philly is going down. Today was the best experience of my life, despite the fact that I got NO sleep for the night. I need season tickets!!! Maybe I'll write an article on it.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 01/04/2004 @ 08:52:40 PM
My 2 Lambeau experiences were like nothing I have ever experienced. I think the only thing in this life that will top it will be the day I get married, and even then I'll have to think about it. I regained respect for Al Harris, for I had next to none for him, I hope he can continue to be solid.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Broadcast in stunning 1080i 01/04/2004 @ 10:54:00 PM
From everything I've seen of Al Harris he seems to be a good pickup.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 01/04/2004 @ 11:09:23 PM
It seems like everytime I get down on Harris he goes and does something like that. I've seen him get burned too many times or plays where he fails to turn around and look at the ball when it is thrown his way. He's probably not that bad, I'm just hard on players. I demand more from my guys, or something like that. I think I'm with Jon on the split National Champion thing after the LSU win.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - I hate our freedoms 01/04/2004 @ 11:20:05 PM
Aren't you Packer fans, who talk of going to Lambeau like it's a once in a lifetime kind of thing, outraged that a large percentage of the tickets are owned by companies so that the only way you can go to a game is to win a contest or spend a small fortune? Speaking as a season ticket holder of a team in which if you want to go to a game you can just buy tickets for it (and they've still sold out for like 9 seasons running) I would be pissed off if a monopoly of the tickets by ticket agencies (that can't legally scalp them so they toss in a bus ride so they can sell the "package" for $400) kept me from going to see my team. I'm happy you both had fun but the fact that it's up there with your would be wedding day seems kind of sad to me. (And not that you said so, just that you guys get the opportunity to see so few games that you are actually serious, and no one in Wisconsin would find that statement odd) The really sad thing is the fact that people always talk about going to Lambeau like it's a pilgrimage to Mecca just exacerbates the problem. If people werent willing to shell out a months pay to take the family to a game because "its a once in a lifetime kind of thing" then there would be no issue. Curtailing demand for the tickets wouldnt say less of you as fans. Maybe if you banded together to not drive the price of tickets through the roof all the companies would lose money and turn some of their tickets in. I doubt that would ever happen but I cant believe no one ever brings the problem up. What should have been done is when the new stadium was built there should have been extra seats added that were not made to be season tickets. Outside of the minimum amount of tickets that you have to allow for the opposing teams Im fairly certain every seat in the place is a season ticket seat. From a teams perspective that is perfect because they get the money no matter what, so without a public backlash why wouldnt they make every seat a season ticket seat? Luckily for what ever reason tickets were straight up for sale to the Seattle game for like the first time ever. Im really happy that Sarah got to go to todays game. It has always bugged me that for the longest time she has had to enter any contest and raffle in the area to try and win tickets to a game, because buying tickets was virtually not a possibility. Please dont read into anything I said, or take anything I said as a dig to the team. As an "outsider" to the situation it has just always rubbed me the wrong way that the packers have a loyal fan base but do very little to return the favor.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - If you aren't enough without it, you'll never be enough with it. 01/05/2004 @ 12:00:13 AM
You make some very good points, and I guess I never really realized the amount of tickets that are held by companies and corporations (it's a very small amount and it's small local companies and proprieters). In all reality however I'm not really bothered that much by it. To me, part of the majesty of Lambeau field is that going to a game is such a rarity. I can go to miller park anytime I want, or even the metrodome if I'm in the area. The wonderment (yeah, I said wonderment) of the experience does not hold quite as much memory or specialness to me. Personally, I would much rather watch the games with my dad or my brother at home if I had the choice than watch them alone in the cold (on a regular basis anyway, I'll take any opportunity I get to go to the game.) That might be sour grapes, but oh well. For those who have always wanted to go to games or who want to go to numerous games, I'm not sure how to deal with that. This may be biased, but I think one of the things about Packer fans is that it doesn't take much to please them. The field has been sold out for 40 years, well over half of those years were through 2,3, or 4 win seasons, (non-winning seasons). The comment about me comparing it to my wedding day, despite a tad bit of sarcasm, is about me not worrying that much about it. It's like I have a list of things I want to do in my life, and going to Lambeau was on that list. This may be contributed to the same mentality that Jeremy is refereing to that comes from the situation, but either way that's that. My dad lived in Green Bay for a few years in the 70's, and he had season tickets that a guy he knew let him use. Once again, these we some of the 3 win seasons, and he went to every game. That's off topic. It does upset me a little that you definitely have to know someone who has tickets to have a practical chance to get tickets. My dad now works with a lady who has season tickets and he has had opportunities in the past to go to games, but not everyone is like that. I believe playoff games are first offered to season ticket holders, and then if they decline they are then put up for sale, so that's probably what happened for the seattle game. I thought the same thing about have some of the additional 10,000 seats put up as non-reservable, but this point was brought to mind: Can you imagine how long some people would camp out in front of the ticket booth to get tickets to a game? I don't know if that would happen or not, but I would want to believe that those in authority would have taken something like that into consideration. I do definitely think it is sad that there are some people who have been Packer fans their whole lives and who have always wanted to go to a game do not ever get the opportunity. If and when someone get that chance to go, I guarentee it will be one of the most special moments in their life. Still, that comes back to Jeremy's point about treating Lambeau as the MECCA. This may have something to do with the old "you can't please everyone" saying. Who know's if there is anything that can be done to fix this problem. Paul Horning said a few years back that if Green Bay had a 100,000 seat stadium you still couldn't get a seat, and people would still be waiting outside during the games. This is an interesting topic and it's interesting that it took a non-Packer fan to point it out to me for the first time. Although the situation really has never bothered me, it's something to think about.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 01/05/2004 @ 01:34:56 AM
They must be easy to please. Because on top of the already bad situation the Brown County tax payers were basicly told "Vote Yes or we'll move to Milwaukee" how did the Packers award the fans when they did vote yes? They slapped a $2000 licensing fee on the tickets so you had to pay 2 grand for the "priviledge" of buying the same tickets your family has owned forever. Speaking of Milwaukee I'd like to point out that the Packers attendance at one point was so low a move there was considered back then too. In fact it was so close to being a done deal they played one game a year there for a long time. As a matter of fact in the 50's a bond was proposed to expand City Stadium. If that was turned down the Packers were sure to move since back then the teams actually made money depending on what the gates took in. All the teams in the NFL pressured the Packers to play in Milwaukee since that would mean more money at the gates. They couldn't stay in Green Bay without the bond. Not only was a move to Milwaukee talked about but also Buffalo, Miami, and Minneapolis. (The Minnesota Packers?? *shudder*) Afew days before the election the CCFTS called out three big guns to speak at a rally supporting the bond issue. With Tony Canadeo acting as master of ceremonies, Curly Lanibeau, Johnny (Blood) McNally, and none other than George Halas spoke to an audience of nearly 1,000 people gathered at the Columbus Club in Green Bay. Each of them was quoted in the Press-Gazette. Lambeau: "The Packer franchise could be sold for a million dollars in 24 hours." Halas: "Buffalo is ready to doubledeck its 32,000 (seat) stadium at a cost of a million dollars if it can get a franchise." McNally: "Minneapolis is ready, willing, and able to take over the Packer franchise. Minneapolis is just finishing a new stadium."		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 01/05/2004 @ 01:48:24 AM
By the way when I said a large percentage of the tickets are owned by companies I meant relative to other teams. Obviously most of the tickets are owned by individuals.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 01/05/2004 @ 11:27:54 AM
That Don Cheatles (spelling) playoff commerical about "The Catch" and how the Packers would have moved to Milwaukee has a sliver of truth in it. If it weren't for Ron Wolff, Mike Holmgren, and Brett Favre, the Packers may not be where they are. That's why the Super Bowl meant so much to people here. The Packers were questioned in the late 80's and early 90's whether or not they could support a competive team, and they answered all the Questioners.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jon - infinity + 1 posts 01/05/2004 @ 12:01:55 PM
or maybe everyone just tried to win a championship like they try to do every year		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Always thinking of, but never about, the children. 01/05/2004 @ 01:08:50 PM
They also almost changed the green to blue and the yellow to a gold to try and drum up support. Things we're pretty bleak for a long time. Companies used to buy up large amounts of tickets to keep the games from being blacked out.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 01/05/2004 @ 05:10:56 PM
found out a couple things today: There was never any serious proposals for moving the Packers. The biggest reason is that there was no way to get the owners to approve. Also, the Packers starting playing in Milwaukee because they thought they needed support from Southern Wisconsin. The reason they stopped is that they were losing revenue at County Stadium.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	icbizzle - Who controls the past now controls the future 01/05/2004 @ 05:24:54 PM
Beer. First of all, I don't ever hope that players get hurt (unless I REALLY hate them (e.g. Sapp)). But the Eagles loss of Westbrook definitely increases the Packers odds of winning. He's their most explosive running back and a good kick returner. He's a good receiver too and has made a lot of big plays for them. They still have Duce and Buckhalter, but they lose a lot of potential for big plays without Westbrook. ps I don't think you guys have heard of the NBA, but that was quite the trade that went down today. I think New York got the best deal in the short-term, but Phoenix got the better long-term deal. ps again I actually did have a plan to buy the Packers, move them to LA, and rename them the LA Gangsta's.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jon - Nutcan.com's kitten expert 01/05/2004 @ 06:12:45 PM
Dang, Page 3's readers are contributing way more content than the writers these days. I was going to talk about westbrook in my comments for the next week but I guess I can't now. He was on my fantasy football team for about half of the season. I don't think I actually ever started him cause Philly's rb situation was kind of a mess (fantasy-wise) until he emerged as the top guy (at least in my opinion). And by that point I didn't want to mess with my lineup. Of course, the reason I picked him up in the first place was mostly so no one else would have him.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jon - Nutcan.com's kitten expert 01/05/2004 @ 07:38:53 PM
as far as the trade, the Knicks sure needed it. I think it was a pretty good move. They basically borrowed against their future so it could be costly, but a losing team in New York is apparently a crisis.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - No, I did not change your screen saver settings 01/06/2004 @ 01:07:04 PM
Congratulations Paul Molitor. Here's one fan who's proud of you.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jon - 1 bajillion posts 01/06/2004 @ 01:32:49 PM
note to Page 3 readers: We are not Paul Molitor, nor do we know Paul Molitor. We are, however, endorsed by Fred McGriff.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	icbizzle - Refactor Mercilessly 01/06/2004 @ 08:06:38 PM
Crime Dog		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.