Baltimore Ravens fans, congrats on your Super Bowl XLVII win. Now go out and order your Super XLVII championship merchandise.
Baltimore Ravens fans, congrats on your Super Bowl XLVII win. Now go out and order your Super XLVII championship merchandise.
The man they call “The Big Tuna” is finally getting what he deserves, a seat at the table of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in after a life of coaching the sport he loves.
Parcells who played football at Wichita State was picked in the 7th round of the 1964 NFL Draft but never played a game as a professional. That football season he started his coaching career at Hastings as the linebackers’ coach. The following season he would go back to his alma mater, Wichita State, and coach linebackers there too.
From 1966-69 he spent time coaching linebackers and being the defensive coordinator at Army in West Point NY where he came in contact with an influential basketball coach and a basketball player who one day would become one of the greatest coaches in the game himself. Friends for life Parcells now shares his achievement with those men, both Basketball Hall of Fame members, Bobby Knight and Mike Krzyzewski.
The 1970’s saw Parcells stay in the college game as linebackers’ coach at Florida State (1970-72), Vanderbilt (1973-74) and Texas Tech (1975-77 before being named the head coach at the Air Force Academy in 1978.
His stay in Colorado would only last one season as the NFL and the New York Giants came calling and he took over as linebacker coach in 1979 but he would resign before the season started an take a job with a land ddevelopment company in Colorado. But he was unhappy with his new profession and in 1980 went to New England as linebackers’ coach. After one year, he would return to the Giants as the defensive coordinator. In 1983 he would be named the head coach when Ray Perkins left to become the head coach at the University of Alabama.
It wasn’t always sunshine and roses for Parcells as those early years in the Meadowlands were about building a team which he did as the New York Giants won two Super Bowls under his watch. They defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI and the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV.
It would be after that second Super Bowl victory that Parcells would step away from coaching the game and enter his first of several forays into the World of Television when he became a NFL analyst for NBC.
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Three years later Parcells would get the itch to coach again and this time he would go back to Foxboro and take over a poor Patriots team with questionable ownership. In four seasons and with a new owner he would turn the team around by drafting QB Drew Bledsoe and lead them to Super Bowl XXXI where they would lose to the Green Bay Packers. The next day he was gone, off to the New York Jets because he wasn’t allowed to buy the groceries. Parcells and his ego wanted total football autonomy and Robert Kraft wouldn’t give it to him, so he left for some one who would.
After leaving the Patriots, his Jets teams would contend and get to an AFC Championship game but Parcells would never again get to another Super Bowl. After stepping down from his post with the Jets as General Manager in 2000 he would once again turn to television taking a studio job with Bristol CT based ESPN.
In 2003 he would once again get an urge to coach and he ever took over the Dallas Cowboys for four seasons under his longtime friend Jerry Jones. It was there in the Big D that Parcells would reunite with Bledsoe in an effort to get back to another title game but father time was running out on Drew. He wasn’t the same guy he was in Foxboro or even early in Buffalo and he was replaced by a young Tony Romo.
The last game Parcells would coach the Cowboys had a chance to win. It was a playoff game in Seattle, Romo was holding for a field goal and botched the snap and run for the goal line only to get crushed and get stopped short.
That was the end of the line for “The Big Tuna” as far as coaching but it was an incredible ride. In 27 years as a NFL coach he would win two Super Bowls with an iconic NFL franchise, take a different team to a third Super Bowl and go to a 4th conference championship game with a third team.
In late 2007 he would take over the Miami Dolphins as Executive Vice President of Football Operations until he resigned in 2010. He currently works for ESPN.
Parcells coached some great players, Lawrence Taylor, Phil Simms, Drew Bledsoe, Andre Tippet, Keyshawn Johnson, Vinnie Testaverde and many others. He would have a regular season record of 172-130-1 and go 11-8 in the post season for a overall record of 183-138-1 (.570) only ten men in the game have won more games the Parcells, ever.
He was a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year (1986,1994), The Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year (1986), Pro Football Weekly NFL Coach of the Year (1994,1996) and named to the NFL’s 1990’s All-Decade Team.
Parcells is also known for spawning his coaching tree as many significant coaches in the game have worked under Parcells. Among them Bill Belichick, Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel, Tom McLoughlin, Sean Payton, Tony Sparano, Ray Handley, Chris Palmer, Al Groh and Eric Mangini.
The man has left a wonderful football legacy and I am sure the Kraft family will celebrate it, as he was extremely significant to the development of the New England Patriots as we know them today.
If it weren’t for Parcells, Bledsoe and Kraft there would be no New England Patriots they were candidates for relocation to St. Louis. He and his team saved football in New England there’s no other way to put it. For that alone he deserves a special place in football history but it’s great to see the entire body of work will be represented forever in Canton.
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photo credit: ap photo
I thought it might be interesting as we put a wrap on the NFL for another year that we play a little game of “Did you know…”.
This was the 40th anniversary year of the 1972 Miami Dolphins undefeated season in which they finished 17-0 and won Super Bowl VII beating the Washington Redskins 14-7.
Tennessee Titans QB Jake Locker was drafted to play baseball by the Los Angeles Dodgers, not once (2006 Round 40) but twice (2009 Round 5).
The Arizona Cardinals have won their last three season openers (2010-12).
Baltimore Ravens LB Ray Lewis is the only player in NFL history to have a 40 sack and 30 interception career and that the only other player in the NFL history to have a 30/30 career is former New England Patriots S Rodney Harrison.
The last time the Buffalo Bills were in the playoffs the lost in the “Music City Miracle” to the Tennessee Titans.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and Detroit Lions are the only four current NFL teams to have never played in a Super Bowl.
The Seattle Seahawks are the only NFL team to have never worn their white jersey at home.
Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning is the only 4-time winner of the NFL MVP Award.
That Philadelphia Eagles announcer Merril Reese is the most tenured announcer with one team as he enters his 37th season in 2013.
That the Thanksgiving night butt fumble by New York Jets Mark Sanchez may just be the funniest thing I have ever seen happen on the field of play.
The Rams franchise has won three championships and each occurred when the team called a different city home. They won the Super Bowl as the St. Louis Rams (1999), and NFL titles as the Los Angeles Rams (1951) and Cleveland Rams (1945).
Buffalo DT Alex Carrington had two blocked field goals in 2012 and that the team record is 3 in one season by DE Bruce Smith in 1996.
San Francisco QB Colin Kaepernick has the two longest runs by a QB in Niners history both were for 50 yards breaking Steve Yong’s record 49-yard run.
Bill Belichick is one of five head coaches in NFL history whose father (Steve Belichick) played in the league. The others are former Kansas City head coach Todd Haley (Dick Haley), former San Francisco head coach Mike Nolan (Dick Nolan), former Cincinnati head coach David Shula (Don Shula) and former NY Jets head coach Joe Walton (Frank Walton).
QB Ryan Tannehill set the Miami rookie record for passing yards (3,294) when he passed Dan Marino (2,210). He was the first rookie QB to start a season opener and all 16 regular season games in Dolphins history.
In response to the horrific shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. on Dec. 14, the Houston Texans pledged to donate the proceeds from the team’s gameday silent auction. Texans owner Bob McNair pledged to match every dollar raised at the auction, while Texans players and coaches also contributed to the fund and the team was able to donate more than $70,000.
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photo credit: getty images
Today the NFL and Nike unveiled the new retro-modern 2013 Pro Bowl uniform design just ahead of Sunday’s match-up in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Both the AFC and NFC looks feature a clean, simple, distinctly American design inspired by the Pro Bowl uniforms of the 1970s, combined with the highly innovative Nike Elite 51 uniform chassis built for speed. The combination of modern innovation and traditional design speaks to the Pro Bowl’s rich history while providing a distinct tribute to the red, white and blue.
Designed and engineered from the inside out, the Nike NFL Elite 51 uniform creates a system where the baselayer, padding, jersey and pant work in concert. Lightweight padding is also integrated directly into the crucial “hit zones” in the baselayer. New innovations include integrating Flywire technology into the neckline to reduce weight and provide lockdown fit over pads, increasing sleeve articulation for better range of motion, and integrating new four-way stretch fabrication to provide a streamlined shrink-wrap fit.
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While we'll have to wait a few more weeks for the Associated Press to announce their yearly award winners, they have announced their All-Pro Teams for the 2012 NFL season.
The New England Patriots only had two members on the team. DT Vince Wilfork made the AP All-Pro First Team while G Logan Mankins made the AP All-Pro Second Team.
AP All-Pro First Team:
OFFENSE:
QB: Peyton Manning, Broncos
RB: *Adrian Peterson, Vikings, Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks
FB: Vonta Leach, Ravens.
TE: Tony Gonzalez, Falcons
WR: Calvin Johnson, Lions; Brandon Marshall, Bears
OT: Duane Brown, Texans; Ryan Clady, Broncos
OG: Jahri Evans, Saints; Mike Iupati, 49ers
C: Max Unger, Seahawks
DEFENSE
DE: *J.J. Watt, Texans, Cameron Wake, Dolphins.
DT: Geno Atkins, Bengals; Vince Wilfork, Patriots
OLB: Von Miller, Broncos; Aldon Smith, 49ers
ILB: Patrick Willis, 49ers; NaVorro Bowman, 49ers
CB: Richard Sherman, Seahawks; Charles Tillman, Bears
S: Earl Thomas, Seahawks; Dashon Goldson, 49ers
P: Andy Lee, 49ers
K: Blair Walsh, Vikings
KR: Jacoby Jones, Ravens
* unanimous selection
For a look at the AP All-Pro Second Team, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.
AP All-Pro Second Team
OFFENSE
QB: Aaron Rodgers, Packers
RB: Alfred Morris, Redskins; Jamaal Charles, Chiefs
FB: Jerome Felton, Vikings
TE: Jason Witten, Cowboys
WR: A.J. Green, Bengals; Andre Johnson, Texans
OT: Joe Thomas, Browns; Joe Staley, 49ers
OG: Marshal Yanda, Ravens; Logan Mankins, Patriots
C: Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers
DEFENSE
DE: Justin Smith, 49ers; Julius Peppers, Bears
DT: Justin Smith, 49ers; Ndamukong Suh, Lions; Haloti Ngata, Ravens
OLB: Chad Greenway, Vikings; Ahmad Brooks, 49ers; Clay Matthews, Packers; and DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys
ILB: Daryl Washington, Cardinals; London Fletcher, Redskins
CB: Champ Bailey, Broncos; Tim Jennings, Bears
S: Eric Weddle, Chargers; Jairus Byrd, Bills
P: Thomas Morstead, Saints
K: Phil Dawson, Browns
KR: David Wilson, Giants
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Here are our predictions for what we think will happen in the 2013 NFL Divisional Playoffs taking place on Saturday and Sunday.
AFC Divisional Games
Ian – Denver Broncos 24 Baltimore Ravens 14
Steve – Denver Broncos 35 Baltimore Ravens 20
Ian – New England Patriots 35 Houston Texans 10
Steve – New England Patriots 31 Houston Texans 24
NFC Divisional Games
Ian – San Francisco 49ers 35 Green Bay Packers 31
Steve – San Francisco 49ers 28 Green Bay Packers 24
Ian – Atlanta Falcons 34 Seattle Seahawks 31
Steve – Seattle Seahawks 31 Atlanta Falcons 30
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well. Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMichaelsII.
Here are our predictions for what we will think will happen in the NFL Wildcard games that will be played on Saturday and Sunday.
AFC Wildcard games:
Ian – Houston Texans 24 Cincinnati Bengals 17
Steve – Cincinnati Bengals 27 Houston Texans 21
Ian – Indianapolis Colts 23 Baltimore Ravens 13
Steve – Indianapolis Colts 24 Baltimore Ravens 20
NFC Wildcard games:
Ian – Green Bay Packers 35 Minnesota Vikings 31
Steve – Green Bay Packers 35 Minnesota Vikings 24
Ian – Washington Redskins 24 Seattle Seahawks 21
Steve – Washington Redskins 21 Seattle Seahawks 20
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well. Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMichaelsII.
In the AFC:
1. Denver Broncos (13-3) – First Round Bye
2. New England Patriots (12-4) – First Round Bye
Wildcard Round
Saturday, Jan. 5
No. 6 Cincinnati (10-6) at No. 3 Houston (12-4), 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
Sunday, Jan. 6
No. 5 Indianapolis (11-5) at No. 4 Baltimore (10-6), 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Divisional Round
Saturday, Jan. 12
Baltimore at No. 1 Denver, 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Sunday, Jan, 13
Houston at No. 2 New England, 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
In the NFC:
1. Atlanta Falcons (13-3) – First Round Bye
2. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1) – First Round Bye
Wildcard Round
Saturday, Jan. 5
No. 6 Minnesota (10-6) at No. 3 Green Bay (11-5), 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
Sunday, Jan. 6
5. Seattle (11-5) at No. 4 Washington (10-6), 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
DIVISIONAL ROUND
Saturday, Jan. 12
Green Bay at No. 2 San Francisco (11-4-1), 8 p.m. ET (FOX)
Sunday, Jan. 13
Seattle at No. 1 Atlanta (13-3), 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
AFC & NFC Conference Championships
Sunday, Jan. 20
NFC – San Francisco @ Atlanta, 3 p.m. (FOX)
AFC – Baltimore @ New England, 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Super Bowl XLVII:
Sunday, February 3rd
AFC vs NFC
Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA (CBS, 6:30 ET)
Note: Schedule will be updated as needed
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The 2013 NFL Pro Bowl rosters came out on Wednesday night and the San Francisco 49ers led all teams with nine players chosen. The AFC was led by the Houston Texans who placed eight players on the team.
Our New England Patriots had seven players named to the team.
The 2013 NFL Pro Bowl will be held on Sunday, January 27, 2013 at the Aloha Bowl in Honolulu, HI. Since the game is being played a week before Super Bowl XLVII, any members of the two teams playing in the Super Bowl will not participate in the game.
For a full look at the 2013 NFL Pro Bowl rosters, hit the read more button below if you're on the home page.
AFC | NFC | ||
Offense | Offense | ||
Position | Player(s) | Position | Player(s) |
QB | * Peyton Manning, Denver | QB | * Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay |
Tom Brady, New England | Matt Ryan, Atlanta | ||
Matt Schaub, Houston | Robert Griffin III, Washington | ||
RB | * Arian Foster, Houston | RB | * Adrian Peterson, Minnesota |
Jamaal Charles, Kansas City | Marshawn Lynch, Seattle | ||
Ray Rice, Baltimore | Frank Gore, San Francisco | ||
FB | * Vonta Leach, Baltimore | FB | * Jerome Felton, Minnesota |
WR | * A.J. Green, Cincinnati | WR | * Calvin Johnson, Detroit |
* Andre Johnson, Houston | * Brandon Marshall, Chicago | ||
Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis | Julio Jones, Atlanta | ||
Wes Welker, New England | Victor Cruz, NY Giants | ||
TE | * Rob Gronkowski, New England | TE | * Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta |
Heath Miller, Pittsburgh | Jason Witten, Dallas | ||
T | * Joe Thomas, Cleveland | T | * Russell Okung, Seattle |
* Duane Brown, Houston | * Joe Staley, San Francisco | ||
Ryan Clady, Denver | Trent Williams, Washington | ||
G | * Logan Mankins, New England | G | * Jahri Evans, New Orleans |
* Marshal Yanda, Baltimore | * Mike Iupati, San Francisco | ||
Wade Smith, Houston | Chris Snee, NY Giants | ||
C | * Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh | C | * Max Unger, Seattle |
Chris Myers, Houston | Jeff Saturday, Green Bay | ||
Defense | Defense | ||
Position | Player(s) | Position | Player(s) |
DE | * J.J. Watt, Houston | DE | * Jason Pierre-Paul, NY Giants |
* Cameron Wake, Miami | * Julius Peppers, Chicago | ||
Elvis Dumervil, Denver | Jared Allen, Minnesota | ||
DT | * Geno Atkins, Cincinnati | DT | * Justin Smith, San Francisco |
* Vince Wilfork, New England | * Henry Melton, Chicago | ||
Haloti Ngata, Baltimore | Gerald McCoy, Tampa | ||
OLB | * Tamba Hali, Kansas City | OLB | * DeMarcus Ware, Dallas |
* Von Miller, Denver | * Aldon Smith, San Francisco | ||
Robert Mathis, Indianapolis | Clay Matthews, Green Bay | ||
MLB | * Jerod Mayo, New England | MLB | * Patrick Willis, San Francisco |
Derrick Johnson, Kansas City | NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco | ||
CB | * Johnathan Joseph, Houston | CB | * Charles Tillman, Chicago |
* Champ Bailey, Denver | * Tim Jennings, Chicago | ||
Antonio Cromartie, NY Jets | Patrick Peterson, Arizona | ||
SS | * Eric Berry, Kansas City | FS | * Dashon Goldson, San Francisco |
LaRon Landy, NY Jets | Earl Thomas, Seattle | ||
FS | * Ed Reed, Baltimore | SS | * Donte Whitner, San Francisco |
Special teams | Special teams | ||
Position | Player(s) | Position | Player(s) |
P | Dustin Colquitt, Kansas City | P | Thomas Morstead, New Orleans |
PK | Phil Dawson, Cleveland | PK | Blair Walsh, Minnesota |
KR | Jacoby Jones, Baltimore | KR | Leon Washington, Seattle |
ST | Matthew Slater, New England | ST | Lorenzo Alexander, Washington |
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New England Patriots running back Brandon Bolden has been suspended for four games by the NFL for testing postive for PED's.
Here's the statement from the NFL:
Brandon Bolden of the New England Patriots has been suspended without pay for four games for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.
Bolden’s suspension begins immediately. He will be eligible to return to the Patriots’ active roster on Monday, December 3 following the team’s December 2 game against the Miami Dolphins.
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photo credit: getty images