1780 replies to this topic

[koufax32]

My wife teaches science. Well, at least she teaches it for a few more months until our wee lass arives. One of her favorite things is making her students do science fair. Some kids slouch their way through. I remember one student whose experiment consisted of melting down soap, adding a few things, and creating...soap. Some students go nuts on it and are limited only by their imaginations and basic laws of physics. One such student, a freshman this year who no doubt will rule the planet some day, set out on a pretty cool quest. He wanted to use a microwave and sections of rug (IIRC) to create ball lightning. Now, anytime a kid wants to produce homemade plasma my wife is all for that. However, the trick is how to go about measuring his results. He attempted to develop several ways of measuring temperature, size of the ball lightning, etc. but ultimately had to scrap the project.

The moral of this story, other than now knowing that you too can create your own ball lightning, is that his attempt to use lightning as a means to success was an abject failure. Sure it sounded cool and probably would have been impressive. Ultimately though, without a way of measuring his findings it was all sizzle and no substance.

Oh yes, I do believe I smell an allegory here.


The San Diego Superchargers have been an enigma wrapped in a riddle for years now. You see them play and think "they will make a deep run into the playoffs this year." But the devil, as they say, is in the details. "Top of the league in yards gained AND yards allowed...and they finished with how many wins????" We should all be grateful we are not SD fans. We would be forced to Herman Edwards levels of bewilderment AND have to cheer for the two time reigning All-Tool Team MVP, Philip Rivers. A riddle indeed.

I grew up in Westford, MA. During summer vacations I spent many a day at Fenway, or the public pool in Westford, or the little league diamonds/soccer fields in the Forge Village area. I also remember many trips to Boston with friends as we would go to the Childrens' Museum, Aquarium, or Science Museum. IIRC it was the science museum that had the ginormous Van de Graaff generators to create lightning. They used to fire those things up to create bolts that would zap between the two bulbs. I think they even made mention of Ben Franklin's kite experiment by frying one during said demonstration. Being in a museum setting though, we were perfectly safe. The same could not be said for the kite though. As we venture into Sunday's contest with our bedazzled foes, let us remember one thing that will be a resounding battle cry across the towns and hamlets of New England. WE ARE NOT KITES!! For that reason (amongst dozens of others, but I digress) we shall overcome and be victorious.

Edited by koufax32, 14 September 2011 - 10:01 AM.

[drleather2001]

I still can't get over that they were named after credit card "charging" and not a form of electricity.

Also glad its a home game.

[jsinger121]

No Kaeding (ACL out for the year) and no Luis Castillo (Broken Leg) could be huge. Tolbert is nursing a knee injury I believe as well.

[jsinger121]

tomecurran

Patriots safety Josh Barrett adorned with a cast on his left thumb and wrist

[RedOctober3829]

This is going to be a close game. If Henne could rip open the Patriots' D, then what the hell is Rivers going to do? He is a better QB and has a better receiving core than Miami. It will be close going into the 4th quarter you can count on that. Jsinger is right that not having Kaeding will be big, but their offense is going to put up huge numbers. This is a game where the transition to bigger corners will have an effect as Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd are huge WRs. If Tolbert is hurt enough, then their running game will be dependent upon Ryan Mathews and Jordan Todman which will help the cause.

I'm predicting another shootout, but closer than everyone thinks.

38-35 NE.

Edited by RedOctober3829, 14 September 2011 - 10:32 AM.

[mascho]

Awesome: via Tom Curran on Twitter

Prepare for the indignant outrage. Asked about Sunday's 415 start, Tom Brady said, "yeah, start drinking early."

Edited by mascho, 14 September 2011 - 10:34 AM.

[dcmissle]

No Kaeding (ACL out for the year) and no Luis Castillo (Broken Leg) could be huge. Tolbert is nursing a knee injury I believe as well.

Unlike last week, I like the timing and location of this game.

Annoying Philip Rivers is likely to provide a big-time test of the defense. I hope they are close to up to it.

[SoxScout]

MikeReiss Mike Reiss
Tom Brady's message to fans before home-opener: "Start drinking early."

MikeReiss Mike Reiss
The context of that Brady quote comes when asked about Sunday's home-opener. Hoping for raucous atmosphere that makes it hard on Chargers.

.
.
.

MikeReiss Mike Reiss
Tom Brady clarifies remark to fans on starting to drink early: "Stay hydrated, drink a lot of water, be loud, drink responsibly."

MikeReiss Mike Reiss
Brady's clarification was delivered to reporters from media relations chief Stacey James.

https://twitter.com/#!/MikeReiss lol

[Jed Zeppelin]

I hope there was no actual outrage in response to the quote. As if 99.9999999% of the commercials during an NFL broadcast aren't about mass consumption of alcohol.

[koufax32]

I hope there was no actual outrage in response to the quote. As if 99.9999999% of the commercials during an NFL broadcast aren't about mass consumption of alcohol.

The only possibility is if CHB drives this looney wagon. Even if he does, few will jump aboard since he is, in fact, a retard.

[jsinger121]

shalisemyoung

Leigh Bodden missed practice today with a back injury; Mike Wright, sadly, suffered another concussion

Sucks for Mike Wright

[jsinger121]

MISSED PRACTICE
CB Leigh Bodden (back)
C Dan Koppen (fibula)
DL Mike Wright (concussion)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION
S Josh Barrett (thumb)
LB Dane Fletcher (thumb)
LB Gary Guyton (hamstring)
WR Taylor Price (hamstring)
OL Ryan Wendell (calf)

FULL PARTICIPATION
DL Myron Pryor (groin)

[Carmine Hose]

So Vollmer, Spikes, and Cunningham miss the MIA game due to injuries and then do not appear on the first report this week. Classic.

Edit - Vollmer is on Reiss' list as limited.

Edited by Carmine Hose, 14 September 2011 - 06:35 PM.

[koufax32]

Sucks for Mike Wright

At what point does he get Eric Lindros'ed?

[axx]

PR People are funny. Does Stacy James realize how stupid that "clarification" sounds?

[jsinger121]

GregABedard

With all Week 1 games evaluated, @ProFootbalFocus has Patriots defense #5 overall and #1 in pass rush.

[DegenerateSoxFan]

All is well for Pats fans in the mid-Atlantic states and on the west coast:

TV Map

Edit: and most of the mid-west & south.

Edited by DegenerateSoxFan, 15 September 2011 - 01:45 PM.

[Jed Zeppelin]

All is well for Pats fans in the mid-Atlantic states and on the west coast:

TV Map

Edit: and most of the mid-west & south.

I've looked through the entire league TV schedule as far as which network gets the double headers and when the Jets/Giants are playing. I could be completely wrong but by my calculations it looks like New Yorkers will be in luck this year. The Pats play a few more national games (though the Indy game may get flexed out - thanks Peyton!) and for the most part don't play many games at the same time/network as the Jets & Giants. Won't know for sure until the beginning of each week of course but by my count NYC viewers should get the Pats in weeks 4, 5(NYJ), 6, 8, 9(NYG), 10(SNF), 11(MNF), 12, 13(SNF), and 16. Counting this week and last, 12 out of 16 is not too shabby. Again, I could be way wrong but based on what the maps usually look like, the schedule lined up well this year.

[Turrable]

I've looked through the entire league TV schedule as far as which network gets the double headers and when the Jets/Giants are playing. I could be completely wrong but by my calculations it looks like New Yorkers will be in luck this year. The Pats play a few more national games (though the Indy game may get flexed out - thanks Peyton!) and for the most part don't play many games at the same time/network as the Jets & Giants. Won't know for sure until the beginning of each week of course but by my count NYC viewers should get the Pats in weeks 4, 5(NYJ), 6, 8, 9(NYG), 10(SNF), 11(MNF), 12, 13(SNF), and 16. Counting this week and last, 12 out of 16 is not too shabby. Again, I could be way wrong but based on what the maps usually look like, the schedule lined up well this year.

I live near DC, and I think we get something similar. I looked through the schedule a few days ago and IIRC we should be getting all but week 3, 15, 16 and 17. Sucks to be missing the last 3 weeks, but at least there's redzone.

[jsinger121]

RapSheet

Bill Belichick says he would expect all three tackles to play -- Light, Vollmer, and Solder

[RedOctober3829]

I can see Solder being on the field as a tackle eligible in the red zone given his TE background.

[TheoShmeo]

Silly question but my wife wants to know: Is Section 332 on the sun side or the shade side?

Edit: Got my answer elsewhere -- shade.

Edited by TheoShmeo, 16 September 2011 - 12:15 PM.

[axx]

Silly question but my wife wants to know: Is Section 332 on the sun side or the shade side?

Edit: Got my answer elsewhere -- shade.

Are you going to start drinking early?

[epraz]

I've looked through the entire league TV schedule as far as which network gets the double headers and when the Jets/Giants are playing. I could be completely wrong but by my calculations it looks like New Yorkers will be in luck this year. The Pats play a few more national games (though the Indy game may get flexed out - thanks Peyton!) and for the most part don't play many games at the same time/network as the Jets & Giants. Won't know for sure until the beginning of each week of course but by my count NYC viewers should get the Pats in weeks 4, 5(NYJ), 6, 8, 9(NYG), 10(SNF), 11(MNF), 12, 13(SNF), and 16. Counting this week and last, 12 out of 16 is not too shabby. Again, I could be way wrong but based on what the maps usually look like, the schedule lined up well this year.

I did the same. I'm not sure the OAK game will be on, but it probably will be, and the rest you listed are either locks (national or vs the jets) or virtual locks.

[Mystic Merlin]

Gameday.

Kick ass. Take names. Emerge victorious.

[DaveRoberts'Shoes]

Gameday.

Kick ass. Take names. Emerge victorious.

This, indeed.

[Toe Nash]

The SD passing game is certainly better than Miami's but I thought Henne played out of his mind last week. I wouldn't use their performance against him as an indication that the pass D will be worse against Rivers.

Let's do this.

[Rico Guapo]

Fucking WIN.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Make Rivers cry.

[mikeford]

Yesterday sucked in about every possible way it could suck.


Make today not suck, Patriots.

[sachmoney]

Drink early, win late. Let's go Pats!

[DannyHeep]

Is there an internet way to watch this? Otherwise I'm hitting the bars.

[Darnell's Son]

Drink early, win late. Let's go Pats!

Hydrate, baby, Hydrate.

[bigsid05]

National media all liking the Pats... I think SD has a strong chance here. Still not convinced the secondary is up for stopping high-powered offenses like the Chargers.

[Soxaholic]

Is there an internet way to watch this? Otherwise I'm hitting the bars.

http://www.firstrows...n-football.html

Watching RedZone right now, and it's working great.

[dcmissle]

National media all liking the Pats... I think SD has a strong chance here. Still not convinced the secondary is up for stopping high-powered offenses like the Chargers.

This is one of the things that gives the NFL an edge over other professional sports.

As many flaws as both teams revealed in week 1, this is a marquee matchup, and consequences will flow from it. Real ones.

Compare an early May matchup between Lester and Sabbathia; people are pumped -- but it's just 1 of 18 games between the two teams. Instead of 6.25% of the entire regular season and a conference rivalry on top of that.

Edited by dcmissle, 18 September 2011 - 12:31 PM.

[SoxScout]

Mallett
Price
Vereen
Guyton
Wendell
Koppen
Wright

[Darnell's Son]

Mallett
Price
Vereen
Guyton
Wendell
Koppen
Wright

So Spikes is active?

[SoxScout]

So Spikes is active?

And Vollmer and Cunningham

[Darnell's Son]

Awesome

[smokin joe wood]

I wonder if Ridley will see the field today.

[SoxScout]

I still don't understand not getting his feet wet in the 4th last week.

[SeoulSoxFan]

Ruh-oh -- Firstrow link stops working...

[Red PR]

Ruh-oh -- Firstrow link stops working...

yep, first time i see it like this...hmm any other linkys?

[Mystic Merlin]

Nice to see Vollmer and Cunningham active.

EDIT - Spikes too. Mayo to the weakside.

Edited by Mystic Merlin, 18 September 2011 - 02:42 PM.

[SoxScout]

Ruh-oh -- Firstrow link stops working...

The site crashed, it's already rebuilding. The site is based in Sweden.

[Red PR]

The site crashed, it's already rebuilding. The site is based in Sweden.

thanks Scout

[SeoulSoxFan]

Spoke too soon about Buffalo - Raiders take the lead on a 50yd bomb!

[SoxScout]

thanks Scout

I dunno what's going to happen, football links were just up, but gone again now. I think it's the site having issues, not some government shutdown.

[luqin]

Let's do this