AFC Championship: Patriots vs Steelers, the buildup

[Stitch01]

Is this common? I thought a signing bonus was in essence a team-friendly mechanism to defer cap hits to the later years of a contract, but had no idea it would operate as a penalty for early retirement by a player.

Seems pretty standard (not sure if there's individual contract language allowed that can guarantee for retirement). Chris Borland paid 3/4 of his signing bonus back IIRC.

If the signing bonus isnt repaid then the remaining cap hit would all accelerate.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Seems pretty standard (not sure if there's individual contract language allowed that can guarantee for retirement). Chris Borland paid 3/4 of his signing bonus back IIRC.

If the signing bonus isnt repaid then the remaining cap hit would all accelerate.

Same thing with Calvin Johnson. They were entitled to go back after about 5 million of his signing bonus. Not sure if they did or not.

 

[TomTerrific]

If you haven't read it, Dom Cosentino's rant on Deadspin about how Brady owns the Steelers is actually decent football writing.

In particular, he has a number of good links. This one from Steelers Depot analyzing the Brady audible early in the game is particularly well done and definitely worth a read.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2017/01/film-room-only-play-needed-show-brady-solved-butlers-defense/

 

[Harry Hooper]

So will the "Rooney Rules" prevail and the Steelers face no consequences for covering up Bell's injured status for several weeks?

 

[MB's Hidden Ball]

If you haven't read it, Dom Cosentino's rant on Deadspin about how Brady owns the Steelers is actually decent football writing.

In particular, he has a number of good links. This one from Steelers Depot analyzing the Brady audible early in the game is particularly well done and definitely worth a read.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2017/01/film-room-only-play-needed-show-brady-solved-butlers-defense/

From the comments: "Not ONE pass was defended. Hogan could have pulled the pin on a grenade after his TD's and nobody would have gotten hurt."

 

[DJnVa]

Maybe I'm just missing it, but is there someplace on WEEI's site where I can here their call of some of the big plays from Sunday?

 

[The Big Red Kahuna]

Maybe I'm just missing it, but is there someplace on WEEI's site where I can here their call of some of the big plays from Sunday?

Not sure if this was inside joke I'm missing, but it would be strange if you did find their call of the game.

Hint: Patriots aren't on EEI

 

[DJnVa]

Not sure if this was inside joke I'm missing, but it would be strange if you did find their call of the game.

Hint: Patriots aren't on EEI

Bah, I knew that. I meant 98.5. I was looking on my phone and couldn't find anything.

EDIT: Found it on laptop. One measly audio call.

 

[dcmissle]

So will the "Rooney Rules" prevail and the Steelers face no consequences for covering up Bell's injured status for several weeks?

Cases are piling up. Don't they have to Pete Carroll's first, or has that been adjudicated?

Maybe both will fall into North-Carolina-basketball black hole.

Ben will be back. He's naturally disappointed. Or is he firing shot across the bows of Tomlin and/or the front office?

 

[InstaFace]

Cosentino has had a number of despairingly-positive things to say about the Patriots this season, all of them good articles with some quality analytical backup to go with entertaining writing. Check this out after the 27-0 demolition of the Texans in week 3.

 

[Devizier]

Mike Greenberg kept asking Golic and Ryan Clark why only the Patriots do things like this and they kept saying "Well other teams can, but most prefer to dance with who brought you" and Greenberg kept saying "But isn't it clear that this philosophy is better? Not every time but over the long haul?"

It works when you have talent down the depth chart, which the Patriots do. Most teams don't have that luxury.

 

[DJnVa]

It works when you have talent down the depth chart, which the Patriots do. Most teams don't have that luxury.

Absolutely. Of course Greenberg followed up with "They do this on offense too. With no first rounders starting and 3 UDFA in starting lineup!"

 

[DJnVa]

Holy crap--mic'd up Edelman from the Steelers game talking to Mitchell on sidelines:

"When I was young my dad always used to tell me--when you got them down, step on their fucking necks. I was like 12, man, it was weird."

Also, Villanueva, from Pittsburgh, on Brady sneak: "He was down."

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Holy crap--mic'd up Edelman from the Steelers game talking to Mitchell on sidelines:

"When I was young my dad always used to tell me--when you got them down, step on their fucking necks. I was like 12, man, it was weird."

Also, Villanueva, from Pittsburgh, on Brady sneak: "He was down."

link?

also lol at Greeny going holy shit no first rounders and UDFAs - that's all BB.

 

[southshoresoxfan]

If it had been ruled a fumble on the field it would have been automatically reviewed and
left as a fumble. There was no indisputable evidence as to when the ball came out or as to who recovered the ball. Probably was a fumble and a Steeler recovery, but that's not where the review started. I have no idea as to what the announcers were seeing though.
I wasn't sure the elbow was down first; there was no good view.

Steelers didnt deserve the call. 3rd and inches. Pats lineup. No Pitt D over the center/RG gap. Brady calls audible. I call from section 239 15 beers in that its a sneak. Its unbelievable the details that slip by other teams.

 

[DJnVa]

link?

also lol at Greeny going holy shit no first rounders and UDFAs - that's all BB.

Showtime Inside the NFL

 

[DJnVa]

If the signing bonus isnt repaid then the remaining cap hit would all accelerate.

I think they have to go to arbitration for this.

http://russellstreetreport.com/salarycap/nfl-salary-cap-faqs/

If a player unexpectedly retires in his prime, while playing under a long term contract in which the team gave the player a signing bonus, the CBA allows the team to attempt to recoup some of that Signing Bonus. This has become known as the “Barry Sanders Rule”.

If the team – usually after an arbitration hearing – is entitled to receive the return of a portion of the player’s Bonus, that amount is credited to the following year’s Salary Cap.

To be clear, though, not every retirement causes the return of bonus money. In fact, teams often sign veteran players to contracts with a number of years that they know will be fully reached. In such cases, the teams never seek the return of bonus money – and likely wouldn’t win in arbitration, anyway. The return of bonus money is only likely to occur when the player essentially retires unexpectedly and without legitimate reason (i.e. injury).

Not sure how often it happens and what is considered "legitimate".

 

[Stitch01]

Yes. Teams only get cap relief if bonus money is actually repaid.

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

I think they have to go to arbitration for this.

http://russellstreetreport.com/salarycap/nfl-salary-cap-faqs/



Not sure how often it happens and what is considered "legitimate".

I would imagine mostly just injury or death. This is the clause the pats used to go after money back from Hernandez, so I guess murder isn't considered 'legitimate'.

Edit: I believe Vick had to pay the Falcons back money as well.

 

[djbayko]

From the comments: "Not ONE pass was defended. Hogan could have pulled the pin on a grenade after his TD's and nobody would have gotten hurt."

I imagine at least Hogan would be hurt.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Absolutely. Of course Greenberg followed up with "They do this on offense too. With no first rounders starting and 3 UDFA in starting lineup!"

If that's what he said, he's wrong

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

It's just Solder right?

 

[tims4wins]

Good observation from Reiss this morning detailing how the Pats used a 4 WR package for more snaps during the first half than they did ALL SEASON

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4800338/after-unveiling-four-wr-package-patriots-explore-super-bowl-options

 

[Green (Tongued) Monster]

Good observation from Reiss this morning detailing how the Pats used a 4 WR package for more snaps during the first half than they did ALL SEASON

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4800338/after-unveiling-four-wr-package-patriots-explore-super-bowl-options

Looks like both you and Reiss are a few days late to the party on this. The topic has been beaten to death on Mike and Mike ever since Jaworski mentioned it on Monday morning. Drew Dawg brought it up about 50 posts ago. Regardless, not taking away from the interesting stat, BB and Patricia are masters at this sort of thing.

 

[DJnVa]

If that's what he said, he's wrong

Yeah, he was talking skill players at first, but then they expanded it and it was just the one.

 

[dbn]

Holy crap--mic'd up Edelman from the Steelers game talking to Mitchell on sidelines:

"When I was young my dad always used to tell me--when you got them down, step on their fucking necks. I was like 12, man, it was weird."

Also, Villanueva, from Pittsburgh, on Brady sneak: "He was down."

I can't find this. Link?

 

[Curt S Loew]

I can't find this. Link?

It was on Inside The NFL on Showtime. Part of the SoundFX that usually follow a few days later. Should be available soon.

Edit - It will air tonight at 9PM on NFLN. SoundFX will follow.

 

[nothumb]

I feel like the shit Edelman says in the heat of a game is often way funnier / weirder than his videos or appearances where he's trying. He had a couple good quips in the Houston film too.

 

[Marciano490]

Steelers didnt deserve the call. 3rd and inches. Pats lineup. No Pitt D over the center/RG gap. Brady calls audible. I call from section 239 15 beers in that its a sneak. Its unbelievable the details that slip by other teams.

It really stands out when in the same game the Steelers don't even think about sneaking Ben on the goal line. Without looking up their listed weights, I'd say Rottie's got 35 pounds on Brady, but they didn't have him try to get that foot for the TD and I believe there was another instance in the KC game where I would've thought they'd go with a sneak and didn't.

 

[DJnVa]

Tomlin was asked postgame if he's fundamentally opposed to QB sneaks.

 

[Marciano490]

Tomlin was asked postgame if he's fundamentally opposed to QB sneaks.

I hear he only likes them when going for 2.

 

[joe dokes]

http://www.patriots.com/video/2017/01/25/bose-sights-and-sounds-afc-championship-vs-pittsburgh-steelers

Sights n' sounds from nfl.com (including far too many sounds of Scott Zolak sounding like Peter Boyle singing "Puttin' on the Ritz.")

 

[Al Zarilla]

http://www.patriots.com/video/2017/01/25/bose-sights-and-sounds-afc-championship-vs-pittsburgh-steelers

Sights n' sounds from nfl.com (including far too many sounds of Scott Zolak sounding like Peter Boyle singing "Puttin' on the Ritz.")

THE FLEA FLICKAH! THE STEELERS BITE ON THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME! I like Zolak. To each his own I guess.

 

[MillarTime]

Holy shit McCourty's pregame speech. I just ran a lap around my office building.

 

[Marciano490]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/01/24/steelers-may-be-sending-the-rest-of-the-league-a-message-about-antonio-brown/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs&yptr=yahoo

Steelers may be looking to trade Brown. Ben talking about retiring and throwing the younger players under the bus. We didn't just beat the Steelers, we broke them. If they die, they die.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Peter King piles on

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2017/01/25/ben-roethlisberger-pittsburgh-steelers-retirement-nfl-mailbag

 

[Kevin Youkulele]

A fun little note about the PIT pass defense getting embarrassed again - they are the only team since 1970 to have allowed a 127+ passer rating in a conference championship three times. Two of those were Brady, the other was Marino.


https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/matt-ryan-is-no-fluke/ (the article is actually primarily about Matt Ryan, who did some epic shredding of his own, of course).

 

[Devizier]

Peter King piles on

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2017/01/25/ben-roethlisberger-pittsburgh-steelers-retirement-nfl-mailbag

Reads like a transcript from Roethlisberger's agent.

 

[DJnVa]

Sound FX on NFL Network in 5 minutes. CHANGE THAT CHANNEL!!

 

[soxhop411]

 

[DJnVa]

Burns: "I'm here baby, I'm here"
Edelman: "The fact that you gotta talk about it means you're not."

 

[pappymojo]

I had forgotten about this until reading Marima on PatsPulpit and then saw it mentioned in Tom E. Curran's article.

http://www.csnne.com/new-england-patriots/tom-e-curran-will-nfl-punish-transparent-pittsburgh-steelers-hiding-leveon-bell-injury

Back in October, Mike Tomlin was asked why the Steelers ruled quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out of a game with the Patriots so early in the week.

“We’re a transparent group,” said Tomlin. “We don’t hide. We are who we are."

The statement seemed a little sanctimonious and could easily be construed as a thinly-veiled shot at the Patriots, who share what they have to when they have to and little more.

Now the statement is hypocritical to boot.

 

[Thetoddwalker]

Is it game time yet???

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

Burns: "I'm here baby, I'm here"
Edelman: "The fact that you gotta talk about it means you're not."

Ouch. Burn. "Oh, and by the way, kid - I'm mic'd up."

 

[simplyeric]

I feel like the shit Edelman says in the heat of a game is often way funnier / weirder than his videos or appearances where he's trying. He had a couple good quips in the Houston film too.

Indeed. That line about his dad (someone quoted it earlier) is priceless.

 

[djbayko]

delete - already posted

 

[joe dokes]

Brady's throwing motion is really something. Reminds me only of Tom Seaver in the "that's the way you should do it, kids" department.

 

[dbn]

Burns: "I'm here baby, I'm here"
Edelman: "The fact that you gotta talk about it means you're not."

The the next replay (wonder if it was actually the next play) he catches a ball against him, avoids his tackle, and is off. I love Julian Edelman.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Indeed. That line about his dad (someone quoted it earlier) is priceless.

I know a guy who grew up with Edelman's old man and is still friends with him. Gonna have to ask him to ask Edelman Sr. about that one. Sometimes Julian sounds like he's making stuff up.

 

[reggiecleveland]

Burns: "I'm here baby, I'm here"
Edelman: "The fact that you gotta talk about it means you're not."

I am coaching a high school hoops team and I showed them that as lesson trash talk, and why it usually backfires.