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Even the score taunted Seattle when it reached the same 19-17 mark the teams had reached the last time they played, almost daring the Seahawks to prove they had changed enough to write a different ending. The ending ...
Elaine Thompson - APMore photos »2 days ago: Seattle Seahawks' Ricardo Lockette, left, fight to hold onto a 44-yard pass as San Francisco 49ers' Carlos Rogers defends in the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
The San Francisco 49ers emerged victorious Saturday afternoon in a game that was about as physical and chippy as could be expected. I had the good fortune (of sorts) of being able to attend the game at CenturyLink Field and it was a bit difficult at times to fully understand what was happening. At the same time, it was a lot easier to see a lot of the pushing and shoving that might have been overlooked at times by the cameras.
Just like fifteen weeks ago, one team dominated the first half and the other dominated the second. Just like fifteen weeks ago, special teams played a huge role in the home team's late lead. Even the score taunted Seattle when it reached the same 19-17 mark the teams had reached the last time they played, almost daring the Seahawks to prove they had changed enough to write a different ending. The ending was different, but was no more palatable. A close game always comes down to a few plays. Six pivotal moments really stood out.
The Cleveland Browns could have a big say in how the 2012 draft unfolds. If they believe Colt McCoy is not their quarterback of the future and that Andrew Luck is clearly better than any other quarterback on the board, they have the ammunition with two first-round picks (Nos. 5 and 24 in the current mock draft) to combine with other picks or players to take a run at acquiring the first pick.
In the history of Memphis Tigers football there have been only two first round picks. The Carolina Panthers selected running back DeAngelo Williams 27th overall in 2006. The Kansas City Chiefs a decade earlier used the 28th overall pick on safety Jerome Woods. Junior defensive tackle Dontari Poe is hoping to join these former Tigers as soon as possible, announcing via Twitter Friday that he is foregoing his senior season to enter the 2012 NFL draft.
Utah State running back Robert Turbin, who rushed for 1,517 yards and 19 touchdowns this season, is parlaying his monster 2011 campaign into an early entry into the NFL. Largely due to Turbin's strong running, Utah State went to their first bowl game since 1997. For his exploits Turbin was voted the WAC's Offensive Player of the Year.
Ricardo Lockette wasn't smiling. It was actually more of a beaming expression that lit up one corner of an otherwise grim locker room, and it stayed on Lockette's face while the Seahawks' rookie receiver told reporters about his first NFL catch.
"Merry Christmas, everybody!" Just what that sounds like depends on the situation, because saying those words on Sunday morning to a house full of family is very different than shouting it while walking through an opponent's stadium after winning a close game that formally extinguished that opponent's playoff chances.
First-year coach Jim Harbaugh has pushed seemingly all of the right buttons this season in turning around the perennial underachieving 49ers into a team on the verge of locking up a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs.
Joe Webb has made a career so far of entering games when the starting quarterback is injured -- or making a spot start himself -- and impressing people enough for them to say he?s a legit NFL starting quarterback. Now, it seems as if he?s impressed his coach enough for Leslie Frazier to wonder if Webb might be the team?s quarterback of the future.
For the first time in his career, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez won?t be playing in an AFC title game after the Giants knocked their city rivals out of the postseason on Saturday. Now, there?s a report that the Jets are questioning whether Sanchez is actually the team?s quarterback of the future.
When free agency begins in early March, one of the biggest names on the market will be Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell. If he gets there.
Are you an NFL head coach looking for a last-minute gift for that opposing head coach who's so hard to shop for? An Amazon gift certificate, maybe? No, that's not very thoughtful. How about tickets to a game? Nah, he'll probably be busy on Sundays. Something from the NFL Shop? No, he's already got plenty of free NFL stuff. Ooh, I know! Let's give him something he'll really love. How about a punt on 4th and 1 from his 39 yard line?
No one suggests that the Patriots defense is good, or even average. For starters, well, look at the starters. Here was New England?s starting lineup this weekend against the Broncos:
PFF?s founder, Neil Hornsby, said recently that if you gave him any player in the league, he could give you 10 plays that would make him look like an All-Pro and 10 that would make you wonder how he?s collecting an NFL paycheck. While it?s the bulk of plays in between those extremes that actually define the player, the fringe examples are often what get lodged in the memories of fans and other observers of the game. Those highlights and lowlights become the player?s story as they are repeatedly drilled into our consciousness. One angle is taken and run with until any other is drowned out.
Without Ben Roethlisberger I thought maybe the St Louis Rams could spread a little Christmas cheer to their fans by causing an upset against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was wrong to even contemplate it. Instead, the Steelers dominated in every phase, with the Rams? hopeless offense reduced to running out the clock while laying an egg on the scoreboard to hasten the end of their disappointing season. And some people are inclined to think Josh McDaniels deserves another head coaching job after this year? The Steelers had no trouble against an overmatched Rams offense while getting good enough play from Charlie Batch to complement a rushing attack that picked up 6 yards per attempt. So easy were things they even found a way to manufacture catches via screens and shovel passes in an attempt to get Hines Ward to that magical 1,000 receptions figure. Still that doesn?t mean there aren?t things to talk about so let?s look at some of them.
Read More: Charlie Batch (QB - PIT), Hines Ward (WR - PIT), DeAngelo Williams (RB - CAR), Calais Campbell (DE - ARI), Mark Sanchez (QB - NYJ), Colt McCoy (QB - CLE), Joe Webb (QB - MIN), Ricardo Lockette (WR - SEA), Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St.
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