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In the Football World

By W. James Antle, III on 12.29.08 @ 10:46AM

I've always liked Brett Favre and yesterday found myself in the uneviable position of having to root for the New York Jets so that the 11-5 New England Patriots could make the playoffs. (I felt less dirty than when I had to root for Dallas against Baltimore for the same reason.) Alas it wasn't to be, though the San Diego Chargers' performance against Denver last night makes me less sore about an 8-8 team, with as many wins going into last night as the Patriots had at the beginning of the month, making the playoffs. And the ouster of Eric Mangini is one silver lining to the whole thing. I hope the Patriots caught his firing on film.

View all comments (7) | Leave a comment

Nicole Russell| 12.29.08 @ 11:23AM

And don't forget the Minnesota Vikings. They won their division title last night by one point. The first time since 2000, I believe. Miracles do happen.

notmypresident09| 12.29.08 @ 12:48PM

Dear James, Nothing gave me more pleasure than watching the Patriots and Bellicheat not make the playoffs. The only thing the made me happier was hearing later in the day that Brady might be out for 2009. Christmas came late.

John| 12.29.08 @ 5:24PM

Steelers fan here... long time... very loyal... Love the 'Skins, too... sort of loyalty to my mother (rest her soul).

Observations on the finish of the weirdest season of the past few decades:

1. The current division system is broken. The mini-division setup of four teams each is relatively pathetic in doing the first pass at weeding out the seed teams for the playoffs. For proof one need only look at the west... AFC and NFC... for proof of a stupid concept.

2. One thing special about football versus Bass-a-ball and Ice-fight...er Hockey... is that the season actually means something, and the playoffs are intended to be the top teams of each league.

To fix...

Simple...

Go back to the basics. NFC East/West - AFC East/West. That is a 14 game season. No bye weeks.. for playoffs. Top 4 teams in each division seed the Conference playoffs.

Super Bowl means something because no team will be playing any other team a second time.

Wait... with the exception of the extra teams and the extra wild cards... that's the way they used to do it!!! Wow... Who'd a thunk it? The old way was always the best way...

R/John
An old AFL/NFL fan and have never changed my mind.

David Ciavarella| 12.29.08 @ 7:28PM

Dear Mr Antle the 3rd:
Horsebleep!! The Patriots?! You are also probably a Red Sox fan. Who has any sympathy for such pathology?
I could forgive such, but not your crude comment about the Jets coach Eric Mangini. I'm a Giants' fan and could give 2 hoots about the Jets. But, why wish him ill? Because he left for an opportunity? Because you like the Patriots and Bill Belicheat so much? What c--p. That guy is a fantastic football man and a very poor specimen of humanity. Is his still pining for his secretary?
I am sorry but I'll never read your columns again; who can trust such an unreliable thinker?

Mike Lee| 12.29.08 @ 8:43PM

I'm glad he is gone but not for the same reasons you are. The team was not responding. That dosen't change the fact that Belichek (sic), though he is a great coach, is a pretty low character.

W. James Antle III| 12.29.08 @ 8:44PM

Mr. Ciavarella,

I think you are taking this a little too seriously. Perhaps you need a vacation? Or a drink?

Best,

Thomas| 12.29.08 @ 8:58PM

I feel sorry for whoever gets the Jets head coaching position next year. New coach, new QB and a 9-7 nut to crack. As for the Pats, they did well considering the fact that they lost Brady early in the year. But, with the talent and depth that they have in each position, they probably should have been able to go at least 12-4 even with Matt Cassel as QB. There were a number of good teams this season, some of whom won't be in the play-offs. The one team that I did not expect to see there was mine, the Miami Dolphins. If they lose the first play-off game I'm still going to be ecstatic. Football, the sport of kings.