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#1
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"16-0"
What are your thoughts on teams getting to 14-0 or so and then not going for the perfect season? ie, yesterday, when the Colts were up 5 points and decided to bench Manning early and put in their backup scrub QB who very easily cost them the game and the perfect season?
I understand it's a matter of priorities, and obviously the Colts priority is being well rested for the playoffs and trying to win another Super Bowl. I personally just disagree with that logic. I think an undefeated season is something to be very proud of, and ranks your team right up there with the best of the best of all time. I think pulling your starters early in the final couple of games, and basically not trying your hardest and not caring if you win or lose is lame. It's quitting. Not only that, but it can certainly affect other teams playoff chances too. If Manning stays in and the Jets lose, that opens up a playoff spot for another team. How do you think they (and their fans) feel about the Colts half assing it? This is something that has always bothered me about the NFL. Final point: I saw an interview the other day with someone from the 72 Dolphins and they asked him if he could only choose one: The perfect season, his Super Bowl ring, or getting into the HOF, which would he choose. He said they all mean a lot to him, obv, but the perfect season is the most special to him. That says a lot. |
#2
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The Colts track record when they rest starters at the end of the regular season speaks for itself. That said, if Manning gets hurt in a meaningless regular season game, the coach would be crucified. It's a tough decision, but I think looking at how poorly they played in past playoffs when they rested guys for the last few reg season games, I think I'm playing the starters as much as possible.
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GO GREEN!!! GO WHITE!!! |
#3
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When a team doesn't have much to play for at the end of the regular season, they seem to get complacent and that seems to bleed into the postseason. So perhaps playing to stay undefeated should be that motivator, instead of trying to stay healthy for the postseason.
But, as RD pointed out, the coach would get hammered if people get hurt. |
#4
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In '07, the Pats played the final 2 games to win, not to rest the starters. As a fan, I said throughout that season that I'd rather have them win the Super Bowl than go 16-0 in the regular season and lose.
OTOH, one risk of resting key players is getting stale, and in football, there are almost as many injuries in practice (though not to QBs) as there are in games. A few weeks ago, I thought despite W-L records, the Vikings were the best team, but right now I think that's the Chargers. I'm not convinced the Saints or the Colts are big favorites. The Colts could've lost 3 games before this weekend, and the Saints have dominated exactly one team in the last 6 weeks As for me, I almost didn't care if some other team went 16-0 this year and won the Super Bowl just to shut up Mercury Morris. In the Colts' case - now they have to win it all or their fans will crucify them.
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"Animals die, friends die, and I shall die. But the one thing that will never die is the reputation I leave behind." Old Norse adage |
#5
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Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
If they lose in the second week of the playoffs or the AFC championship game, they could get destroyed for not resting their starters or for sitting them too long and causing Manning to lose his timing with receivers. If anyone in the starting line-up gets injured, the THEY HAD THINGS LOCKED UP AND GOT GREEDY WITH SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T MATTER crowd goes nuts. who cares Given the Colts record in years where they locked things up early, I would think that playing the starters would be a reasonable answer. However, one injury and Caldwell never hears the end of it. The only thing that works is winning that final game in February. People will argue until they are blue in the face about the right strategy. If you don't have a ring at the end of it, then they were both bad strategies. Also, someone should punch Mercury Morris in the face.
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"And that's how you play aces." Yeah, you make kings run in to them. |
#6
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I hate it. I was thinking about being a fan of a team that had the chance to go for the perfect season, and then going to game 15 and having that happen? If health is such an issue, I would rather shorten the season by 2 games because what is the point of 4 preseason games that cause 2 more of them at the end of the season. It's dumb. I want real football. Coaches and GMs need to figure out how to get their players all the through the season without this crap at the end of the year.
I might change my mind after a couple of days, but right now I think it is ridiculous.
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I need 'em for my footsies. |
#7
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If I had paid for tickets to that game, I'd be livid. I think I'd be justified in asking for a refund of the difference between what I paid, and the cost of a preseason game, since that's what I got to see.
At least when you buy preseason tickets, you know what you are paying for. And I'd be pissed if I was a Steelers fan too. |
#9
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Unless it differs for other teams, preseason games and regular season games are the same price for season ticket holders
Oh yea... and my input for this topic... obvious rest the starters and don't fuck up the Jets postseason hopes -- thanx Oh yea we're 9 pt favorites to do what has a "0% chance of happening give or take 0%"
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"Most of the money you'll win at poker comes not from the brilliance of your own play, but from the ineptitude of your opponents." |
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