A Tale of Two Cities: Schilling's shocking discovery of New York-Boston animosity

By YankTank, Section NFL
Posted on Thu Sep 11 2008 at 2:38 AM EST
More on: Brady, Curt Schilling, Patriots, Boston, New England, New York, Yankees, Red Sox (all tags)

"Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something." -Plato

Curt Schilling reminds me of the generic and requisite Real World stock character: the cantankerous jackass who falsely assumes his "candor" is anything more than pathetic and offensive white noise. The guy whose audition tape sounds something like, "I dont give a $%^& what people think. I just keep it real and say what no one else will say. I'm not afraid to go there." And while he's initially embraced by the other housemates, he ultimately alienates himself from the group, leaving him with nothing left to do but self-indulgent confessionals.

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It's a Boston Sports World, and Everyone Else is Just Paying Rent

By BostonMac, Section Other Sports
Posted on Sun Jul 06 2008 at 12:04 AM EST
More on: Boston sports, Domination, Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Arrogant Rant (all tags)

By Ryan McGowan

Vin has been heckling me for the lack of quantity of my writing lately.

And by "lack of quantity," I mean I haven't posted a column since February 2007 when I wrote some diatribe about how NASCAR, and by extension the South in general, sucks.

Even though I've been a loyal and regular contributor to Poor Man's PTI, my absence from the printed word has been somewhat unexplained.   So I think I owe it to the readers and especially to my colleagues Vin, Trevor, R.J., Billy, Kris, et al, to explain my writing void.

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2008 NFL Power Rankings: Season Preview

By kroberts, Section NFL
Posted on Sat Jul 05 2008 at 6:03 PM EST
More on: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Colts, Patriots (all tags)

With the recent mumblings of Favre considering coming out of retirement, things are getting shaken up in Green Bay, and quite honestly, all around football. If you're a fantasy drafter holding an early draft, now you're not sure whether to steal Rodgers or some of his teammates, and you're also speculating on whether or not to nab Favre, as well. Each year we have to look at each player and each team under a microscope. Which player is past his prime, just entering it, and who is going to carry his team to the next level. If Brett Favre does in fact come back, then it will change the current look of the NFl completely. Well, at least it will change the fortunes of the Green Bay Packers. Regardless, whatever he decides to do will no doubt have a domino affect in the NFC North, kicking the Vikings or Bears out of playoff contention, or if he stays retired, maybe ensuring them a wild card. One thing is for sure, Favre and his rumor mill antics will keep us all (unless you're a Lions fan) on the edge of our seats, awaiting his final verdict. And you thought we had it all figured out back in March... The pre-season Power Rankings:

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Fancy, Red, Short-sleeved Hoodie Sinks Patriots

By MJOneill, Section NFL
Posted on Sat Feb 23 2008 at 4:31 PM EST
More on: NFL, fancy, hoodies, Red, Patriots (all tags)

A perfect season riding on a single, crowing game ultimately ruined... by a fancy, red, short-sleeved hoodie worn by head coach Bill Belichick.

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"14-6: The Historic Championship Season of New York's Imperfect Giants"

By YankTank, Section NFL
Posted on Wed Feb 06 2008 at 11:02 AM EST
More on: Super Bowl XLII, New England, Patriots, New York, Giants (all tags)

"We can't all be heroes because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by." -Will Rogers

About 50 blocks south of me the New York Giants are holding court in the Canyon of Heroes. Thousands are flooding lower Manhattan in an overwhelming parade of gratitude. Thank you, Big Blue. For doing for your fans what the Red Sox did for Boston in 2004. We needed more than just a Super Bowl, and somehow the Giants gave it to us.

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Patriot Games: A formality before immortality?

By YankTank, Section NFL
Posted on Fri Feb 01 2008 at 12:18 PM EST
More on: Super Bowl, Giants, Patriots, Chokers, Upsets (all tags)

"That's why we took the damn field! Now, if you want to crown them, then crown their ass!" -Dennis Green on playing the Bears, MNF 10/16/06

I'm surprised management splurged and actually flew the New York Giants to Arizona. Wouldn't it have made more sense to just come to terms with the foregone conclusion of the Patriots' perfect season? Big Blue is overmatched, and Tom Brady is clearly Christ himself. Hell, New England already has applied for a trademark patent on "19-0." (I'm not making this up.) Does it matter who they're playing? The Giants are merely slated to be another blip of road kill on the Patriots' road to perfection.

Which means the Patriots go down in history no matter what. As perfect or as chokers. And the Giants? Only a catalyst to either.

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SBXLII: No surprises, please.

By YankTank, Section Journals
Posted on Wed Jan 23 2008 at 3:06 PM EST
More on: Super Bowl, Patriots, Giants, NFL (all tags)

"Be ready to be surprised." That was one of the tenets of Loesje, a Dutch organization for creative thinking and positive energy. And naturally there's no better way to launch into an NFL bit than call on the wisdom of modern-day hippies from the Netherlands. At least that's what my grandfather always said.

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2007 NFL Conference Championships Picks and Podcast

By Editor, Section NFL
Posted on Thu Jan 17 2008 at 2:33 PM EST
More on: 2007 NFL Picks, NFL, gambling, Patriots, Chargers, NY Giants, Packers (all tags)

In many ways, the Conference Championship weekend is much much better than the Super Bowl itself. Usually we get great games. However according to vegas this year, it's not looking so great. We'll see if NE can cover those 14 points and if the Packers can cover the 7.

You can download the podcast directly (running time 75 mins) or subscribe to the feed.

If you use iTunes, just click here and then click subscribe and iTunes will take care of the rest.

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Final Power Rankings for the 2007 NFL Season

By kroberts, Section NFL
Posted on Thu Jan 03 2008 at 2:10 PM EST
More on: Packers, Colts, Patriots, Tom Brady (all tags)

Is anyone shocked? I mean, even a little?

And I'm not talking about the Patriots and their unbelievable 16-0 season. Because, while many would never dare admit it, a lot of people never thought it would happen. They never thought it could happen. But it did.

But no, that's not what I'm talking about.

Is anyone shocked that the top 4 teams have stayed the same for the entire season, that is, once they were all together up there?

Admit it, you thought the Packers were a fluke when they started 4-0 and lost to the Bears. You probably even still think that.

And no one really thought the Patriots would continue their hot streak. And the Colts? The defending champs marred by injuries. They were sure to collapse and miss the playoffs, like every former champion does. Well, most of them.

But now we can see there were no surprises. Not really. Not in the regular season. The Browns, one of the most exciting teams of the season, missed the playoffs, while the Buccaneers basically took the remaining 4 weeks off and coasted into the playoffs.

So what now?

Well, if you ask me, I'd say a hindered Owens and ineffective Romo will have the mighty Cowboys falling to the, you guessed it, Washington Redskins in the divisional playoff. Which can only mean Green Bay will get past the Giants, yet again, and then romp all over the Redskins on their way to the Super Bowl.

And, as if those won't be enough surprises to last us all through next year, and help us ignore the dullness of the NBA, there's more.

Yes, the undefeated Patriots will lose in the championship game to the Colts, and then we have a match-up that almost no one wants to see, but won't be able to look away from. Green Bay versus Indianapolis.

But I won't pick the winner just yet. Instead, take a look at how your team faired this season, and where they fall in the final edition of the 2007, and now 2008 NFL Power Rankings.

One more edition will be available upon the completion of the playoffs. So Until February, enjoy. Happy new year, everybody.

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Week 17 NFL Power Rankings

By kroberts, Section NFL
Posted on Wed Dec 26 2007 at 9:23 PM EST
More on: 2007 NFL Power Rankings, Patriots, Cowboys, Colts, Packers (all tags)

What the hell is going on?

I mean, seriously. People actually expected the Dolphins to beat the Patriots? They actually thought the worst possible rendition of that 72' team could end the possibility of this current Patriot team from going undefeated? You must be joking.

And what is with the Green Bay Packers? More importantly-Brett Favre. Have you ever seen him play that crappy in bad weather? And what about Jon Ryan? Talk about the punter's day from hell.

And as if we hadn't seen everything. We get a showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions, two teams who haven't won in forever, and both are punting the ball back and forth, waiting for the other team to win the game. Congratulations, Matt Millen, you are one game closer to being average. And as for you, Jon Kitna, lay off predictions for a while.

I don't know about you, but I don't know how much more of this up and down season I can take. Teams like the Packers and Cowboys aren't living up to expectations, Steve Smith is suddenly good again, Shaun Hill is the apparent future in San Fransisco, and the San Diego Chargers, at least for the now, are being considered a solid football team.

and the power rankings for the coming week 17...

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