Football Reporters Online

Image via Wikipedia

By Jon Wagner-Sr. Writer at large-Football Reporters Online

Between 2003 and 2009, Indianapolis Colts fans watched their team produce an NFL-record seven straight seasons with at least twelve regular season victories, a Super Bowl victory, two Super Bowl appearances, three conference title game appearances, and four league MVP’s for future hall of fame quarterback Peyton Manning.

The second of those two Super Bowl visits came just two years ago, and although the 12-win streak ended last season, the Colts still made the playoffs for a ninth consecutive season.

So, it was a pretty safe bet that when the National Football League named Indianapolis as the host city for this year’s Super Bowl, the Colts would have more than a decent chance at becoming the first NFL team to play a Super Bowl in their own stadium.

Especially, when Manning was the NFL’s reining iron man with 227 straight starts.

Read the rest of this entry →

By David Levy-Fan Experience Reporter-FRO

The New York Jets controlled the big apple during the post season over the last two years. In fact, Jets fans like myself anticipated that the team would finally be the Kings of New York instead of the Giants. After all, since 2008 the Giants hadn’t come close to returning to the Super Bowl, while their former weak sisters nearly went there twice.  The Jets had control for once in New York.

But a whole new season can make a really big difference, considering where New York’s two teams are right now. Not only have the Jets free fallen into the murky abyss, they may have lost their chance to seize control of New York permanently at this rate while the Giants approach another Super Bowl.  Both teams were in control of their destiny this season.  The Giants took control while the Jets let control slide from their hands.

Read the rest of this entry →

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

By Don Stokes Senior Writer Mid-West-Football Reporters Online

I must admit I’m a novice when it comes to this “going to the throat thing” that goes with reporting the truth. Not to pat myself on the back but I have always tried to live in truth and faith, even at times forsaking personal financial comfort (I have a very understanding wife who is put to the limit….It must be love I suppose) to maintain this. Those few individuals who do know me understand this about my at times the seemingly odd choices I have made. This was how I was raised by a single mother in the Bronx, New York and it was she who imparted this on me. Living with and loving my wife (as I said she is really understanding….thank you again Lord) has allowed me to maintain my conscience and my personal beliefs. But I’m so far from perfection it hurts.
I point this out because as a writer of truth I must now “Kick someone” when he is down. And boy I do hope he’s has a great deal with a dry cleaning service (Maybe not……that’s part of the problem at OSU too many “deals” on the side) because there will be a lot of shoe marks on his clothes. That person is the now FORMER head football coach of The Ohio State University Jim Tressel who resigned this Memorial Day as OSU head coach. If you are a sports fan and have been exiled on an information free island (Tago-Tago perhaps….wait a minute even they have yahoo) for the past 8-10 months you wouldn’t know the situation regarding Coach Tressel and the “fab five” Buckeye players.

Read the rest of this entry →

Green Bay Hangs on to Win Fifth Straight and Capture NFC Title Over Gutsy Bears

By Jon Wagner-Sr.Writer-Football Reporters Online

Twenty-five years after “The Fridge” helped the Chicago Bears capture their last Super Bowl victory, it took “The Freezer” to deny them another chance at reaching football’s biggest game, and ice the Green Bay Packers’ first NFC championship in thirteen years.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers got the Packers off to a fast start by leading a pair of touchdown drives, but it was Rodgers’ touchdown-saving tackle (after a mistake) and an interception return for a touchdown by nose tackle B.J. Raji, the self-proclaimed “Freezer,” which propelled Green Bay to an historic 21-14 win at Solider Field in Chicago.

It was yet another different method by which the injury-riddled Packers (13-6) found a way to win this season, as hot Green Bay won its fifth straight elimination game to reach Super Bowl XLV after struggling to a mediocre 8-6 start.

With more starters on the injured reserve list than any other NFL team, the Packers have endured a lot this season. Now they have just one last hurdle to overcome, in the biggest game of all.

And, they’ll have the game’s hottest quarterback to take them there.

As if he wasn’t good enough last week, while going 31-for-36 in Green Bay’s divisional round rout in Atlanta, Rodgers picked right up where he left off in that win, going a perfect 4-for-4, for 76 yards, to lead a 7-play, 84-yard scoring drive on the game’s opening possession.

Rodgers (17-30, 244 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT) completed passes of 22 and 26 yards to wide receiver Greg Jennings (8 catches,  game-high 130 yards) on the first two plays of the game, before connecting on throws of six and 22 yards. He finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run, untouched, to the left, to give the Packers a 7-0 lead just 4:04 into the game.

While the Bears’ offense sputtered for a total of 109 yards on eight punts and an interception through Chicago’s first nine possessions, the Packers extended their lead on their fourth possession of the game.

Read the rest of this entry →

ESPN unveils gridiron magic in its new feature series ‘I Am a World Champion,’ presented by Bing.

BRISTOL, Conn. and REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — ESPN and Bing, the Decision Engine from Microsoft Corp., have joined forces to present a multifaceted program that includes a unique feature series highlighting champion quarterbacks and their decisive moments in life and football, as well as an on-site activation as part of ESPN The Magazine‘s annual NEXT event during Super Bowl weekend.

Only 28 men have ever led their team to a Super Bowl victory and walked off the field a world champion quarterback. Beginning today, ESPN is launching a new feature series called “I Am a World Champion,” presented by Bing, offering a first-person narrative from the signal callers who helped define the biggest game in American sports. This original content will showcase the travails and triumphs told in the quarterback’s own voice, such as Terry Bradshaw’s relationship with Chuck Knoll and the many daunting life obstacles Doug Williams overcame to reach glory.

Read the rest of this entry →

(Eds. Note: it’s quite clear that some folks don’t care for the way Coach Saban conducts himself at times….wonder why that is?)

Go Green: Beat Saban

Two grads sponsor billboard to rally team to Bowl victory, jab Saban

DETROIT, Dec. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Two Michigan State University graduates and local entrepreneurs are showing their Spartan pride in big way—try 15′ by 35′ feet.

Rick Berman, (MSU, ’74) president of Park Furniture and John Barlow (MSU, ’71) of Barlow Communications, underwrote the cost of the green billboard, which occupies the east side of I-94 and Cadieux in Detroit. The sign, designed to urge MSU on to victory when it faces Alabama on January 1, 2011 in the Capitol One Bowl in Orlando, Fla., went up on December 23 and will remain in place through January 5, 2011.

“We’re both Spartan alumni who have supported the school for years, and we wish them continued success,” Barlow said. Added Berman: “We hope that MSU does well on New Year’s Day.”

Barlow admits too that the sign, which reads “GO STATE! Beat Alabama and Saban,” reflects some past animus about Saban’s exit from MSU. Saban coached the Spartans from 1995-1999, before abruptly leaving the school after the regular season to take the coaching position at Louisiana State University. Saban has been with Alabama since 2007.

“The other reason we did the sign is Nick Saban was the former football coach who left under….let’s just call it less than normal circumstances,” Barlow added. “And we would love to see our alma mater beat Mr. Saban as well as Alabama.”

Barlow added that he is not selfish about the concept, and welcomes others to show their school spirit with similar signage.

“It would be great if others jumped on the bandwagon,” he said.

Waters Recede and San Diego St Wins First Bowl Game in 41 Years

SDSU RB Ronnie Hillman

SAN DIEGO (AP) – Freshman Ronnie Hillman scored four touchdowns and tied his career best with 228 yards rushing on 28 carries to lead San Diego State to its first bowl victory since 1969, 35-14 over Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl on Thursday night.

The game was played on a slick field after 1.5 million gallons of rainwater were pumped out of Qualcomm Stadium overnight. Players went slipping and sliding all night, but organizers met their promise of kicking off on time after several days of torrential rain flooded the field and a portion of the parking lot.

Hillman, the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year, scored on runs of 22, 37 and 2 yards, and pulled in a 15-yard scoring pass from Ryan Lindley after a beautifully executed fake.

Read the rest of this entry →