JINTS WIN!!!! JINTS WIN!!!!

5>3. 5>3. 5>3!!!

Oh loyal reader/listener. My dreams came true last night. The 1972 Dolphins' dreams came true last night. So I know at least three of my colleagues (Craig, Thomas, Cuba) agree with me that the Pats losing last night made for one of the greatest Super Bowls in recent history. (Second to XL, of course.)

Excuse me while I make this about the Steelers, because last night was a win of sorts for them as well.

I know Thomas agrees with me, because last night Noll's Steelers of the 70's were cemented as a greater dynasty than the Pats. The numbers don't lie. Noll was 4-0 in Super Bowls. 4 rings in 6 years. The Steelers as a whole are 5-1 (Neil O'Donnell) in Super Bowls. The Patsies? 3-3. To see Bill Belejerk wimpering his way down the tunnel with one second still to play was like music to my... eyes.

18 and NO!!!

I am having shirts made if anyone wants them. Just email me. They will cost a measly $29.99. Cheap if you ask me.

Three plays last night that I will remember forever:
1) Eli Manning is sacked, three defenders have his jersey. But in miraculous (Roethlisbergerian, I might add) fashion, he escapes, rolls out, and lobs one up to David Tyree, who already has a TD catch despite having 342 drops this season, catches it with his helmet inside the Patsies 25. I hadn't actually thought Eli could do it until then. Cut to Tom Brady's smug ass, the thought that he had done it again fading slowly. Watch and learn Tom.

2) Ellis Hobbs will forever be known as the guy who fucked up perfection. In an almost reverse of what just happened on the other side of the field with Randy Moss, Plaxico Burress easily catches the fade route. He dropped all but two passes thrown to him all game, the first and the last. The last beat Tom Brady.

3) The sack heard (and felt) 'round the world. 2nd and 10 after the bomb where Aaron Ross inexplicably let Randy Moss get behind him. Tom Brady was PLANTED. NAILED. Hit so hard by the Rookie Jay Alford to make it 3rd and forever. I will forever remember how for no reason other than I hate the smug Patriots and their even smugger fans, I wished pain upon Tom Brady's smug ass. And when it was delivered and Brady rolled over wincing, it was amazing. Smug.

So New England fans, and I use that term loosely, as I had never seen a Patriots Jersey in public until after the 2000 season, how long before you stop talking about the Pats, da best team evah? My guess is instantly. My guess is you won't even think about football till next season, when you look up in August who the Pats' 1st round draft pick was and watch the first quarter of a preseason game or two. My guess is you will think of some reason to blame the refs (Seahawks fans) or say Eli cheated or something. Well. Suck on it. You know that one hurt the most. Cheaters.

Bill Beleloser forced coaches and teams to sit through shillackings all year, where the Patriots ran up the score. He sat there with that smug grin on his face and said that the Patriots were giving the other team an opportunity to "stop us from scoring." But when the tables are turned, he can't sit around and wait for the last :02 to run down before disappearing? He can't extend the same courtesy that other coaches and players did to him all season? What a glorified ASS. He deserves every kind of humiliation that the whole town will endure.

I have it on good authority that the New England news stations were speculating what kind of effect the Parade would have on Super Tuesday. Whether it would effect the voter turnout. Not even a thought about the loss that they were about to incur. This combined with the fact that the Patriots applied for a trademark on the phrase "19-0" and the players were inviting the Giants' players to their parties while the game was still being played makes me even happier that the tower fell. Inevitable just got redefined.

18 and NO!!! Bitches. 5>3.

Super Bowl

So here I am, people. It has been almost 4 months since I have posted, maybe longer, and I know you were like "What's that slightly negroidian guy up to?" Well I got nothing else to do in the 5 minutes before I go to formation then on to lunch to have Shepherd's Pie prepared en masse for 4,400 people. Can't wait. My mouth is watering. I pay $12 per day for this stuff. U-S-N-A!!!

So I need to talk about how the Big Blue Wrecking Crew needs to, has to win this damn game on Sunday. The time for being objective is over. I hate the Patsies. I hate them but they are damn good. But the perfect season? 19+ straight wins? (You know they'll have the Dolphins first next year...) I have to believe that there's something that still can't be (or at least won't be) achieved in sports, and the perfect season is one of them.

Eli, if you have any skill left in the bank after the massive withdrawals you have been making, close it out for this game. You have to score on every drive. Consider letting Peyton wear your jersey and play as you. Just tell him to dumb it down a little.

Osi and Mike, sic 'em like Mike Vick's dogs after fresh meat. Hit him early and often. Sit on him a little after you tackle him. Whisper horrible things in his earhole about his unborn supermodel bastard children. Sandwich him between the two of ya's and sneak a quick elbow to the kidney. If it is possible, rattle Tom Brady. Make him make mistakes; he showed two weeks ago that he can. Do horrible things to him.

Tynes, you gotta make those chip shots. I know it was snowy and cold, but Mike Vanderjagt could have made those. You saved it in the end, but you better be 100% in Arizona. You'll be the forever known as the bad LT if you miss a gamewinner in XLII.

Tom. Don't fuck this up. Don't do it. You won't be able to show your face in the Tristate area again. Those people aren't forgiving, and they're quick to forget the good stuff.

Don't let me down. The Patsies cannot have 4. They don't deserve glory. I'm entirely too spiteful for that to happen.

Divisional Playoff Picks - The Only Picks

Jags @ Pats

Chargers @ Colts

Hawks @ Packers

Giants @ Cowboys


Every home team is favored (in Vegas and in most fans hearts). I wonder if it is possible that all four favorites can actually win. The truth is... it isn't. So, which one of the visiting dogs is going to get lucky?

It surely can't be a team helmed by Norv and with Mr. Rivers taking snaps. He's trash. Fired up trash, but trash nonetheless. Can't be the Chargers. Colts cover.

The Seahawks have intangibles? Really? I don't know about that. I've been listening to countless podcasts and reading plenty of articles on the playoffs and I am left with my own viewings of Seahawk games. They are ultimately unimpressive. Favre hasn't been good in the playoffs lately, but this team is young and hungry. The break could've hurt them, so this is a potential upset story, but didn't Matty 'Beck jinx himself for like 10 years with that brash comment in 2005? If you know football, you know what I'm talking about. Packers in a close one.

Oh, Jacksonville, you cinderella bastards. Everyone quick! Jump on the bandwagon, it doesn't quite have enough people yet. Forget it. They aren't going to beat the red, white, and blue machine. They just aren't. David Garrard is going to see more pressure than he is comfortable with. The running game will get going, but the JAX defense couldn't hold down an injured Steelers offense from coming within 1 point last week. What hope do they have against Saint Brady and the Angel of Reception, Moss. They are ordained by the Church, it seems, though destined to lose in the AFC championship (see next weeks picks in a few days). Pats roll, winning by 2 touchdowns - a lead they will grab by the end of the first quarter and never relinquish.

What? Does that really leave Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin as the upset special of the week. Sadly, it does, folks. You're reading it, so it must be true. Eli showed up bigger than ever before in his Wild Card game, willing his team to win. They're had injury problems and yet, prevailed over what should've been a sure-loss, according to the pundits. Well, screw the pundits, and screw Tony Romo. Go Big Blue!

That's it for the picks, folks. We're down to four games a weekend, reduced to only two next. It's sad. On a different note completely, have any of you seen the ads for the new Amazon Kindle. It is an electronic reading device that looks fantastic. Why did they come out in early January and not for a holiday season. The damn thing looks like it can be the iPod of reading. It's going to be sick. I wish I thought of it, or thought to buy Amazon stock a few months ago, since it has promptly doubled. Those of you with money, it wouldn't be bad to still get in on some Amazon love. The Kindle is going to revolutionize the way people read.

Until next week... Happy new Year 4th and Goal fans, all 1 of you.

4th and Goal, Episode 23

This week we discuss the crazy Monday night game between the Pats and the Ravens, and preview the Pats and Steelers game this Sunday. We also talk about coaches on the hot seat, and the NFL's version of Hot or Not. All that, plus our picks for Week 14 of the NFL.

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Want to support the show? It's easy! Just submit a review for us on iTunes or go to Digg.com and click the Digg It! icon. Registration is free and easy, and you would do anything for us, right? Also email the show at 4thandgoalshow@gmail.com.

Chernobyl, as interpreted by the Baltimore Ravens

"You didn't win, I lost"

It's a saying my father and I have had for years. It's usually uttered when we are shooting pool and one of us scratches on the eight ball, or something stupid like that. Anyone that has played with me has heard me say that. Because I scratch on the eight. A lot.

The Ravens should also be saying this today, after doing the improbable and losing to the New England Patriots last night. That's right. Last night the Patriots should have lost. But they didn't.

They didn't win either.

Sure they "won". But they didn't go out and earn it. Brady didn't put together a fantastic drive, working the sidelines and the clock, stepping up and making the throws when needed.

Sure, they moved down the field. And yes, they scored a touchdown. But most of those yards, and that touchdown, were given to them.

The Patriots were facing a 4th and 1 at the Baltimore 30 with 1:48 left in the game, down by 4 points. If they don't convert, the game is over. The Ravens stuff the play. Not even close.

And then the whistle.

Someone on the Ravens sideline called a timeout just before the play was snapped. Head Coach Brian Billick took the blame for the timeout, but replays clearly show it was their defensive coordinator that took the timeout. So the two teams line up again.

False start, on the offense. Now it's 4th and 6. The Ravens defense, which has shut down one of the most potent offenses we have ever seen all night, just needs to do it one more play.

And they didn't. For the first time all night, they don't get pressure on Brady, and they let him run up the middle for 12 yards.

The Ravens imminent implosion has begun. The Ravens are called for illegal contact, which tacks 5 yards on to the end of the run. The Pats get four more chances at the Baltimore 18.

But the defense holds again, and force another 4th down, this time 4th and 5, from the 13 yard line. Brady drops back in the shotgun and fires over the middle to his tight end, and it's incomplete! Game over, except the defense made another mistake. Holding penalty, on the defense, 5 yards and an automatic first down for the Pats.

Now the frustration has really set in.

The next play Brady throws a pass to the corner of the end zone, and at first glance it appears that Gaffney has made the catch. But replays seem to show that he didn't have control throughout the catch, that the ball was moving around in his fingertips, which should have made it an incompletion.

But the ref didn't see it that way, and after review confirmed that it was a completion, and a touchdown.

Keep in mind, the ref didn't say there was not enough evidence to overturn the ruling on the field, which I would have been ok with. The ball was out of the frame for much of the catch. He said it was a clear catch.

It was a meltdown of epic proportions, with a little help from the refs thrown in for flavor.

I don't agree with the Ravens when they say that the refs tried to give the Pats every chance possible to win the game. Baltimore took care of that on their own. The Ravens committed all of those penalties, and called that timeout, all of which directly prevented the Ravens from winning the game. But there is definitely cause for concern if reports of refs calling players "boys" (even if the ref in question is black himself) are true, and blowing an obvious replay.

But in the end, the Patriots remain unbeaten. But they certainly didn't win this game. And as their choke hold on history seems to be getting tighter, more and more cracks have appeared in the armor, and suddenly the juggernaut doesn't look unstoppable.

How? Why!?

What does a guy have to do to get noticed in the NCAA? Is it rushing for 2448 yards and 29 TDs through 13 games while carrying your team to their first ever conference championship? Apparently not. Is it being the second all-time single-season rusher, behind only Barry Sanders, with a chance to eclipse that mark in your final game of the season? Nope. Is it rushing for more yards than Marcus Allen (Heisman winner), Ladainian Tomlinson (Doak Walker Award winner), and any other running back in the history of the state of Florida. Damn it, no! None of those things seem to matter because UCF running back, Kevin Smith, has been shafted. Hard.

He leads the entire NCAA in yards, TDs, and yards per game. He tops a list that includes Mike Hart, Darren McFadden and Ray Rice - all three of which are Walker Award finalists. How the hell does the dude with MORE yards and MORE touchdowns get slighted? In 2000, LT ran for TCU, yet got the Walker Award. In fact, during that season, LT only rushed for slightly over 2000 yards. What is going on? TCU's schedule back then was just as cake-esque as UCF's. And, Kevin Smith got his team their first conference championship ever. EVER.

I'm hot on this point. It doesn't make sense to me. It is bad enough that the BCS screwed the pooch big time this year and we have an 11-2 team in the national championship game. It's bad enough that Ohio State, who has a strength of schedule ranking in the second half of the NCAA is playing for the national title. It's bad enough that a Missouri team who was number one just a week ago, is suspiciously absent in the BCS bowls, replaced by a team they beat (Kansas)! Ridicularo, I say! Ridiculee. I can't even get the correct words out of my fingertips.

The BCS and college football as a whole are too damn frustrating. I don't even know if a playoff would save my brain. Hell, at least teams like UCF and Hawai'i would have chances at the title. That'd be nice, considering they won their conference titles. Unlike a Georgia team, playing in a BCS bowl when they aren't even the bon-a-fide third best team in the SEC.

I love football, ladies and gentlemen (well, probably only one lady or gentleman, but still), but I am losing it when it comes to college football. I'll still watch, I suppose, but if a guy who broke records (Tim Tebow) and another who is making rushing history (24K Smith) can't get their respective awards, I may have to write a letter. That's right! A letter.

Shit...

4th and Goal, Episode 22

This week, we give our picks for offensive Pro Bowl selections for the AFC and NFC, plus we discuss the nasty Monday night game between the Steelers and the Dolphins.

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We are cutting the crap this week, which means a new show format for you. Let us know what you think by sending us an email at 4thandgoalshow@gmail.com, or by submitting a comment on iTunes.

Weakness

F@*k the Pats a little. You know you feel the same way. We all do. It is painful to watch them win game after game, somewhat uncontested. Well, until the Colts knocked and the Eagles tried to blow their house down last night.

Sunday Night Football in America is a good thing. Last night, the Eagles came within an A.J. Feeley overthrow of unseating the heavyweight, undisputed champion New England Patriots. In doing so, Andy Reid and his defensive coordinator exposed some severe weaknesses in the Patriots' game.

First, and we all knew this, hit Brady. Hit him hard and hit him often. After that first bone-crunching sack, I saw his red-eyes and knew he had either been up late doing lines of coke off of Gisele's inner thighs or he had "the fear." The Eagles hurried Brady. They shook him up, they moved him around. He was completely uncomfortable and threw up a sub-Brady evening with only one touchdown. Though, he can't be blamed completely. I watched Moss and Stallworth drop passes. It seemed as though Welker and Gaffney were the only receivers on point with Brady.

On the other side of the ball, Brian Westbrook and A.J. Feeley looked like Pro Bowlers (Westbrook always does, but Feeley????). With the exception of Feeley's second and final passes of the evening, he was close to perfect, putting balls in small spaces, sending lasers over the middle to a waiting (and wide-open) L.J. Smith. It was wonderful.

Not only was I filled with fantasy glee because my team was up against the "Patriots" of my fantasy league, but I couldn't help but get a little happy at Brady's misfortunes. Now, they won the game... I know this, but it was still nice to see a hole in the armor. They are fallible. The Colts could've beaten them, now the Eagles could've too. Everyone wants a piece of them. How will they last in the playoffs? Every Defensive End will be hungry for a piece of Brady's jersey. Each safety will smell his passes like never before.

Mark my internet words... The Patriots can't win this Superbowl. Not with everyone out to get them. There is enough talent out there to beat them. I don't know if it'll be the Steelers, Colts, or a lesser AFC team, but if the Eagles were able to show up, stay in the game until the final minutes, and even have a potential game-winning drive... anyone can.

Here's to that happening. F%#k the Patriots.

Contemplations of a Viewer

Is there such a disparity in talent in the NFL that one man can elevate half a foot above another to catch a ball? That a man can push off, not get called for it, and catch a touchdown in empty space? What is happening?

Are the 2007 Patriots the greatest team we've ever seen? It is going to be difficult to argue both ways, honestly. On one hand, they are on pace to break every offensive point scoring record even set. On the dirtier hand, they are doing things in the most UNsportsmanlike fashion possible. Can we laud that? Should we? I say "no."

Screw Tom Brady. Screw Randy Moss. And more importantly, screw the Boston sportswriters who whine about a lack of respect for their team, a lack of calls, etc... If Randy Moss doesn't push off in the end zone consistently, he'd have 4 to 6 less TDs. I've watched him push off that many times. Why should the hard-working American public respect a bunch of millionaires crying about everyone all criticizing them. Perhaps they should stop blowing teams out by 40 points, embarrassing players and coaches. That isn't the way to make friends.

Personally, I feel that Billy Bellichek was touched inappropriately as a child. I look at him and I see Macauley Culkin in "The Good Son." He looks all fine and nice at times, even impressive... then he throws you off of a cliff and toys with your fingers as you hold on for dear life.

I'm sick of these Patriots.

Unfortunately, I have to watch, though... History calls. Damn.

We're Back! 4th and Goal, Episode 20

Yeah, things have been rough the past couple weeks. Our RSS Feed, which allows all you fine people to subscribe to the show, took a crap on me several weeks ago, and being the computer genius that I am...I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on.

But now it looks like everything is working again. A brand new show, which just happens to be our 20th Episode Spectacular, is live and ready to be enjoyed by you. We break down the Colts/Pats game, and argue over what would happen if these teams meet again in the playoffs. We also talk about the chances the Pats go 16-0. So what are you waiting for? Get to downloading!

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Episodes 18 and 19 were unfortunately lost in the shuffle, but that doesn't mean you can't go back and listen to some retro 4th and Goal awesomeness. And if you want to subscribe to all future episodes, click here.

To Our Fan(s)!

4th & Goal is alive and well!
We have been having major technical difficulties with iTunes and even some with the blog, hence our lack of posts and the shows being sporadic.

Have no fear, though! Google us! Just search for 4th and Goal, episode 16 or 17 or 18 and you'll be able to download the show, for free, from the internet archive. Yes!

So, you can still listen and enjoy our ramblings.

Sorry for the mess, but we'll (Mike) will figure out the technical crap so you can listen regularly again.

Sidenote: I'm excited about an anonymous poster, though I imagine it is still someone that we know.

4th and Goal Episode 16

So much has happened these past two weeks. First I broke the laptop we were recording the show on to during the recording of what should have been last weeks episode (for the full story check out this weeks show). Then our feed that allows you to subscribe to the show suddenly died, so it wont automatically download even if you have already subscribed. So the best (only) way to listen the new show?

Right click here and select "Save As" to download!

This week we talk about Trent Green and his status, plus debate if he gave a cheap shot to Travis Johnson. We also debate the worse teams in the NFL and which one will get a win first. Plus, there's What's Your Fantasy? and the Pick 'Em segments you've become addicted to.

If you never got the episode before this (from two weeks ago), you can still download that here.

Oh Vick...

Would people please stop defending this guy. He brings stupidity to a whole new level.

We are now learning that he failed a court mandated drug test. You know, I get that going before a judge is stressful, but really smoking mary jane is really not the way to deal with it.

On top of the fact that the judge could now take away his bail, now he is setting himself up for some more sanctions from the NFL. Then again we won't hear about it until he gets out of jail, and that's assuming he will even be able to possibly make a comeback.

But I am sure there are people who still think he is a good guy, despite the evidence that says he is not.

Revenge is sweet

Last week the Raiders were upset that the Broncos called a last second timeout, which negated their game winning field goal. After the dust settled and they lined up to kick again, Janikowski missed the next kick, and the Broncos won the game.

Well, this week, the Raiders found themselves in a similar situation. The Raiders were winning 26-24, but the Browns were lined up to kick a 40 yard field goal to win the game. At the last second, Kiffin called a time out. The Browns still snapped the ball and the kick went through the uprights, but it didn't count. On the next attempt, the kick was blocked and the Raiders won their first game of the season.

Life and Football - Sept. 20, 2007

Donovan McNabb came out and announced that he feels that black quarterbacks are under more scrutiny than white. Ironically, his timing is impeccable. Down in Jena, Louisiana, there are six young men whose lives hang upon a fulcrum of racism. Though, not according to the district attorney there. In this story, there was a tree, some shade, a couple of nooses, and a fight. Sound like 1955? 1965? It was last year. Some kids wanted to sit under a “white” tree in Jena. They asked. Yes, apparently they had to ask. They were allowed to do so, yet the next day, three nooses hung from the very tree that the three black teens had sat under. This started something. Fights ended up happening and when a white kid ended up knocked out, six black young men were charged. Heavily. There is a national protest going on, which is good, but that isn’t really enough. The poor kids already have to live in a seemingly racist town with a legal system that denies racism as a part of the situation. The DA claims he is pursuing only justice and that those responsible for their actions must pay. Attempted murder? The white kid went to a school function the night of his apparent attempted murder. That must’ve been a lame ass attempt. Sounds much more like a school fight to me. What does this have to do with Donovan McNabb and football? Well, a lot and a little. I think McNabb has some personal issues with the race thing. He doesn’t like the “running quarterback” label and clearly feels that he has a harder road to travel. He admitted that other quarterbacks take criticism, but in a different way. I’m not sure that I can agree with him, though. I know that racism exists, today, tomorrow, and the next day too. But, I can’t say that Donovan McNabb, Byron Leftwich, or even Michael Vick, pre-dog fighting, were the most criticized QBs as of late. Who takes more heat that Rex Grossman in Chicago, Eli Manning in NY? The “running QB” thing resonates, I suppose, but is Donovan taking it out of context? Maybe. Maybe not. The way race is in America today is a hell of a lot better than fifty years ago, but it’s still depressing. Depressing that an NFL quarterback can vent his frustrations and have it be about race. Depressing that some kids got into a fight at school and because they are black (speculation, but closer to valid than not), they stand trial for higher penalties than school detentions and suspensions. I don’t really know what to think, but I want to understand. I do. I want to get how there are still people who would hang a noose in a tree. I want to get how there are QBs (or just one) who bring up race issues in a league where a vast majority of skill players are black. I just want to know some things and that is life and football on September 20, 2007.