womenwatchingfootball

Today is Halloween. It’s also Friday. Usually Halloween is closer to Sunday so this year we’ll miss all the fans dressed up at the various games

I remember a few years ago watching the Patriots and the Steelers as I passed out candy. This year, there is none of that.

You usually get to see a good number of costumed drunk fans in the crowd. There’s always a few Elvises (or is it Elvi?). There’s always a guy when they show him, you think “why would you go to a game dressed like that”. Sometimes you even find Santa in the stands on Halloween.

No tricks or treats for football fans this year.

I’m really not trying to be political this week but two of the biggest stories of the week involve politics and football. Two things that go real well together (NOT).

Both candidates for President will be shown during halftime of the Monday Night Football game on ESPN. Each candidate will tape their segment earlier in the day with Chris Berman. Chris Berman?!?! You would think with all the news people that ABC has, they could come up with someone better than Stumblin Bumblin Berman.

Too bad neither Senator was involved in yesterday’s post on more football games for the people. They would really sway the undecided football fans.

I can’t wait until this is over and we can get back to talking football during a football game.

It’s less than one week until election day, probably the biggest election day in this country in a long time. What is the Senate doing? How about sending a letter to the Commissioner of the NFL to demand that more games be shown for free.

Thirteen Senators, led by Arlen Specter, signed the letter to Roger Goodell. They want the NFL Network free for everyone. They also want other games shown in markets and not just the “home game”.

Ironically, it’s a bi-partisan issue. Members of both parties, plus two independents, were involved in this. Maybe they should be doing something to help the economy get back on it’s feet. Maybe they could work together on something a little more important.

Hey, I love watching football, probably more than most people but I’d rather see my Senator working on something better to help this country.

There is such a lenghty procedure to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s surprising anyone gets in at all.

Today, the preliminary list was released. It contained the names of 110 former players, 7 coaches and 16 contributors (this year’s contributors consists of many long time team owners plus others). There are also 2 senior nominees that will be on the final ballot.

Later this month, that list will be reduced to 25 names. Then the 25 names will be reduced to 15 finalists (plus the 2 seniors for a total of 17).

The Selection Committee will meet and vote on the day before the Super Bowl. There is no set number but there are usually between 4 and 7 inductees.

Then those inductees will be inshrined in August before the Hall of Fame Game. Whew, makes my head spin just thinking about it.

This is a big game tonight for the Colts. Currently they sit at a very un-Colt like 3-3. A loss will leave them with a losing record and tied with the Jaguars and the Texans in the division.

The Titans on the other hand, at 6-0, with a 3 game lead in the division, have nothing to be worried about tonight. Obviously they will play hard and try to keep their undefeated season, it’s not a critical game for them.

The big question for the Titans will be who will start at quarterback once Vince Young is ready to come back. Kerry Collins is doing a spectacular job running the offense. I’m sure plenty of discussion has gone on about this situation. It’s kind of a nice situation to be in, I’d say.

I’ll be watching tonight, and probably switching over to the World Series too. I’d like to see the Phillies win. I’ve been to a game in their new ballpark and if you ever find yourself in Philly during baseball season, check it out.

There’s only one game left, that’s the Monday night game. I was just looking over the scores and noticed that 9 home teams won today versus 4 road teams. Two of the home teams that lost were the Lions and the 49ers, so those almost don’t count.

Pittsburgh lost a tough one to the Giants in Pittsburgh. It was a good game but the Giants held out in the end.

There were 6 quarterbacks that threw for over 300 yards today and 3 of them lost. Four RBs rushed for over 100 yards and 3 of them won today. It still stresses the importance of the running game where the quarterbacks get all the attention. Some quarterbacks have great games and their teams still lose.

The two winless teams still remain winless. The Lions and the Bengals did not pull one out today. We’ll have to wait for tomorrow to see if the only undefeated team can remain that way.

Well, it’s week 8, the almost halfway point of the regular season. Here are the games to watch this weekend.

For 1 o’clock games I’m thinking about 2 games because although the Saints/Chargers game is on at 1PM, they are playing in London so it’ll be prime time there. A few days ago, you could still get tickets. I haven’t heard if that’s changed or not. Should be interesting to see the fan involvement.

The other 1PM game that interests me is the Eagles and the Falcons. The Eagles have struggled this season and the Falcons are a surprising 4-2. I’d watch this one if my local game wasn’t on at the same time (we only get the one game).

The Giants and the Steelers play at 4PM. This will be the game to watch. Both teams are having great seasons and this should be a great game.

There is no Sunday night game tomorrow. There must be a World Series game on or something. Is it?

The Monday night game is the Colts and the Titans. You would expect this to be a tough game but I think the Titans are going to walk all over the Colts and remain undefeated.

Enjoy your game, I hope your team wins, unless of course, they are playing my team.

That’s all the football talk of the week. I know sometimes midweek is slow in the NFL but the big story is infections.

The Tom Brady situation, the people that know what’s going on, won’t talk. Those that have no clue, have not shut up. Any doctor looking for air time or their name in print came out of the woodwork to put their 2 cents in. Apparently, they have no idea what’s really going on.

Not to be outdone by Brady, Peyton Manning’s infection story is hitting the news again this week. Supposedly he has surgery in July and is all set so what’s all the talk about? If he wants to be talked about, maybe he should lead his team to some wins. The door was open for the Colts this year and they tripped going through it.

There has been talk that Pacman Jones will be reinstated when his suspension is up. The Giants Plaxico Burress who was suspended by the team recently was fined this week for 3 separate incidents.

According to rumors, anywhere from 6 to 10 players failed drug testing this week. More details to come on this story, if the names are big enough.

Let’s get back to playing some football, and play it in the US too, not overseas.

We’re almost at the halfway point and as scary as it might be, let’s look back at my preseason picks.

AFC East, I picked the Patriots with the provision that Brady stays healthy. Well, we know what happened there but they still have a chance at the division. Buffalo is a surprise but they haven’t played a division game yet.

AFC South, I picked the Colts. The Titans are running away with the division. I had them in second place.

AFC North I picked the Steelers. That one looks good so far.

AFC West I picked the Chargers. I think the winner of this division could have a losing record. It’s a dismal division.

NFC East I had the Cowboys. They looked good until Tony Romo got hurt. The Giants look good (if you don’t count the game against Cleveland).

NFC South I predicted a down year for this division with the Saints coming out on top. The Saints are in last place and the first place Bucs look like they could be Super Bowl bound.

NFC North, I picked the Bears. They are tied for first in the division with the Packers. Not much surprise there.

NFC West is another division where I couldn’t have been more wrong. Seattle is 1-5 and the Cardinals lead the division.

Needless to say I’m not doing well with my predictions. I’m sure most of the experts have results that look like mine. As we move toward the second half, we’ll have to see how things play out. That’s why they play the games.

Rodney Harrison, of the Patriots, suffered another season ending injury this past Monday night. Some are speculating that this might be it for the Pro Bowl defensive back.

If you saw the highlight of the injury, it was pretty nasty. His toe got caught in the turf, his leg stopped but the rest of his body kept going. You knew right away it was serious. As he was carted off the field, the fans in the stadium cheered and chanted his name. He acknowledged them with a wave.

Unless Harrison was on your team, you probably didn’t like him as a player. Three times he was voted the NFL’s Dirtiest Player. Is that a compliment, or an insult. I think Rodney would take it as a compliment.

Harrison has struggled the last few seasons with some real serious injuries. They said after last time that he probably wouldn’t come back but he did. The concensus this time is with the torn quadriceps muscle, that it’s over.

He played for 15 seasons, including 2 Pro Bowls and 2 Super Bowl Championships. I also read the other day that he is the only player ever to have more than 30 sacks and more than 30 interceptions over a career.