It’s time for some (more) playoff football. Today’s games are:
Seattle at Atlanta (1:00pm – FOX)
Houston at New England (4:30pm – CBS)
What? You thought I was going to post pictures of Matt Ryan and Tom Brady? You can discuss the games at the bRight & Early Sports Forum.
We are half way through the NFL preseason. The regular schedule kicks off on September 5th. And 92 years ago today the NFL was formed as the American Professional Football Conference.
On this day in 1920, seven men, including legendary all-around athlete and football star Jim Thorpe, meet to organize a professional football league at the Jordan and Hupmobile Auto Showroom in Canton, Ohio. The meeting led to the creation of the American Professional Football Conference (APFC), the forerunner to the hugely successful National Football League.
From Wikipedia:
On August 20, 1920, at a Hupmobile dealership in Canton, Ohio, the league was formalized, originally as the American Professional Football Conference, initially consisting only of the Ohio League teams, although some of the teams declined participation. One month later on September 17, the league was renamed the American Professional Football Association, adding Buffalo and Rochester from the New York league, and Detroit, Hammond, and several other teams from nearby circuits. The eleven founding teams initially struck an agreement over player poaching and the declaration of an end-of-season champion. Thorpe, while still playing for the Bulldogs, was elected president. Only four of the founding teams finished the 1920 schedule and the undefeated Akron Pros claimed the first championship. Membership of the league increased to 22 teams – including more of the New York teams – in 1921, but throughout the 1920s the membership was unstable and the league was not a major national sport. On June 24, 1922, the organization, now headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, changed its title a final time to the National Football League.
Happy Birthday NFL. I’m ready for some football.
The number of planets that needed to align for the Eagles to get into the playoffs was too great. Or at least that’s what I thought yesterday morning. Here is how things stood:
Either the Vikings or the Bears had to lose. The first game to conclude had the Vikings over the Giants by 1 point 20-19. One possibility lost. But a few minutes later the Bears would lose to the Texans who were just 7-8 going in to the day. Hurdle one crossed.
The other must happen was Tampa Bay losing. They were playing the 4-11 Oakland Raiders. At home. They lost. Hurdle two.
In addition to those unlikely events the Eagles also had to win their final game. Despite what had happened earlier in the day the Eagles still had to get past Romo, TO, and the rest of their rivals from Dallas. They didn’t just beat them, they embarrassed them. 44-6 in a game that looked like only one team showed up. It wasn’t all due to bad play from the Cowboys, the Eagle defense played an outstanding game. And the third hurdle was crossed.
I wasn’t sure any one of those three things would happen. Two of the three would have shocked me. All three? I wouldn’t have bet on that with someone else’s money. But they’re in the playoffs. Next week they face the Minnesota Vikings — 4:30 on Fox.
Let’s see if they can surprise me again.
The NFL Draft, NASCAR Nationwide Aaron’s 312 race from Talladega, and the Redwings/Avalanche quarter finals game two. The remote control is going to be smoking! I bet there’s a baseball game on somewhere, too.
What is with the butt-ugly black pants with the white stripe that some of the NFL officiating crews are wearing? I’m just asking.
Coffee makes us severe, and grave, and philosophical. Jonathan Swift
Blogs for Bush (Matt Margolis) The Partisan Economy — “According to the Gallup Poll, the only people who are admitting that the economy is in good shape are Republicans.”
Captain’s Quarters (Ed Morrissey) WaPo’s Positive Review — “The Washington Post editorial board gave George Bush a glowing review on his press conference yesterday, showing the extent to which Bush succeeded in the forum he likes the least. The praise comes as a surprise for the normally critical Post, but the clear ease and openness that Bush demonstrated in this last press conference has them asking for more:”
Confederate Yankee Civilization vs. Barbarity — “As Tony Blair’s speech states, we are not in a clash between civilizations, but a clash about civilization. What Blair has not directly stated is that most Muslim countries have precious little civilization, or practice civilized behavior.”
Stan Guthrie The New Rushdie — “Hollywood’s self-congratulators have sprained their shoulders attempting to pat themselves on the back for “courageous” films about homosexuality and rightwing conspiracies in the Middle East. Unfortunately, these same movie moguls have said next to nothing about a true profile in courage who lives in their own backyard: Wafa Sultan, a Los Angeles-area psychiatrist.”
Blogs for Bush (Mark Noonan) Religious Freedom in the Islamic World — “The case of , the Afghan Christian facing execution for his apostasy from Islam, has focused attention on just how Islam views other religions.”
Outside The Beltway (James Joyner) Condi Rice to Pass on NFL Commissioner For Now — “Condoleezza Rice has repeatedly stated that being commissioner of the National Football League is her dream job. There will be a vacancy come July. Unfortunately, she’s a little busy at the moment.”