it's a tug of war. what with one thing and another
Week 16! TNF
Dolphins punter, Jake Bailey, just got engaged to Bailey Nicole. If she takes his last name, she will now be Bailey Bailey.
I’m sure it’ll be a tug of war to decide what to do. Speaking of tugs of war, big news for those who love the Pro Bowl Games…
The game of pulling on a rope has been found in ancient ceremonies and rituals in various countries such as Egypt, India, Myanmar, New Guinea, Greece, and China. It was also practiced in Western Europe, with evidence dating back to 1000 AD.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings met in Super Bowl IX in New Orleans in January 1975.
The game had16 future Hall of Famers (counting coaches Bud Grant and Chuck Noll), Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain defense, Minnesota's Purple People Eaters and legendary quarterbacks Fran Tarkenton and Terry Bradshaw.
The Steelers won 16-6, but the Super Bowl wasn’t the most memorable showdown. This was:
A 16-minute tug-of-war on the sands of Waikiki held two weeks later as part of ABC's "Superteams" competition.
Dick Button, former figure skater, skating analyst, two-time Olympic champion and five-time consecutive World champion, told Sports Illustrated, "Nothing -- nothing, not even my own Olympic victories -- has ever moved me like that."
JEFF SIEMON, former Vikings linebacker: "It was the worst physical strain I've ever been under. It was the most intense, brutal abuse I've ever gone through -- and maybe by far."
DAVE OSBORN, former Vikings running back: "The tug-of-war was the toughest, most physical thing I've ever done, bar none. As far as being tired, I have never been more fatigued. I was always in great shape as a player. Practice was always a breeze. But when you have got to do something for a length of time and don't dare let up, it drains you. It was 16 minutes, but it seemed like 16 hours."
MIKE McCOLLOW, Minnesota native and NBA analyst for Fox Sports Net: "I remember caring more about that tug-of-war than any human being should ever care about a made-for-TV event."
"Superteams" was taped soon after the Super Bowl for broadcast later that winter. Players were guaranteed a base amount of money for participating, with bonuses for winning an event, and the Steelers wound up taking home something like $4,000 or $5,000 each and the Vikings about $6,000, plus roughly $5,000 for reaching the next round. The competition was tied heading into the tug-of-war, the final event.
ANDY RUSSELL, former Steelers All-Pro linebacker and "Superteams" captain: "Winning the Superteams competition was a big deal, not because of its importance but because of the money for the winning team. We weren't there just to have fun -- we were there to win and collect the winner's check, which was substantially more money than any of us were making for a football game -- including the Super Bowl. … I put the money in my kid's college fund, helping him go to Dartmouth."
DAVE OSBORN: "Back in those days, we didn't make a lot of money. By going and getting in this 'Superstars' deal, if we won the first round we were guaranteed, I think, $5,000 a person, and [even] if you didn't win, you got a free vacation. The tug-of-war was the final event, and by winning that, we moved on to the final and got like $10,000. That was big when you were making $50,000 a year -- if you were lucky. To go over there and pick up $10,000, that was a big deal. Plus, they beat us in the Super Bowl. The TV people pitched that idea to us right after the Super Bowl. They must have been planning it ahead of time. I don't know how they chose the people who went, but they asked us to come. It was the first year, and we didn't even know what it was. We looked up and said, 'This will be a nice vacation if nothing else.'"
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1: Since the 2020 season, Lions C Frank Ragnow has allowed only 1.0 sack in 1,735 pass-blocking snaps (per PFF).
7.1: The 2023 NFL Fan Cost Index® rose 7.1% to $631.63.
Average NFL Ticket Increases 8.6% to $120.94, according to @teammktgreport based on the price of four weighted average non-premium tickets, lowest prices for 4 sodas, 4 hot dogs, 2 beers, 2 adjustable team hats, a parking spot.
Raiders have the most expensive fan cost index at $801.20 for a family of four while the Cardinals are the cheapest at $513.44.
242: NFL teams with most projected salary cap room for 2024 (51 man roster, $242M cap)
Titans- $75.5M
Commanders- $74.5M
Patriots- $70.5M
Colts- $66.1M
Texans- $64.3M
Bengals- $58.2M
Bears- $53.5M
Cardinals- $47.7M
Lions- $47.4M
Raiders- $40.7M
1: The Detroit Lions could be the first offense ever to produce two 1k-yard rushers and two 1k-yard receivers.. What needs to happen:
Sam LaPorta: 80 yards a game (242 short from 1k)
Jahmyr Gibbs: 69 yards a game (208 more)
David Montgomery: 48 yards a game (145 more)
11 [TRIVIA]: Which 2023 team has come away with zero points 11 times on 41 red zone trips this year?
That's a 26.8% red zone stuff rate.
The only team with a worse red zone stuff rate over the last decade are the 2017 Browns. Yes, that's the 0-16 Browns.
Quotes
“The Super Bowl is in February. We’re in December.”
Lamar Jackson on whether this could be a Super Bowl preview
“The Cowboys are like my exes. Look good but don’t trust them.”
“If I was in that position, I would have blocked for him.”
Jaylen Warren on George Pickens
“Jaxson’s.”
DK Metcalf on which of his three catches on the Seahawks’ final, game-winning drive was his favorite
"That’s the dumbest question, you know we're a threat ... c'mon man."
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was asked if the Lions can be a threat in the playoffs.
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Picks
Thursday, 12/21 @ 8:15pm
Saints (+4) at Rams U46
Saints TEs have 7 receiving touchdowns this season -- T-7th-most in NFL. The Rams have allowed 7 receiving touchdowns to TEs this season -- T-2nd-most in NFL.
The Saints have allowed opponents to pressure their QB on 17% of pass attempts this season -- T-2nd-best in NFL. The Rams have pressured opposing QBs on 21.0% of passing plays this season -- T-5th-worst in NFL.
The Saints have allowed a passer rating of 41.7 when the opposing QB was scrambling since Week 12 -- 8th-best in NFL. Rams QBs have a 39.6 passer rating when scrambling since Week 12 -- T-6th-worst in NFL.
Record
ATS: 42-41-4 (-2.78u)
O/U: 29-33-3 (-6.61)
Highlights
Cameron Dicker pro bowl voting video
Drew Lock on Geno Smith's support: "I appreciate him more than words describe."
Just like last week, Baker Mayfield spent the early portion of Wednesday's practice blocking with the offensive line.
Mike McDaniel is out here manifesting TDs