No Runny Eggs

Once again, Favre costs the Packers. He had plenty of company (Thurman, Gado, R. Lee, KGB, Carroll, Roman, Bates for continuing to trust KGB on running plays, the special teams as a whole, the GM team nightmare of Thompson and Sherman for dredging up the horrid players on the roster, and the MASH unit they’re running). Now that we’re both officially eliminated from the NFC North and guaranteed a losing record, it’s time to clean house. Heck, with Houston winning, we might be in the running for the Reggie Bush sweepstakes again.

Meanwhile, the Deadfins shock the world by dismantling the Raiders 33-21, and I go to 8-4-1 on the week (and 8-3-1 on my Vegas picks), pending the results of the Giants/Seahawks game.

Revisions/extensions – Make that 9-4-1 on the week, 9-3-1 on the Vegas picks and 10-4 straight-up as the G-men can’t nail 3 field-goal attempts to win (2 in OT), and the ‘Hags pull it out in OT 24-21 (sadly, I had the Giants straight-up).

5:55 – Is Favre playing for both teams? Accuracy out of both QBs has, in a word, sucked (Favre – 11/24-133-1-1, McMahon – 9/24-67-0-0). 3-and-out once again, but Chatman goes backwards on the punt.

6:04 – Franks will be staying in a Philly hospital for observation overnight. Meanwhile, Jax is up on the Cards 24-17 late in the 4th, Miami still leads Oakland by 2, and Seattle’s deep in Giants’ territory. Favre got run over on a coverage sack (unusual because Driver wasn’t double-covered). I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Eagles also took some – Ware, Gordon and Rayburn were knocked out for at least a while. Time for the Pack to punt; piss-poor punt – 28 yards puts the Eagles at their 20. The Seahags tack on another touchdown, they’re up 21-13 on the G-men late in the 4th.

6:16 – Barnett run over again, Roman almost run over on the same play. Diggs can’t cover again. At least they can sniff out the halfback option. Al Harris, please pick up your jock strap – you can’t miss it, it has the #4 tattooed on it. The Raiders are falling apart; the Deadskins score another touchdown to make it 30-21, and the G-men . Break out the hard stuff, the Eaglets are up 16-13, and the G-men waste a timeout to decide whether to go for 2 with under 2 minutes left and tie it up.

6:18 – Audrae fumbles the kickoff, the Eaglets get it at their 25. Meanwhile, the G-men tie it up 21 all, and the Jax/Arizona game is a final; 24-17 Jags. One more win and I’m guaranteed a winning week, both overall and in Vegas (since my sister didn’t get there until Friday, I missed the Turkey Day stinkers, and my first of 2 over/unders missed).

6:27 – Someone want to tell me again just how “great” Bates is? 5.5 yards per rushing play given up by the defense. 8 chances to make a stop, 6 blown (though at least this time, they only gave up a field goal with time left instead of giving up the field goal to end the game, a touchdown to make it a 2-score game, or simply the end of the game). 1:49 left (less the time for the kickoff), no timeouts, and a touchdown required to score. Meanwhile, the G-men get the ball in great field position and a timeout left.

6:30 – 1:44 left with 71 yards to paydirt after an Audrae muff. 2 incompletes, a bad snap resulting in pick #2…BUT a bogus roughing the passer gives the Packers second life at the 44 and 1:26 left.

6:34 – The ref must’ve seen a clothesline. Fergie manages to get both a first down and out of bounds. Meanwhile, the G-men choke the field goal, so we have the 4th OT game of the weekend. Toni Fisher has a false-start to put the ball back to midfield. There’s pick #2 and the game as Fergie not only doesn’t get open on a triple-team in the end zone, but gets an offensive pass interfierence play by wasting his fight while the ball is in the air. At least I win for the week.

5:15 – Good news; Franks will head home with the team. Bad news, William Henderson got a knock on the head. Great news; the Packers now lead in forcing 3-and-outs 3-2.

5:21 – Make that tied in 3-and-outs (though the Packers had penalties in all 3 of theirs).

5:33 – Na’il Diggs can’t cover; 2 completions and an illegal contact on the 2nd one. KGB’s starting to tire. Meanwhile, Jax is laying the lumber to Arizona, the Seahags grabbed a 1-point lead, and the Deadfins still hold a 2-point lead on the Raiders. Golly, who did the Eagles run over on 4th and 1? Nick Barnett and Ahmad Carroll, along with Westbrook blowing by Mark Roman At least they pulled KGB on that. Add Paris Lenon to the injured list with a hand. This time, Roman got run over. Un-freaking-believable; Carroll did a decent play on 3rd down (even though he was the only one with a shot at the ball). Add the ump to the injured list as Westbrook ran over him (guess the white confused him :-) . Akers continues to nail them; Packers now up 14-13. Make that 23-14 Deadfins (unnnggghhhh), and Henderson is back.

5:39 – Ump’s also back, and Al Harris is out temporarily with cramps. Nifty running by the other Lee to pick up the first. Didn’t help him that next time because the Eagles swarmed while the first guy was busy whiffing. Gado fumbled for the 4th time after nearly nailing the ump again, and the Eagles have the ball in Packer territory pending the (futile) challenge.

5:46 – Do I have enough alcohol? The Raiders get a touchdown to pull within 2, and the Packers lose a timeout. Carroll got just enough contact to impede the progress but surprisingly didn’t draw the flag. Holy cow; Roman had a good recovery, but because McMahon didn’t just air it out, the Packers force their 4th 3-and-out of the Eaglets.

5:50 – Favre needs to learn how to slide, as the head linesman takes a shot from him. Why pass 10 yards when you need 17 on 3rd down and there’s 3 guys who are in position to make the play before the marker? Oh well, time to reload, 15 minutes left in regulation and the Pack is clinging to a 1-point lead.

4:06 – Poor pass plus great defensive hit equals a loopy Franks. Favre now 1-7 for 23 yards. Bad news/good news/good sportsmanship – bad, the cart’s coming out; good – Franks has movement and Dawkins (the guy who cleanly laid him out) kneeling at a respectful distance praying.

4:13 – Correction on the last kickoff; that was Al Harris returning kicks (someone tell Turd Fergie). V-for-victory from Franks, and the Philly fans salute him with applause. On the injury front, add Jeremy Thornburg to the injured Packers (taken to the locker room for a shoulder X-ray). Meanwhile, Driver is now facing double-and-triple-teaming, and Antonia Chapman can’t get open.

Muffed punt, and the Eagles get it back in a scrum.

4:20 – 3-and-outs are now equal at 2 (mainly with a non-call with Ahmad Carroll draped all over a receiver on 3rd down), but the other Lee (Donald) gets nailed for a block in the back to wipe out decent field position.

4:33 – Tingling in both shoulders of Franks, but he won’t go to the hospital. Favre still struggling with accuracy, and Gado made Whittaker look good. Where’s the flag for the out-of-bounds shove? My Least-Favorite Martian now hobbling, and Gado’s the beneficiary of a shortened chain on 4th-and-1 at the Eagles’ 31. They should’ve kicked it; pick #18 on the year as Donald Lee can’t get open and Favre underthrows into the end zone.

Time to break out the Wild Turkey 101.

4:40 – Westbrook (not a big guy) just levelled Carroll; (un)fortunately, Carroll got up. Why is KGB in on running downs? He also got run over on 3rd-and-short and couldn’t do anything more than slow down the back. Good news/bad news/ugly news from the other 2 late games. Miami’s up on Oakland 14-7 at the half, and the G-Men just went up on Seattle in the game of the day 10-7 (while I do have the Giants and the points, I have the Seahags straight-up). McMahon has the same problems with the deep ball, so Chatman finally gets a no-flag good return.

4:52 – These refs are ridiculous with hands to the face penalties today. That’s at least the second phantom one today (though this one does benefit the Pack). Unfortunately, they’re not as willing to throw the flag for pass interference; unlike what the horse’s pitoot claims, that was a catchable ball without the grabbing. Favre completed his second pass in the end zone (after further review, the ruling on the field stands), and this time My Least-Favorite Martin pulls it out of his facemask to give the Packers (pending a booth review) a 14-10 lead.

4:57 – Possibly the worst commercial to ever air is brought to you by Peyton Manning and MasterCard. Whatever you do, don’t let your kids watch it lest they emulate that behavior. The Philly fans return to form; after a holding call on one running play and a 2nd running play without a penalty, they boo the Eagles into the locker room. Score at the half in the shocker of the day, the Green Bay Packers 14, the Philadelphia Eagles 10.

We’ve got a good Sunday after a piss-poor Turkey day. After that disastrous 0-2 start, I’m 4-0-1 in the early games with the San Diego/Washington and Houston/St Louis games headed to OT and Tennessee handling San Francisco.

3:15 – At least the Packers won the toss. RaShard Lee managed to hang onto the ball. Tony Fisher gets the start and, surprise, surprise, fumbled on the opening play. They got the ball back (was ruled an incomplete pass). At least it wasn’t a 3-and-out; Clifton had a false start to make it 3rd and 15.

3:20 – Make that 6-0-1 as San Diego (make that LaDanian Tomlinson) finds the end zone in OT and Tennessee finishing the crushing of the Whiners, er Niners. Meanwhile, the special teams and the defense both are letting Brian Westbrook run all over them. SHOCK! The Pack gets the ball back as Lamar Gordon fumbles inside the Packers 10.

3:27 – Another 3-and-out as Gado gains 6, loses 1, and Favre throws out of the reach of Driver, is now 0-4. Another Philly start inside the Packers 40 as the coverage allows a 15-yard return.

3:32 – Mike McMahon must’ve went to the Favre school of passing behind your receivers. What a stat from Buck (how did he draw this turkey of a game?) and Aikman (how did we draw him for this turkey of a game? – at least we get a bundled-up Pam Oliver to look at for time to time); Career starts – Jon Runyan 139, rest of the offense 115. Will Bates finally take Mark Roman out of coverage? I could have completed that 3rd-down pass.

3:37 – There goes my lossless Sunday; I’m now 1-2 in overtime games for the weekend. Where’s that 6-pack of Maximum Ice?

3:39 – Make that a 12-pack; after Akers nailed a field goal, RaShard Lee coughs it up at the Packers 32 on the ensuing kickoff. Add Al Harris to the list of Packer DBs who don’t know how to keep his hands off guys. Oops, make that a case; Westbrook torches the Packers for a 27-yard TD run. 10-0 bad guys.

3:45 – Lee has a rib “injury” (probably from one of the coaching staff ramming his ribs with a ball), so Audrae Thurman is now returning kicks. Unlike Lee, Thurman hangs onto it. Holy cow; Favre completes one, and the Packers get a first. Gado answers nicely; 2 carries, 51 yards, touchdown. That was an ugly PAT, but we’re back within 3.

3:53 – Kampmann is a player, and if Jackson keeps his shoulders parallel to the line, he’s still a force. We got some help from the ump (who’s thankful it was McMahon throwing that ball and not Favre) to get a 3-and-out.

3:57 – Can we bench Whittaker? He just stands there and ruins any chance to run right or up the middle. 3-and-out #2 (if you ignore penalties that wipe out plays). At least Sander lofted the ball high enough to get a fair catch this time.

4:00 – It’s much the same story with the two McQBs; they can run, but they can’t get air under the ball. I swear that ball hit Jenkins in the chest.

4:03 – Two words for the Packer offense; run left! The first quarter is mercifully over.

Joining me in live-blogging, Aaron of Subject to Change

10:00 – Charlie opens with a national look at what blogs (Rather, Miers, among others) did. Says in 1998, there were 23 blogs, in 2002-750,000 blogs, now-millions).
The panel, left to right, Jeff Mayers (WisPolitics/WisOpinion), John McAdams (Marquette Warrior), Charlie (Sykes Writes), Jessica McBride (McBride’s Media Matters), Owen (Boots and Sabers/Badger Blog Alliance). First question, “Who reads them?” Jessica – just about everybody. John – mainly Marquette types. Owen – mix of opinion-makers and average people. Jessica says that politicians are starting to court bloggers to amplify their messages.

Charlie asked Owen about how blogs are fact-checked. Owen says that it’s a building of trust and a meritocracy, and that bloggers are held accountable by their readers. Jessica and Jeff agree. Commercial.

10:11 – “How have blogs changed the mainstream media?” Jeff – there’s no technical hurdoe anymore, another alternative voice like talk radio keeping the media honest. Jessica – expounds on the alternative voice, saying it stays there after the host goes off the air; helps keep media honest. John – bloggers can keep the media on their toes. Owen – it’ll help the media better. Charlie – or transformed, talks about the younger generation who doesn’t pick up a newspaper. John – speeds up the media (“more blog-like”), talking about the Journal Sentinel’s coverage of Marquette’s name change.

What does this do to the papers? Jeff – “Papers provide a lot of fodder” for bloggers.” Jessica – Where’s the conservative columniss in the papers?

10:19 – The quick list (no links) – nope, No Runny Eggs isn’t there. Asking now about breaking news covered by blogs. Owen – lists John’s breaking of WRIT’s not playing CHRISTmas music, his breaking of the county van in Illinois. Says the media can’t cover everything. Jessica – lists a couple of things the media wouldn’t cover because of a double-standard (Walker’s call for the end of the automatic tax increase, Doyle’s barbecue). Charlie expounds on this. Jeff – “This is like the stock market” because it helps predict what will be big. Lists the blogs on WisOpinion (Xoff Files, Free Will). John, Charlie and Jeff – helps keep stories alive. Up next, “Winners and Losers”.

10:27 – Winners/Losers (sorry, they went too fast for my semi-limited typing skills). Somebody with faster fingers or TiVo will have it.

The first of probably several extensions/revisions; James notes that he got a mention. I also seem to recall Jiblog getting a mention.

Revisions/extensions #4, take your base – Charlie and Jessica have their takes. Jessica has a second, calling Charlie the Don of Blogs to which Charlie replied, “…(T)his guy sounds kind of scary.”. I think the Joker said it best in “Batman” (the good one with Jack Nicholson), “Wait till they get a load of me.” Elsewhere, Steve at Eminent Domain and the Texas Hold’Em Blogger have some more reaction (Dennis x2), and Jib has a quick reaction or two.

The latest addition is Ragnar Mentaire and I AM THE FORCE. I have to thank Charlie for finding him.

I really need to include her in my newsreader so I don’t go a week before finding gems like this scattershot take on Dennis York’s piece on CRG’s recall of Mayor McCheese. Come to think of it, now that Dennis is back blogging (at least when he’s not trying to eat himself to death), I better put him in the blogroll.

Now that’s the kind of humor missing here ;-)

Please welcome Peter DiGaudio and Texas Hold’Em Blogger to the blogroll. Don’t let the “Texas” part fool you, Peter’s one of the sane people in Racine.