American Football

Are there any other NFL fans here? I am the rare example of a huge NFL fan who cannot stand college football.

If so, how are your teams doing? I personally support the most successful football team in NFL history, the Pittsburgh Steelers. I am amazed that we have managed to go 3-0, one of only three teams, despite all the trouble with Ben Roethlisberger being suspended. Then in addition, both backup choices getting injured so we have to play with our FOURTH string quarterback (of course that is slightly misleading as Charlie Batch has more experience than the other three, just not as a starter ). Obviously the Titans and the Buccaneers aren't the biggest competition, but a win is a win. We just have to play one more game before Roethlisberger is back, but unfortunately it is a crucial divisional game against the Ravens. Hopefully the famous Steelers defense can hold up on that one, because our offense is probably going to struggle.

And of course the NFL wouldn't be as fun without its rivalries, and if you live where I do the Cleveland Browns are loathed like no other. A loss by the Browns is almost as thrilling as a win by the Steelers.  It is one of the most lopsided rivalries though as the Browns routinely get mauled by the Steelers, not having won against Pittsburgh since 2003. And true to form, the Browns are now 0-3! Keep it up, Brownies!

Patriots guy here, being from New Engalnd and all.

I watch NFL here and there. Just hard to get into it when you work every Sunday. That and wrestling already has my heart as the man "sweaty guys rubbing up against each other" entertainment. And I don't watch college football. Jacksonville Jaguars fan here.

Bears fan with Raiders sympathies (Howie Long was the man, and as a White Sox fan I dig the color scheme, plus there's a Bo Jackson connection). If I know the Bears will be bad (we usually are) right after a particularly poor Sox season, I don't have the emotional fortitude to invest much in them. The Bulls and Hawks have offset this somewhat, and after going 2-0 after I assumed they would go 0-2, I'm going to take a risk on the Packers game tonight. I think we're going to lose, but I thought we would lose to Detroit (we really should have) and Dallas too. Maybe we'll be 3-0. Jay Cutler is returning to form after a horrible season last year, and I'm suprised how effective he's been in this offensive scheme; to be fair, the scheme has been modified for him, which is suprising in itself when you consider the coordinator is Mike Martz.

I cheered for the Colts in the Superbowl but I do have to say I have a little less respect for them because they play under a roof  Football is meant to be played in the weather! I believe Bears, Pats, and Jags all play outsider as the Steelers do.

Jags do but Jacksonville weather is pretty mild even in December. Sure it rains but it never gets really cold or anything. Worst you have to worry about there is hurricanes. And I don't think they'd make anyone play during a hurricane anyway.

@ Anna Raven:

@ Bub: I'm rooting for them anyways.  Go BEARS!

Oklahoma born Miami Dolphins fan and devoted Dallas Cowboys hater. Being in Oklahoma though you mostly end up a Oklahoma University Sooners fan or Oklahoma State Cowboys fan. This is a HUGE college football state and I always preferred watching college because I felt there is more raw talent in the NCAA.

How can there be more raw talent in a lower tier of competition, unless by raw you meant unrefined; not polished? The only thing college level football has more of than the NFL is white people.

With about a third of the season over my picks for the playoffs are currently Bears, Chiefs, Steelers, Colts, Jets, and Patriots. Most of the NFC divisions are too close to call at this point. This is a really competitive year. I don't think I recall previous seasons having so many teams tied atop their standings. The past few years we always have had a team go deep into the season with an undefeated record. Nobody is undefeated now.

Please allow me a moment to vent here.

I think I am going to have to give up Monday Night Football. I am a fan of commentary. Some people would rather mute because they just get annoyed but in general I like to hear the insights. Yet it amazes me that the only dedicated sports network manages to have the worst commentary crew for football.

First of all, a commentary crew is two people except when you have special guests. Call me old-fashioned, but I do what the Bible tells me.

Second of all, I can't pinpoint exactly what it is about the banter between Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden that makes me want to stab things into my ears, but something is definitely wrong. One thing is that they seem to press their dogmatic football ideas more heavily than other broadcasters to me. I can give two actual examples.

Last week, I don't remember the exact score, but it was something like 41-27 towards the end of the game, the Cowboys losing. The Cowboys are fourth-and-goal and they go for a touchdown. Mike, Ron, and Jon go berserk. "Go for a field goal! What are you doing?! NYEAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" They whined about it for seriously somewhere around thirty minutes. We are like two drives later and they are still crying. I think I legitimately heard one of them quietly sobbing.

Then tonight's game the Colts are winning by two scores in the fourth. It is 3rd and 16. They throw it. Queue Mike, Ron, and Jon getting hysterical. Jon literally becomes enraged and says "There is NO REASON to pass. NO REASON." Really, Jon? Really? There isn't a single reason in the universe to consider throwing on 3rd and 16?

There is more than one way to play football. There are options. There are risks that can be taken. Calm the $&$* down commentators and go with the flow.

And this isn't even getting into when halftime comes and Chris Berman starts literally shouting at me with his horrific sandpaper-on-flesh voice. Or that I have to listen to Hank Williams change three words in the same song EVERY SINGLE TIME (perhaps I should just be thankful it isn't Faith Hill on Monday).

I think Fox has the best crew. Terry, Howie, and Jimmy are always entertaining and Troy Aikman is probably the best former-player-commentator there is. But honestly I will take anyone over the people that ESPN currently has on their show.

ESPN is a marketing tool designed to generate cash from licensing agreements. It is in no way a credible source of responsible broadcasting or ethical journalism. I don't want to get too political here, but ESPN is guilty of what many FOX News detractors accuse that network of being. I stick with WSCR 670 AM's weekend afternoon radio programming. I get it on CBS's online player. Chicago-centric, but very, very good.