The 2009 NFL Playoffs
AFC Championship Game in HDTV on CBS
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Live from Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
January 18, 2009
6:30pm ET
1080i & DD5.1

Announcers:
Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, Steve Tasker (Field reporter)

Please include your source (OTA, Cable, Satellite) and your location (City & Station) with your posts.


foxsports.com
By John Czarnecki

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Ravens are hoping the third time is a charm. They lost twice during the regular season to the Steelers, but they were able to run the ball (107 yards a game compared to Pittsburgh's average allowance of 80). Now, they must do that again and increase on those numbers in order to protect rookie QB Joe Flacco from the fierce Steelers' blitz.

Flacco is the first rookie quarterback to win his first two playoff games. With leading rusher Le'Ron McClain favoring a sprained right ankle, look for Willis McGahee to get more carries. On defense, the Ravens will start Frank Walker for injured RCB Samari Rolle and it looks like OLB Terrell Suggs (sprained right shoulder) could be a game-time decision. Most figure Suggs, who led the Ravens with 8 sacks on the season, will try to play. If not, Jameel McClain and Edgar Jones will rotate in for him. The absence of Suggs will negate some of the blitz packages that Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan likes to use.

For the Steelers, QB Ben Roethlisberger is feeling good and his right shoulder, which was separated in September, is healed and he's able to unload the deep pass. Big Ben has been throwing well, but he must steer clear of the middle of the field and ball-hawking safety Ed Reed.

Pittsburgh's offensive line is healthy (center Justin Hartwig will start) and they opened some huge holes against San Diego last Sunday as RB Willie Parker had his first two-touchdown playoff game. Baltimore must be concerned about Parker's ability to gash off tackle. If the running game is working, Roethlisberger can throw deep to Santonio Holmes or short to TE Heath Miller.

The Steelers should be the favorite because in the previous 18 times when teams met for a third time in the playoffs, 11 times the winner was the team that swept the series. Ravens WR Derrick Mason has nine catches for 149 yards and a TD despite playing with a separated left shoulder.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9094548/Countdown:-Previewing-championship-Sunday

Please include your source (OTA, Cable, Satellite) and your location (City & Station) with your posts.This is very important.

I appreciate you guys taking the time to do this all season. I enjoy hearing from the different posters and how their PQ and AQ compare to what I am seeing and hearing. Thanks again.

rogers cable, toronto, wivb buffalo, sa 8300, pioneer 6010

looks much better than that excuse for a football game i just watched on fox, but a few odd things...game is available on 2 channels up here...tsn and cbs. tsn is just rebroadcasting the cbs feed supposedly, but the audio quality is a quite a bit better on tsn. also a lot of dead space (about 1.5") above the watchable picture when engaging dot by dot mode on the cbs feed plasma...the tsn feed fills all 1920x1080 pixels...

WCBS NY OTA-Very soft today. All the games from Pittsburgh look like this to me. Maybe it has something to do with games from Heinz Field as a whole.

Looks pristine hear on KCBS Channel 2 Los Angeles on TWC.

Looks awesome here in Cincy. WKRC-DT (OTA).

Watching on Dish NYC locals. Picture is SD 4x3 format. Looks horrible.

Looks great on WBTV-Charlotte via D*.

Looks great on KTVT in Dallas via FiOS too. Same complaint as every CBS game, surrounds are about 3dB too low.

Watching on Dish NYC locals. Picture is SD 4x3 format. Looks horrible.

Wonder if something is happening in NYC with the CBS signal. Mine on OTA and on Cablevision has some judder almost like it is SD upconverted.

so it turns out the game is actually available on 3 channels here... the cbs feed i was watching was actually the west coast one...the east coast cbs has no video size issue, but has random audio glitches

I've had an audio drop out and a video stutter on WBBM CBS Chicago via Antenna.

Picture looks softer than the usual CBS game on antenna and via Directv.

Looks good on D* DNS as well as D* local net. I can't say it looks any better than the Fox broadcast however.

the floating remote camera in the middle of the field is quite soft for a cbs broacast

That call was just plain wrong.

WJZ through Comcast. CBS O&O. Looks good but slightly below average for CBS.

Three steps with control should be a catch regardless.

The only things missing from that last guitar hero commercial with all of those dudes is a tub of butter flavored crisco and some scented candles.

Game looks and sounds great on WBBM-DT Chicago via Comcast. The cable cam is a bit soft though. And the field itself is not in great shape but can't blame that on CBS.

Wonder if something is happening in NYC with the CBS signal. Mine on OTA and on Cablevision has some judder almost like it is SD upconverted.

Not quite upconverted but this is not the usual pristine CBS football telecast.
The rear backfield camera view (end zone?) looks almost like 720p.

Field level looks okay but the full play view looks very unsharp. Very odd.

Oddly on my JVC RS-1, the Fox telecast was outstanding today. And really did not look 720p.

Cablevision of NJ.

Three steps with control should be a catch regardless.

And how does the ground have anything to do with it after he already broke the plane of the goal line for a touchdown?

The only things missing from that last guitar hero commercial with all of those dudes is a tub of butter flavored crisco and some scented candles.

This one more to your liking?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BddCq1zFI4

And how does the ground have anything to do with it after he already broke the plane of the goal line for a touchdown?
Because according to the rule, he did not have possession.

Geez, looks like I'm going to have to sweat the Super Bowl now. :mad:

Geez, looks like I'm going to have to sweat the Super Bowl now. :mad:

At least you now have someone you can really root for.

At least you now have someone you can really root for.
If the Steelers win this game, I will too: the Cardinals.

Because according to the rule, he did not have possession.

The Raider-Patriots snow game where Brady brought the ball down and fumbled.

This is an unfortunate aspect of the complexity of the game and its "rules."

You would hope they fix this stuff.

If the Steelers win this game, I will too: the Cardinals.

Same with Woodrow.

At least you now have someone you can really root for.I was just wanting to sit back and enjoy though, and now I have to have the stress of PIT possibly getting a 6th SB.

Oh well, PIT losing the SB would be SWEET. It's the way I'd have planned it as long as they lose. Regardless, PIT getting a 6th SB is still better than Philly getting a 1st.:D

PIT losing the SB would be SWEET.
It's the next best thing, after them not getting there at all.

It's the next best thing, after them not getting there at all.Yup. We need to quit looking a gift horse in the mouth and just enjoy. All good things come to those who wait. :)

Constant video and audio glitches, watching WWJ Detroit via DirecTV.

Yup. We need to quit looking a gift horse in the mouth and just enjoy. All good things come to those who wait. :)

Guess Cowboy fans are due a whole cornucopia of good things.

Guess Cowboy fans are due a whole cornucopia of good things.

Now why'd ya have to go and say that?;)

The crowd feels that their team was wronged, apparently.

Guess Cowboy fans are due a whole cornucopia of good things.Better watch it or I'll come to Charlotte and stick that cornucopia where the sun don't shine.

:D

Another horrible call.

Wow! mystery running into the kicker call! talk about a home field advantage.

That was pretty bad. They could have flagged the punter for kicking him the *ss.

Lots of glitches on antenna so I switched to D*. Still lots of glitches. Must be a national thing.

Anyone else seeing the"blue,red" line(s),streaks in the signal? (DirectvHD)

Anyone else seeing the"blue,red" line(s),streaks in the signal? (DirectvHD)
No.

Woo hoo!

Somebody really needs to hold him down and cut his hair.

Music right now? Seriously?

My stomach went into my throat when I saw his arm frozen in position.

Constant video and audio glitches, watching WWJ Detroit via DirecTV.


I'm seeing that too, via D* (from WGCL here in Atlanta).

I gotta say that the sound was much better in the FOX game & this is the worse football HD I have seen on CBS 2 years.

Doesn't seem to be doing it anymore.
Intermittent,vertical lines,even during commercials.
Other that that,crystal clear.

Not seeing it on Charlotte local via D*

Good smart running on that interception

Lots of glitches on antenna so I switched to D*. Still lots of glitches. Must be a national thing.No glitches here. Watching WWJ-DT via Brighthouse cable.

Go Cardinals!

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Go Cards!

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Go Cards!

The #2 team in the AFC is the #2 team in the NFL. You guys had a great year.

The #2 team in the AFC is the #2 team in the NFL. You guys had a great year.

When you get beaten three times in a season, it is hard not to admit that the winner is a better team. But it hurts. ;)

The same with some of the Steelers. I think I would really like Rothlisburger and Hines Ward if they played for any other team. Polamalu too.

If they played for the Ravens, you'd absolutely love them. :)

That was the Best SuperBowl game I've seen in recent years. Some bad calls against the Ravens that could have made for a different outcome, but regardless, great SB game.

Seriously though, the two best teams played tonight. Either team would beat the Cards, but even so, I say GO CARDS!!!!!!!!!

I wanted to kick the Pittsburgh guy that walked off the field smiling and laughing after he put that hit on McGahee!!!!!

He was probably just happy to be alive. He got a fair chunk of that impact.

Great looking broadcast. (Nashville OTA)

That was the Best SuperBowl game I've seen in recent years. Some bad calls against the Ravens that could have made for a different outcome, but regardless, great SB game.

Seriously though, the two best teams played tonight. Either team would beat the Cards, but even so, I say GO CARDS!!!!!!!!!

I wanted to kick the Pittsburgh guy that walked off the field smiling and laughing after he put that hit on McGahee!!!!!

That wasn't a smile, it was a "where in the eff am I" look; they both were down; he led with his shoulder but at the last second, they both lowered their head to protect themselves, and they hit. It was a legal hit, but a scary one; I'm glad that McGahee is okay -- I don't wish any individual bad will, just the team itself; suck it Ravens, lol.

PQ was good, but not CBS' best. The cable cam was definitely off, maybe in 720p mode or something. Closeups looked great as usual.

Watching WOIO Cleveland with a useless weather subchannel via D* on a 50" 1080p plasma.

On another note, NFLNHD's postgame coverage is just pathetic with that little crappy looking 4:3 SD window of highlights from the studio.

The cable cam was definitely off, maybe in 720p mode or something.
Not a chance.

Doesn't seem to be doing it anymore.
Intermittent,vertical lines,even during commercials.
Other that that,crystal clear.

saw it here, too: Comcast in the East Bay area of San Francisco.

it was there only for a brief time, but my daughter and I both saw it (in fact, she saw it first and pointed it out to me).

Some bad calls against the Ravens that could have made for a different outcome, but regardless, great SB game.

Not really, except for the great punt return, the Ravens didn't move the ball all day.

Truth is, the Ravens never really felt like they were in it. Even at 16-14 you sorta felt the Steelers were going to, at worst, eek out a win.

I've watched the Steelers lose at home in the AFC playoffs to know what it feels like when they're doomed. For example, during last year's game against Jacksonville, when they went for two way too early, you could feel they were gonna need that point later, and sure enough that's how it went down.

Not once did that sense hit me watching the Steelers-Ravens game.

The only thing that struck me at all was a sense of "Wow, Joe Flacco is in fact a rookie."

The Ravens did a good job --arguably a better job than the Steelers did a few years ago with Roethlisberger -- of keeping Flacco well-concealed.

And truth is, the Ravens are a long way off in their receiving corps. Mason is a good steady receiver, but he could retire any time now. And sometimes you wonder if Mark Clayton's ever going to get to being a solid receiver.

Please, Ravens fans, don't turn into the whiny-ass Seahawks fans, whose brains still cannot process that the Alan Faneca -- not the refs -- sprung Willie Parker on the longest TD run in Super Bowl history.

Ya got beat. That's all there is to it.

The Ravens were ahead of schedule for 2008, and today it showed.

Please, Ravens fans, don't turn into the whiny-ass Seahawks fans, whose brains still cannot process that the Alan Faneca -- not the refs -- sprung Willie Parker on the longest TD run in Super Bowl history.
If it had been reversed, and the BS calls went against the Steelers to allow the Seahawks to win, the loud-mouthed Steelers fans would have been screaming louder than Seahawks fans ever have.

Other than wearing white, the SB is gonna look like a Steelers home game.

Game looked awesome on KDBC TV 4 El Paso Tx, I also viewed a bit in Mexican Channel 20-1 TV Azteca, Juarez, Mexico , image was softer, not as crisp as CBS, like they lost something in the re-transmission. But the game was "true-live" about 5 seconds earlier than CBS..

Now I see why the people that don't like Pittsburgh is due to their Fans!!

I agree with you and I think he and the announcers forgot that the man had just caught the ball and was a reciever on that play and didnt see the defender coming. It was a CHEAP shot, head to head contact. Of course the announcer are inexplicably pro Pittsburgh the dirtiest team in football.

I agree with you and I think he and the announcers forgot that the man had just caught the ball and was a reciever on that play and didnt see the defender coming. It was a CHEAP shot, head to head contact. Of course the announcer are inexplicably pro Pittsburgh the dirtiest team in football.

The same player ( Clark) did the same type of hit to Wes Welker during the Pats game this year. I hope the next time he does it, he is the one carried out on the stretcher. And how bout the Steeler fans whooping it up as McGahee laid motionless on the ground. They are the worst and most classless fans in sports and what they did yesterday only validates that reputation.

GO CARDINALS!!

Any word on McGahee's condition? I know players from both teams were praying for his well-being, as were fans.

No idea if Clark intended the head-to-head impact; have to hope not. Both players are at risk when one leads with the crown for impact.

Cardinals will be big underdogs, I suppose, but since Pittsburgh is evil, I'll have to root for the redbirds.

LOL! Heading to Tampa for 2 weeks. I'm going to buy SNFmixer a beer.

McGahee has full movement but "considerable pain in his neck".

Hit was clean. He led with his shoulder and both players dipped their heads and ended up head on. Fans did not cheer his injury and were yelling encouragement to him as he was carted through the tunnel.

The whining from supposed NFL fans is embarrassing.

Now I see why the people that don't like Pittsburgh is due to their Fans!!

My point was, if you hit someone hard enough to hurt yourself, chances are, if you are smiling, it's not because you're happy the other guy got hurt, but because, most likely, you think it's next Tuesday and not Sunday.

McGahee has full movement but "considerable pain in his neck".

Hit was clean. He led with his shoulder and both players dipped their heads and ended up head on. Fans did not cheer his injury and were yelling encouragement to him as he was carted through the tunnel.

The whining from supposed NFL fans is embarrassing.

Well, you have to excuse the guy from New England, if they don't win, then obviously the other team cheated or got help from officiating or they got lucky or etc. The others come from states without NFL teams, so perhaps don't know enough about football to comment intelligently. I'll be the first to call a cheap shot a cheap shot (regardless of who does it), and that hit was not a cheap shot. As you said, he led with his shoulder and they both ducked their heads at the same time to avoid a collision, and the sad fact is, they both ducked to exacltly the same place at the same time. He was not smiling because he hurt McGahee.

The others come from states without NFL teams, so perhaps don't know enough about football to comment intelligently.

Wow! That's quite an assertion. I wonder how one could make that case logically. As an obvious counter, it is easy to contend that those from NFL-less states seek out teams to support based more on intelligent thought and analysis than mere home-state homerism.

McGahee has full movement but "considerable pain in his neck".

Hit was clean. He led with his shoulder and both players dipped their heads and ended up head on. Fans did not cheer his injury and were yelling encouragement to him as he was carted through the tunnel.I heard that on the broadcast, one was something like "Hope you'll be OK buddy."

I agree that the Pittsburgh fans did not stoop to the level of the fans in that other PA NFL town. I remember well their cheering when Deion Sanders landed on his head and was laid out motionless, then booed when he later moved and was clearly not paralyzed. I've not seen or heard any other fans stoop to that level.

I thought I heard, "Keep your head up, Willie" - which may not be the brightest thing to say, all things considered, but the tone sounded sincere.

Wow! That's quite an assertion. I wonder how one could make that case logically. As an obvious counter, it is easy to contend that those from NFL-less states seek out teams to support based more on intelligent thought and analysis than mere home-state homerism.

It's possible you are right; that's why I added the word "perhaps" in my comment. However, I would wager that, in general, people who live in communities with football teams follow the game a bit closer than those who live in communities without football teams, excluding, obviously, the diehard fans who follow football no matter where they live.

Getting back to my original point, it's hard for me to believe that any football fan who knows the sport would think that the big hit yesterday was a flagrant foul, unless they were letting biases cloud their judgment. As I said, I call cheap shots cheap shots, no matter who commits them (including the Steelers -- there was one last year and I was livid because not only was it a cheap shot, it cost us 15 yards and, I believe, turned a 4th down into a 1st down), and that hit yesterday was not a cheap shot; he led with his shoulder, they both ducked and unfortunately, they ducked to the same spot at the same time.

As far as name calling is concerned, I apologize if anyone was offended; I thought we were doing some innocent trash-talking. There are great reasons to be fans of every team in the league, with no exceptions; but it's always fun to have a few teams who you "hate" just to make things a bit more exciting. Again, sorry if I offended.

It's possible you are right; that's why I added the word "perhaps" in my comment. However, I would wager that, in general, people who live in communities with football teams follow the game a bit closer than those who live in communities without football teams, excluding, obviously, the diehard fans who follow football no matter where they live.

Getting back to my original point, it's hard for me to believe that any football fan who knows the sport would think that the big hit yesterday was a flagrant foul, unless they were letting biases cloud their judgment. As I said, I call cheap shots cheap shots, no matter who commits them (including the Steelers -- there was one last year and I was livid because not only was it a cheap shot, it cost us 15 yards and, I believe, turned a 4th down into a 1st down), and that hit yesterday was not a cheap shot; he led with his shoulder, they both ducked and unfortunately, they ducked to the same spot at the same time.

As far as name calling is concerned, I apologize if anyone was offended; I thought we were doing some innocent trash-talking. There are great reasons to be fans of every team in the league, with no exceptions; but it's always fun to have a few teams who you "hate" just to make things a bit more exciting. Again, sorry if I offended.

I disagree, I see a pattern from this guy with these type of hits. He is going for the head, plain and simple. And before you use the word bias again, I would suggest you look up the definition. ;)

I disagree, I see a pattern from this guy with these type of hits. He is going for the head, plain and simple. And before you use the word bias again, I would suggest you look up the definition. ;)

Bias or ignorance of anatomy (or the rules of NFL football). You pick.

The hit was clean, he clearly led with his shoulder, not his head:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zUlJAqeTuwY/SXQXNls3T_I/AAAAAAAAA7c/dJMHuawEqns/s400/Ravenshiat.jpg

Bias or ignorance of anatomy (or the rules of NFL football). You pick.

The hit was clean, he clearly led with his shoulder, not his head:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zUlJAqeTuwY/SXQXNls3T_I/AAAAAAAAA7c/dJMHuawEqns/s400/Ravenshiat.jpg

Gee Panther, do you have a still shot of the Welker hit or even the Matt Jones hit from earlier this year as well by this player?

I guess I can pen you in under the bias category then, thanks! :D

Gee Panther, do you have a still shot of the Welker hit or even the Matt Jones hit from earlier this year as well by this player?

I guess I can pen you in under the bias category then, thanks! :D

You said that this hit was a cheap shot, just like the Welker hit. Does this one look illegal to you?

I don't remember the Welker hit, but if it was a cheap shot, I've got no problem admitting it. I think he was fined at one point, so I assume that one was illegal. But this one wasn't, no matter how much a handful whine about it.

My bias against BS is stronger than my bias for the Steelers. And bias can't change facts anyway - the proof is in the picture.

You said that this hit was a cheap shot, just like the Welker hit. Does this one look illegal to you?

I don't remember the Welker hit, but if it was a cheap shot, I've got no problem admitting it. I think he was fined at one point, so I assume that one was illegal. But this one wasn't, no matter how much a handful whine about it.

My bias against BS is stronger than my bias for the Steelers. And bias can't change facts anyway - the proof is in the picture.

You can say what you want, pictures do not show intent. This guy is dirty and this is the third incident this year. Sorry, I don't respect players like this and if maybe you see the Welker hit with the removal of the blinders, it might change your mind. There is a pattern here whether you want to admit to it or not and this is from a real fan of the NFL ( I only have 1 favorite team) with almost 50 years of watching the league. Like I said, if he does it again I hope he is the one taken out on his back and not the other guy.

OK, now you've answered the question. So the positioning of his body was legal, but he had illegal dirty thoughts. :rolleyes:

Don't think the NFL is for you.

You can say what you want, pictures do not show intent. This guy is dirty and this is the third incident this year. Sorry, I don't respect players like this and if maybe you see the Welker hit with the removal of the blinders, it might change your mind. There is a pattern here whether you want to admit to it or not and this is from a real fan of the NFL ( I only have 1 favorite team) with almost 50 years of watching the league. Like I said, if he does it again I hope he is the one taken out on his back and not the other guy.

Proof positive that Patriots' fans don't know football. Nice work, CPanther95, proving what you and I already knew, having actually watched the hit in the first place. Have a nice off season, Lodef. Good luck next year without Brady, again. Why won't that leg heal; sounds like a conspiracy; I'm sure you'll sniff it out.

You can say what you want, pictures do not show intent. This guy is dirty and this is the third incident this year. Sorry, I don't respect players like this and if maybe you see the Welker hit with the removal of the blinders, it might change your mind.How could the other play(s) change some one's mind about what happened yesterday? Regardless of what you think of the intent, I think what actually happened yesterday is clear.

Maybe we should look at it again tomorrow on NFL Replay.

How could the other play(s) change some one's mind about what happened yesterday? Regardless of what you think of the intent, I think what actually happened yesterday is clear.

Maybe we should look at it again tomorrow on NFL Replay.

I just saw it on a local station, in HD, two different angles in slo-mo. Clark moved his head down and to the side as the impact approached.

OK, now you've answered the question. So the positioning of his body was legal, but he had illegal dirty thoughts. :rolleyes:

Don't think the NFL is for you.

It shouldn't be for him either. ;)

Proof positive that Patriots' fans don't know football. Nice work, CPanther95, proving what you and I already knew, having actually watched the hit in the first place. Have a nice off season, Lodef. Good luck next year without Brady, again. Why won't that leg heal; sounds like a conspiracy; I'm sure you'll sniff it out.

Wouldn't expect anything less from a fellow Steeler fan. BTW how much money are they paying the refs this year to win it??? :p

From Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe:

[McGahee] had completed the catch and was a runner. Helmet-to-helmet contact is legal in that situation as it is for any ball carrier (running back, quarterback, or receiver). Helmet-to-helmet contact is prohibited against defenseless players (defined as a receiver in the process of making a catch or a quarterback in the act of passing).

Wouldn't expect anything less from a fellow Steeler fan. BTW how much money are they paying the refs this year to win it??? :p

About as much as Belichek got to cheat his way to three SBs.

About as much as Belichek got to cheat his way to three SBs.

Yeah I agree the Pats were stupid. Why bother taping the opposing coaches signals, spend hours breaking down and studying them in the film room, then have the players practice the suppose plays over and over and then hope they execute the play called without messing up when all they could have done was throw a bag of money at the guys in the zebra shirts. I guess it's one up for you guys! ;)

I have to admit I can't make a solid case that the hit was dirty. I also admit I am very biased. I want the Steelers to fail.

I am a Cowboys fan, from the Landry/Staubach era when I was a kid. Back then, the one team my Cowboys could not handle was the Steelers. Therefore, I must consider the Steelers the Enemy. They must be regarded as evil.

So, if you've not already done so, feel free to discount my anti-Steelers posts, as they are clearly biased.

Is it possible for people who watch football to come to grips with the fact it is a violent sport?

Pick on safeties for any hit they make shows an obnoxious lack of understanding for the history of football. Maybe some people are forgetting a This Player named Jack Tatum. How about Rodney Harrison in his prime? Adrian Wilson has ended a few seasons.

NFL safeties have the ugliest, most violent job in sports. They roam sideline to sideline killing people for a living.

Maybe the Steelers are where they are because they're the most violent team in one of the most violent sports on Earth. And if your team has a problem with that, maybe they need to start hitting, too.

But, you know, feel free to take it out on the Steelers when Hines Ward comes up for Hall of Fame voting.

BTW how much money are they paying the refs this year to win it??? :p

So why do you bother watching pro football if the refs are on the take?

Is it possible for people who watch football to come to grips with the fact it is a violent sport?
Yes.

I'm not only a fan, but like many of us I played in high school, and like most teenage boys one of my main reasons for playing is that I got to hit people very hard and not get in trouble. I was a fullback; every time I ran up and knocked the ever-living snot out of a defensive end, I got a little excited inside.

I'm fine with that hit on Willie; it by no means looked intentional, and yes their helmets collided but it was clean. What I'm not fine with is that hit on Warner in the Cards game, where he throws the ball, watches it sail through the air for a second or two, and all of the sudden gets blindsided by Quintin Demps. I'm sorry, but when I saw that hit during the game, the very first thing I thought was that he needed to be ejected for that hit. He did get the 15 yard penalty, but there is no way you can argue he didn't do it on purpose. There's a difference between incidental contact and "Let me introduce to to the field turf."

Warner shows he's destined for the Hall of Fame every time he completes a pass while simultaneously getting taken to the ground.

Agreed. He should have been ejected.

Here's a video of the Wes Welker hit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjX98bUz2wM

Ball was tipped...and still in the air when Clark hits Welker...

Should there have been a penalty called? Yes, because technically Welker did not have the ball and was therefore 'defenseless'

However, Clark DOES NOT lead with his head...clearly hits Welker with his shoulder...I'm not sure how anyone can take this hit and the McGahee hit (and whatever 3rd hit you are referring to Lodef) and state unequivocally that you know that man's intent and that he is a dirty player...is there not a chance that the man also plays a VERY physical game, and part of the job of a DB is to separate the ball from the player???...even with this hit, the ball was still in the air at the time of the hit (9 secs into the clip)...and thus the play isn't over...

Obviously, I am a Steelers fan, and I must admit, I despise the Patriots (for knocking us out of 2 AFC Championship games and there overall superiority in the 2000's)...but you have to admit...the same thing is happening here for the most part...people hate the Steelers because they are good...not because they are dirty...and I totally disagree with the comment on the fans cheering McGahee's injury...at first, they were cheering the hit...as soon as it became apparent that the player(s) were injured, there wasn't much cheering after that...

Here's a clip of the entire incident:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbDS5WKhdwM

And, clearly, when he is carted off the field, the fans cheer, and at the end of the clip, when he is near the stands, you can visibly see most fans clapping and offering encouragement, and none booing or acting as imbeciles.

All I ask is don't state opinions as facts...because they are two wildly different things...

Obviously, I am a Steelers fan, and I must admit, I despise the Patriots (for knocking us out of 2 AFC Championship games and there overall superiority in the 2000's)...but you have to admit...the same thing is happening here for the most part...people hate the Steelers because they are good...not because they are dirty.
Well, I am a Colts fan, and I must admit, I despise the Patriots also. The Steelers and the Patriots both have rabid fan bases, but the difference between Pittsburgh and New England is that Steeler fans have been fans for 30+ years. Patriot fans have only just come out of the woodworks in the last decade. I hate seeing Patriots gear thousands of miles away from Boston on a fan who's never even been to the East Coast.

(Disclaimer: I used to live in Indianapolis).

Well, I am a Colts fan, and I must admit, I despise the Patriots also. The Steelers and the Patriots both have rabid fan bases, but the difference between Pittsburgh and New England is that Steeler fans have been fans for 30+ years. Patriot fans have only just come out of the woodworks in the last decade. I hate seeing Patriots gear thousands of miles away from Boston on a fan who's never even been to the East Coast.

(Disclaimer: I used to live in Indianapolis).

What nonsense! I had my season tickets from the mid 70's to early 80's and they were selling out then. A lot of those same fans still have season tickets today and there has been a long waiting list for many many years.

Here's a video of the Wes Welker hit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjX98bUz2wM

Ball was tipped...and still in the air when Clark hits Welker...

Should there have been a penalty called? Yes, because technically Welker did not have the ball and was therefore 'defenseless'

However, Clark DOES NOT lead with his head...clearly hits Welker with his shoulder...I'm not sure how anyone can take this hit and the McGahee hit (and whatever 3rd hit you are referring to Lodef) and state unequivocally that you know that man's intent and that he is a dirty player...is there not a chance that the man also plays a VERY physical game, and part of the job of a DB is to separate the ball from the player???...even with this hit, the ball was still in the air at the time of the hit (9 secs into the clip)...and thus the play isn't over...

Obviously, I am a Steelers fan, and I must admit, I despise the Patriots (for knocking us out of 2 AFC Championship games and there overall superiority in the 2000's)...but you have to admit...the same thing is happening here for the most part...people hate the Steelers because they are good...not because they are dirty...and I totally disagree with the comment on the fans cheering McGahee's injury...at first, they were cheering the hit...as soon as it became apparent that the player(s) were injured, there wasn't much cheering after that...

Here's a clip of the entire incident:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbDS5WKhdwM

And, clearly, when he is carted off the field, the fans cheer, and at the end of the clip, when he is near the stands, you can visibly see most fans clapping and offering encouragement, and none booing or acting as imbeciles.

All I ask is don't state opinions as facts...because they are two wildly different things...

So I see your a Boston Bruins Fan! Great!

So I see your a Boston Bruins Fan! Great!

Yep..also Iowa Hawkeyes...LOL...might as well throw in the New Orleans Saints too...;-)

Yep..also Iowa Hawkeyes...LOL...might as well throw in the New Orleans Saints too...;-)

Yeah but I'm pretty sure the Bruins were the first professional team to wear those colors so they are always considered the original BlackandGold which they still go by today. Maybe you should change your moniker to lessen the confusion of who you really root for then. ;)

Yeah but I'm pretty sure the Bruins were the first professional team to wear those colors so they are always considered the original BlackandGold which they still go by today. Maybe you should change your moniker to lessen the confusion of who you really root for then. ;)

I believe most people think of Pittsburgh when they hear BlackNGold, solely for the reason that all our pro teams (Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates) wear the Black 'N Gold...

Oh...and I just did a quick check since curiousity got the best of me...Bruins started out in 1924...Steelers in 1933...however...original colors of Bruins were Brown and Yellow...which didn't change until 1939...Steelers have always been Black N Gold (except 1943 when they merged with the Eagles and became the Steagles due to WWII and they wore the Eagles green and white)

So, that being said, I'm gonna stick with BlackNGold...:D