On the same day that the Denver Broncos will introduce Peyton Manning as their newest starting QB, Hines Ward quietly retired from the NFL. The 14 year NFL veteran came into the league in 1998 as a 3rd round do it all versatility machine from the University of Georgia, and his college success carried over to the NFL where he was an integral part of the Steelers turnaround in the late 90’s. The coaches changed, the quarterbacks changed — people tend to forget the Kordell Stewart/Tommy Maddox Era— and even the stadium changed, but Hines Ward was always there. He was the rock to an iconic franchise that won 2 Super Bowls with him in the fold — including Super Bowl XL in which Ward was named MVP.

Hines Ward was the glue to a winner, and the hard-nosed blue collar player, who came to represent Pittsburgh’s blue collar mantra.

Ward was cut by the Steelers earlier this off-season, and said he received interest from different NFL teams, but that he couldn’t envision himself in another team’s jersey. Talk about loyalty. In a day and age where the word is merely laughed at, Ward was the heart and soul of the black and yellow. He leaves the NFL with terrific numbers, a reputation as a reliable and unquestioned leader, and a legacy as one of the great Steelers wide receivers of all time. No small feat, considering the history of that proud franchise.

How will you remember Hines Ward? What should his legacy be, and is he worthy of the Hall of Fame?

]]> http://juicedsportsblog.com/2012/03/hines-ward-retires-his-emotional-press-conference-his-legacy-and-his-loyalty.html/feed 0 http://juicedsportsblog.com/2011/11/joe-flaccos-defining-moment-torrey-smiths-redemption-nets-ravens-huge-win.html http://juicedsportsblog.com/2011/11/joe-flaccos-defining-moment-torrey-smiths-redemption-nets-ravens-huge-win.html#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:27:49 +0000 sjacobs http://juicedsportsblog.com/?p=5128 SCOTT JACOBS

Embattled QB Joe Flacco’s 92 yard drive stunned the Steelers and kept the Ravens very much alive in the AFC North. Is this a defining moment for his career? Are the Ravens the best team in the AFC North? How important is a home playoff game or even a bye to Baltimore’s Super Bowl hopes and dreams? Juiced Sports Radio breaks down a memorable game and what it all means going forward.

Subscribe to Juiced Sports Radio.

SCOTT JACOBS

If that was the last football game we see for some time, boy did the NFL go out with a bang.

What started out as a blowout, turned into a classic as the Packers did just enough to hold off the pesky Pittsburgh Steelers 31-26, securing their 4th Super Bowl title, and 13th NFL championship in 80 years.

And what once amounted to “boos” for the handling of the Brett Favre situation just 3 years ago, is now “Favre who?”  The Packers have Aaron Rodgers, and he’s doing just fine.  In fact, he’s got that MVP shine to him after corraling the game’s most valuable player, a feat not even mighty number 4 could accomplish in his illustrious Packers career.  And a Green Bay team that was once 8-6 and on the brink of elimination, is now the NFL’s last group standing, a testament to playing their best when the pressure was its greatest, overcoming all obstacles thrown their way.

The Lombardi Trophy is coming back to the NFL’s smallest market.  The league’s only publicly owned team is getting another parade, and the Steelers six year reign over the NFL has come to a screeching halt. The number one song may be Black and Yellow, but it’s the Gold and Yellow that are World Champs.  Hard to believe it’s been 14 years for the league’s most storied franchise, but the drought is over.

Led by a ball-hawking defense, another clutch performance from Aaron Rodgers, and a team that just would not quit, the Packers raced out to a 21-3 lead, before holding on after a frantic Steelers rally.  But the man they call clutch was not Big Ben tonight.  Instead it was Rodgers who led the Packers on a huge 10 play, 70 yard drive up three, eating up 5:27 of clock late in the 4th to put Green Bay up a touchdown, a deficit Pittsburgh simply couldn’t overcome.  Needing a touchdown and the PAT to pull out another epic Super Bowl win, the magic ran out for the Steelers, who never led.

The Packers needed to win 6 games in a row to win it all.  No problem.

Crushing the Giants in Lambeau and just doing enough to beat the Bears at home, the Packers snuck into the playoffs as the NFC’s lowest seed, and from there they never looked back.

Philly couldn’t stop them.  Atlanta couldn’t contain them.  The Bears didn’t have the firepower to match them.  And the Steelers ran out of time to comeback on them.

And walah, the Packers are Super Bowl champions.

At times it seemed like destiny’s darlings were bound to fall short.  The injury bug attacked early and often, taking out Charles Woodson, Sam Shields, and Donald Driver, but the Packers were not to be denied.  They’d come too far.

Of course it’s not a surprise that the Packers won the Super Bowl.  Many experts and pundits had them going to the Big Game before this season even started after their harrowing OT loss in the playoffs at Arizona last year.  But few could have foreseen a path that included losing their starting running back, and their franchise  quarterback to a concussion for a few games, amongst a bevvy of other injuries. But that was the year it was.  It wasn’t exactly dominant from start to finish, but it had its solid, if not spectacular moments when needed most.

Philly couldn’t stop them.  Atlanta couldn’t contain them.  The Bears didn’t have the firepower to match them.  And the Steelers ran out of time to comeback on them. And walah, the Packers are Super Bowl champions.

But the defining moment, the game that changed everything, and gave the Pack confidence that hey, maybe they could win this thing afterall, may have actually come in a loss.  In a Sunday Night football game against the Patriots in mid-December, the Pack came in with an 8-5 record, a concussed quarterback, and a backup in Matt Flynn who was expected to get devoured alive by a red hot New England team.  But the Pack held their own, and if not for a historic kickoff return by Dan Connolly of all people, it’s very possible they would have beat the Pats.

They lost 31-27 but from there they knew, that if they could hang with the NFL’s best team without their franchise QB, they sure as heck could beat anyone in their way with their franchise QB.  And lo and behold that’s exactly what happened.  Green Bay never lost again, and tonight they culminated that resurgence in confidence with the NFL’s biggest prize.  On it’s biggest stage.  In front of a near NFL record crowd, made mostly of Terrible towel wavers.

It’s been quite a rise from the ashes for Green Bay.  Just two seasons prior to this one, they were 6-10, and fans were questioning if Aaron Rodgers was the guy.  Well, newsflash, he is.  The Packers steeley QB followed up an incredible post-season with a grand finale, throwing 3 touchdowns and no picks, not to mention watching Jordy Nelson drop three huge throws.  But that was just it.  For every time Nelson dropped a ball, he came back and recovered, making a huge play:  His grandest highlight coming near the end as he dashed to the goal line, nearly scoring what would have been the clinching score.

It was that resolve, that heart, that desire to overcome turmoil that makes a good team great.  A young team special.

The Packers are World Champions.

Green Bay, party like it’s 1997. Lombardi’s back.  And we’re not just talking about Broadway.

Photo: Getty

We are one week away from Super Bowl 45.

7 days. Roughly 160 hours. 9600 seconds.

Tick, tock.

Until two of the NFL’s most well-versed franchises square off for all the Lombardis.  Until two of the NFL’s biggest crown jewels do battle in the NFL’s shiniest palace.  Two old school teams, whose uniforms and colors harken back to generations of greatness, meeting in North Texas under the NFL’s largest scoreboards in the world.

Green Bay Packers.  Pittsburgh Steelers.  The team that was there when it all started.  Versus the team that has won the Super Bowl more times than any other.  The Green and Gold versus the Black and Gold for the NFL’s largest chunk of silver.

Wagering on these two to be successful is as smart as betting on the Super Bowl at BetUS.  They’re gonna be good.  They almost always are. And when you have a combined 9-2 record in the Big Game, it’s hard to argue with the results.

No upstarts here.  Green Bay and Pittsburgh reek of NFL royalty.  Their fans are amongst the most passionate and well traveled in North American sports.  And though they sport between them nine Super Bowl rings, they’re two of the NFL’s most blue collar franchises.

You want history? How’s this for history: when the Steelers came into the league (1933), the Packers won their 4th NFL championship.  When Green Bay was finished destroying teams in the 60’s (5 NFL Championships), the Steelers took over in the 70’s (winning 4 of their own).

You want success? Green Bay and Pittsburgh have 39 division titles between them.  Both teams have made the playoffs 26 times.

You want Hall of Famers?   Green Bay has 21 of ‘em.  The Steelers, 18. Put them together and you could make the meanest, scariest group of s.o.b.’s the football world’s ever seen.

But this is more than just numbers.  This is names.  Guys like Johnny McNally, Ray Nitschke, Paul Hornung, Bobby Layne, Joe Greene, and Jack Lambert.

These teams are the glue that hold the NFL history books together.  They’re the yin and the yang.  The black and the blue.  The iconic G in a cyclinder.  The 3 diamonds in a circle.

And a week from now they meet for the first time in a Super Bowl.

A two seed and a six seed.  Roethlisberger versus Rodgers. Pass versus run.

Defense versus more defense.

One team will walk away with another championship. 

This is the NFL’s big-boy table.  The high rollers V.I.P. you better have rings if you want in on this shindig, extravaganza.

Because when you think excellence, well it’s hard to top these two.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they know they’re damn good.

Next week, one of them will simply add to their legacy.

Photo: Life

SCOTT JACOBS

Today I had the opportunity to interview Cowboys rookie fullback Chris Gronkowski (who, with his season over, is effectively now a second year player).

We talked about everything and it was a long interview so it’s going to take some time to transcribe.  But one subject that’s time sensitive is his AFC and NFC Championship Game picks and his thoughts on Rex Ryan and the Jets, who he had a chance to see in person the other day while watching his brother Rob, who is  a TE  for the Patriots.  Here’s an excerpt from our interview, the entirety of which will be posted within the week.  It’s a Juiced Sports Exclusive.  Enjoy!

Juiced Sports: It’s Championship Week! Bears-Packers, Jets-Steelers, who do you think is going to make it to the Super Bowl?

Chris Gronkowski: I’m gonna go with the Packers in their match up and I think it’s still a tossup between the Steelers and the Jets.  I think the Jets will be able to pull it off, especially coming off of their big win over the Patriots.

JS:  You had a chance to see the Jets in person this weekend watching your brother Rob with the Patriots and the Jets surprised a lot of people.  What did you make of that game?

CG: I thought it was unbelievable how they came out with a whole different scheme that the Patriots didn’t really expect, as far as the defense of the Jets.  They were rushing three and dropping everyone, and obviously it was the perfect defense to play against them.  No one else has really done that against them.  It was a smart move by the Jets and it definitely paid off.  It shows that they’re willing to do anything, change the whole game-plan, just to win a game.  Definitely good coaching on their part and I think they’re in it to win it  They got a lot of older guys who haven’t won a Super Bowl yet and they’re dying to get there.

As we mentioned, we’ll have the whole interview up for you soon.  Some real interesting topics covered: including the CBA, what he would do if he was Commissioner for a day, and much much more.  Stay tuned.

In the meantime, check out GronkNation.com, a site recently launched by Chris and his brothers Rob and Dan.

Photo: Reuters

SCOTT JACOBS

“I am in misery.  There ain’t nobody that can comfort me” – Maroon Five’s Misery

That has got to be how the 3-3 Miami Dolphins are feeling right now, after a perplexing call on an even more bizarre rule, cost them a likely big-time, season changing first home win.  Beside the fact that Miami has faced a Murder’s Row of a schedule to start the season (including maybe the most insanely difficult first 3 home games I can remember for any one team), the Dolphins couldn’t catch a break today on their home field.

It was obvious the second the call was made that this would be the controversial play of the day.  Maybe even the first half of the season with the exception of the weird Calvin Johnson no touchdown call against the Bears.  Ben Roethlisberger lost the ball reaching for the goal line, and despite assumptively recovering it, and the refs ruling that the ball was a fumble, Miami not only didn’t get the ball back, they got their collective hearts torn out of their bodies.

Due to a weird rule that is sure to get plenty of air time this week, the ball was basically ruled dead by the touchdown without being actually ruled dead.  Confused?  You should be.  Back when the NFL had it’s dumbfounding rule where you couldn’t review plays that were called ‘dead’ fans and coaches and players alike clamored for a change.  And as we all know, the NFL obliged.  But a caveat was put into the rule book that apparently no one even knew existed:

You could lose the ball before breaking the plain, and because it was ruled a touchdown, if the refs never determined who recovered what could be a potentially phantom non-fumble, the team that fumbled the ball would simply get it back.  In other words, it’s as if the refs have the option of quitting on the play before it’s over: even when there’s some debate as to what happened and when it’s clearly a reviewable call

So rather than, I don’t know, un-pile the players like you would any other fumble (the Dolphins came away with the ball and passed it to the ref) the ref went about the play as if it was a touchdown, non conceding to the possibility that a change of possession may have occurred. Basically, (I suppose?) it’s as if the recovery never happened, because the ref stopped paying attention.  Which is the strangest thing, because how could a ref not determine possession when there’s clearly a huge pile of bodies in the end-zone scrapping and fighting for that little football?

The ref in his confusing and incredibly long explanation stated that while the ball was fumbled, it was inconclusive who recovered it. That seems ironic, considering practically ever fumble recovery in a large scrum is simply put a dogfight of scratching and clawing for the ball, no matter who really had it first.  Why that wouldn’t apply to this situation too is flat out mind-boggling and it helped (pretty much) cost Miami a game it really should have won.

Which brings me to this conclusion: the rule is in place to give guidance to the refs, but given the circumstances, shouldn’t refs be allowed to scrap a technical asterisk of a rule for the common sense way, which would be to give the ball to the team that came up with the ball.  You think the Steelers would have objected?  It’s not like everyone stopped after the ref signaled touchdown.  Everyone went after that ball almost as if they knew it was a fumble.  Pittsburgh knows they dodged a bullet, and to live the charmed life in the NFL sometimes you have to win in weird ways.  This would fall under that category.

But even though the refs got it right (by their rulebook), they clearly wronged Miami, which would have had the ball at their own 20, needing just one first down to salt away an impressive and much-needed first home win.  Instead, after a gutsy OT win over the depleted Green Bay Packers in Lambeau, Miami comes home to another frustrating loss (very similar to their tough SNF loss versus the Jets).

It’s not like you can blame the Dolphins for losing to good teams.  The Jets, Patriots, and Steelers all have just 1 loss (and as it stands, are the only 3 teams in the sport with just 1 loss).  If Miami wants to take the next step though, they have to win a few of these tough home games.  Though it would be nice if the refs and their robotic rule book would cut them a break.

Miami should have won today against the Steelers.  Instead, both the Dolphins and Common Sense add another tally to the loss column.

Photo: Reuters

Prediction: ARIZONA 28 PITTSBURGH 23

Total yards of offense:  Arizona 322 Pittsburgh 235
Passing Yards:  Arizona 240  Pittsburgh 170
Rushing Yards: Arizona 82  Pittsburgh 65
Turnovers: Arizona 1  Pittsburgh 3

QB
Kurt Warner: 25-36, 240 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Ben Roethlisberger: 15-32, 170 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT

RB
James/Hightower: 32 rushes, 82 yards, 1 TD (James)
Willie Parker: 22 rushes, 65 yards, 1 TD

WR
Larry Fitzgerald: 6 catches 82 yards, 1 TD
Anquan Boldin: 9 catches, 112 yards, 2 TD
Hines Ward: 7 catches, 71 yards, TD
Santonio Holmes: 4 catches: 53 yards
K
Neil Rackers: 0-0
Jeff Reed: 3-4, long of 46

Prognosis per quarter:
First quarter: Arizona 14 Pittsburgh 7
Second quarter: Arizona 21 Pittsburgh 13
Third quarter: Arizona 21 Pittsburgh 16
Fourth quarter: Arizona 28 Pittsburgh 23

Last play of game: Kurt Warner kneeldown

Super Bowl MVP: Anquan Boldin

SCOTT JACOBS

We know what you’re thinking out there– can they just play the damn game already?  We’ve had almost two weeks to break down every bit and piece of Super Bowl XLIII and I have to admit that I am sick of it already.  Just get on the field, play the national anthem, and let’s get this party started.  Maybe I’m just bitter because I tried to get tickets for two weeks and failed horribly, because of all the scams that I ran into.  Or, maybe I’m like most fans, who are tired of all the pre-game hoopla surrounding what should be an exciting game.

The storylines are great, but how many times can you hear them?  It gets old after a while.  Great offense versus fabulous defense.  80% Steelers fans to 3% Cardinals fans (approximation given the people I’ve seen on TV wearing Cardinals red).  Cinderella versus Golliath.  Kurt Warner and his quick release versus that great Bitzburgh defense.  Larry Fitzgerald against, well everybody.  Even Arizona’s defense against Ben Roethlisberger has become a pretty intriguing matchup, because of how well the Cardinals defense has performed this post-season.

But quite frankly, I’m tired of the cries that this is why college football is lucky not to have a post-season (I don’t agree).  I’m sick of all the people that claim Arizona hasn’t played anyone close to Pittsburgh this post-season (Hello, Carolina was one of the Super Bowl favorites entering the playoffs).  I’m tired of the ‘us against the world thing.’  Arizona you can’t pull that one quite off anymore.  I’m especially tired of that stupid Anquan Boldin clip of him yelling at Todd Haley.  Could we dissect that moment any more?

Let’s just play already! 

The Cardinals offense is great- if their offensive line protects Warner.  Fitzgerald and Boldin are the best wide receiver duo in the NFL, and they are unstoppable when Warner has time to pick apart the defense.  Pittburgh is a great defensive team, with their strength in their blitz packages. But the game may come down to the fact that the Cardinals might have a better defense right now than Pittsburgh’s offense.

And stop with the whole superior conference thing!  Arizona beat some very good teams to get to where they are now.  If it was Carolia or the beloved New York Giants in this game, even the sixth seeded Eagles no one would bring this thig up.  This isn’t college folks.  There is no SEC, Big 12, or ACC in the NFL.

So here’s the pick: ARIZONA 28 PITTSBURGH 23

The Cardinals are destiny’s darlings, I’m convinced of that.  But more importantly, they’re playing phenomenol football.  Everyone gives Arizona crap for beating a rookie quarterback in Matt Ryan, but the Steelers got to the Super Bowl by beating a rookie quarterback, Joe Flacco. The Steelers beat one team that was 4-8 at one point (Arizona was never under .500 in 2008) and the Ravens suspect offense to get here.  The Cardinals have an explosive offense unlike anything the Steelers have seen this year.

Add in the fact that the game is in sunny Tampa, not snowy Pittsburgh and you create a situation that is incredibly appealing for the Cardinals.  No one has mentioned this, but the Steelers won both their playoff games in the snow, where weather totally played to their advantage.  I have a hunch that Tampa’s weather will be a big difference in this game.

Kurt Warner is no Flacco.  He is an experienced QB who has been here before.  So has Big Ben, but he was atrocious when the Steelers beat the Seahawks at Ford Field.  I think Clancy Pendergrast will have some interesting blitz packages set up for the Steelers.  If you’ve been watching the playoffs closely, you’ll know that Arizona boasts a ball hawking defense that likes to take chances.  Big Ben loves to take chances, and make some risky throws.  I see him getting picked off, not once, but twice.  Arizona has been very effective in shutting down the powerful running games of Atlanta, Carolina, and Philly and I think they will hold Willie Parker in check.

Arizona wins at home.  They were 6-2 in the regular season, and 2-0 in the playoffs.  They’re the home team in this one.  I’m just saying, I’m just saying.  And look out for Steve Breaston.  Sure all the attention has been on Fitz and Q this week, but don’t forget that Breaston, the former Michigan standout, had a 1000 yard season in 2008.  Expect Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower to be productive, not spectacular.  But here’s a bold prediction: Hightower will break a run for 30 yards or more.

But I think the biggest key will be that Arizona has nothing to lose.  They didn’t expect to be here, but the Steelers did.  They aren’t a mighty juggernaut from the regular season, they just sort of floated under the radar.  Sure, people are picking them now (about time), but I think Arizona still feels disrespected. There are still some people who think they’re a fluke, and that they don’t belong.  But come Sunday night, when Arizona comes flying out of the gate, no one will be saying that anymore.

The Rays got close, but couldn’t finish the job.  Arizona only needs to win one.  They will.  And after, they will be considered the worst Super Bowl champions ever.  Remember, you heard that here first.  I’m not saying I agree with it, but just wait for it.  Just wait.

Of course, worrying about their place in history will be for someone else to worry about, because the Cardinals will be too busy celebrating an improbable journey from frauds to Super Bowl champs.

SCOTT JACOBS

Planet Earth, the Arizona Cardinals.  Arizona Cardinals, Planet Earth.  There you guys have been formally introduced.  Now we bypass the meet and greet process, and just get down to the nitty gritty: just who are you guys?  What are you doing here?  Are you too stupid to know that the Cardinals aren’t supposed to be here?

C’mon Arizona, just who are you trying to fool here?  The Super Bowl?  The Big Stage? You guys are lucky–Lucky!– to get a national game a year during the regular season.  And now you’re all over everyone’s TV’s for one whole week?  No one knows what to do with this story.  No one knows where to begin.  What happened to the team that always failed when the lights started to shine at all?  What happened to the group of guys that couldn’t live up to their potential?

What happened to the joke?  The walking punchline?  The team that has had a new logo since 2005, yet even sites like CBS Sportsline, still use their old one. No one apparently complains, because well, when you have an invisible team, with a silent fan base, people kick you around.  They don’t respect you.  You have to win to earn respect.  You have to strive for bigger things than mediocrity.

You guys aren’t supposed to be here.  Everyone’s like “yeah I know them,” but no one did a few weeks ago.  On Fox’s telecast a few weeks ago of Arizona’s throttling of Carolina the announcers were still mistaking the Cardinals for Phoenix.  Newsflash folks: the Cardinals became the Arizona Cardinals almost 15 years ago!  They changed from Phoenix to Arizona back in 1994!

The Cardinals don’t make sense.  They don’t!  They have a running back who has openly demanded to be released so he can play for a new team, a wide receiver who’s been miserable the whole year because they haven’t given him a new contract, a prima donna backup quarterback who moves closer to becoming a bust every year, and an owner who is so invisible from the media, that one writer the other day stated he had never heard Bill Bidwill bring up anything in the owner’s meetings.

But here they are.  In full color.  They’re putting their whole name in the endzone for the Super Bowl just to make sure you know who the heck they are!  They’re not the St. Louis Cardinals.  They’re the Arizona Cardinals! The team that won nine games this year in the regular season.  They beat the Cowboys on a blocked punt in overtime that was recovered for a touchdown, marking the first time in NFL history a game ended that way.

The Cardinals are the NFL’s guinea pigs.  Send ‘em to Mexico and let’s see if this whole International Series idea has legs.  Their fans won’t mind losing a home game. So the Cardinals went to Mexico in 2005, as the home team against the 49ers, and were booed mercifully.  But hey, it let the world know that, yes, Arizona still does have a pro football team.

I went to the mall the other day in Tallahassee (two malls actually) and they didn’t even have the official NFC Champs shirt. But they did have a red NFC Champs shirt that basically stated “second class.” The name of the store: Sports Fan-Attic.  But they had every Steeler AFC Champs gear and apparrel you could ever want.  Because quite frankly, their isn’t a demand for annonymous Cardinals gear.  They’re in the Super Bowl, yet they’re merely a curiosity.

They are seven point underdogs in this Super Bowl, despite the fact that they beat an 11, 12, and 9 win trifecta of NFC playoff teams to get to this point.  The Steelers knocked off 8 win San Diego, and 11 win Baltimore to get here.  But they’re the Steelers.  They have history.  They have rings.  They have the terrible towels, they are beloved.  While questions rampaged this past week about whether the Cardinals were the worst Super Bowl team ever, the Steelers were showered with the question if they were the greatest franchise in sports!  No one respects the Cards.  They’re not warm and fuzzy like the Cubs. They don’t push the red button and get ejected.  They follow the person who pushes the red button, and people laugh.

They’ve made it to the Super Bowl now, and still they’re overshadowed.  Steelers West they’re being called, because quite frankly, their coaching staff brought with them what makes the Steelers the Steelers.

So for the next week, you’ll hear their names, you’ll listen to their stories.  And you’ll sit there and ask yourself this question:

Who do these guys think they are, coming out of the shadows like that out of nowhere?

And then they’ll beat the Steelers, go to DisneyWorld, and tourists will stop and ask their friends, “are those the guys that won the Super Bowl?”

“Nah,” they’ll reply, “for surely I would know who they are.”