Ravens will not be fined, league sucks

So those Ravens who were complaining about the calls? The ones who would have been fined in a split second last season (see previous comments on 'fines,' particularly those from the Indianapolis Colts game last year)? They are not being fined this time around. That is total crap. The league needs a consistent policy here. And let's not forget, this is the same league that charged Wes Welker last year for making a snowman.

In case you're curious, here is the infamous Suggs hit. Did Brady signal for a penalty? Yes. What is a penalty? Yes! Dude was charging straight for his knee! He could have avoided the direct helmet going toward it, he wasn't being pushed by another player.

In an even stupider move by the league, Mike Wright (Patriots) did get fined for hitting the Ravens' QB on the helmet. Because that's consistent.

Reiss provided a nice analysis of who has been fined for what in regards to QB penalties. Baltimore is leading with 4 calls against, and the Patriots are second with 3. Because the refs are biased for us, obviously.

Argh. Whatever, it's time to let this go. Championship teams don't lose because of 'bad' calls, they win in spite of them.

How you know your team is in trouble: coach may be arrested for assult

Tom Cable, coach of the Raiders, may be arrested, some rumor mills are reporting.

Now, this already wasn't the Raiders season. But something tells me that having the coach arrested wouldn't help. Not to mention that I feel as though Goodell would frown upon such an action and probably bar him from coaching (at least if Goodell is at all consistent, he would).

I feel like Mangini and Oakland are destined someday. Who knows? That day could come sooner than I thought (he sure isn't going to be in Cleveland very long at this rate).

That's a fine

Ed Reed, of the Baltimore Ravens, sort of insinuated that the Patriots only won because they had calls go their way.

*sigh*

Sometimes calls go your way, sometimes they go the other way.

PS - Your catch downfield late in the 3rd should have been overturned. So quit whining.

PPS - I do agree that Brady got a freebie on the 'roughing the passer' one. But that is football. We had the same problems in the game against the Bills. Again, sometimes calls go your way, sometimes they go the other way.

PPPS - Dumb: when your coach complains enough to the referee to get a penalty, then keeps complaining.

PPPPS - No seriously, quit whining.

Fan commentary

This was posted by richard f on Yahoo following a summary of the Pats vs. Ravens:

'Nerds; Don't be mad because the three time world champion New England Patriots either spanked your team in the Super bowl, or beats your team on a regular basis. The Patriots are just better than your team. The Patriot fans are better than your team's fans, and the Patriot's owner is better than your team's owner. Just get over it. It will always be this way. Your Nerd rage fuels the Patriots.

Go Pats!'

Defense wins championships

Before anyone leaps on the 'Brady is washed up and done' wagon, let's recall that the Pats were playing one of the strongest defenses in the league today and still came up on top. They won 27-21. Now ideally, it would have been nice to do better, of course, particularly on the last drive. But we did enough to win.

And it's important to bear in mind that the reason we did enough to win is that the defense came up with a giant stop on the last drive, stopping the Ravens four times when they started at 1st and goal. We had the people in place ot make these crucial plays. This team is definitely our strongest in years - forget about 2007, that was precisely when we needed our defense to come up big and they didn't make the needed plays.

Also, Brandon Meriweather was fabulous today. He got one interception and almost came up with two more. Great job by the D all around.

Junior Seau has interview

Junior Seau is shilling his new show (which premieres in December?) and giving press interviews. He was asked if he would be returning to the Patriots this year, which would give him an almost Favre-esque status of three straight years coming out of retirement. His answer was sure, but later in the season, since he is a rusty old man.

However, the best answer he gave in the interview pertained to his answer when asked about Tom Brady losing his temper on the field last week:

"Tom always has the fire. He walks around, even when he probably brushes his teeth, and he's thinking of facing a challenge."

Tom Brady, plaque fighter par excellence.

Leodis McKelvin is not having a great year

Remember Leodis McKelvin? He was the guy who muffed the return in the game against the Patriots, putting the ball back in their hands and leading to the game-winning TD. Then his lawn was vandalized by angry Bills fans.

As it turns out, he broke his leg in Sunday's game against the Saints and has now been put on injury reserve. That is a bad season. Even worse than being traded to the Raiders. Poor guy.