NFL Playoffs: It's Chicago and The Jets (?)

((HT: NFL/NFL Network/Youtube))

The first game on Sunday was to determine if the Seattle Seahawks could make it:
A) To .500 and,
B) The NFC title game at Soldier Field...

Didn't happen...

Jay Cutler ran for two touchdowns and threw for two as Chicago and Green Bay will play for the 182nd time next Sunday- but their first meeting for the NFC title.

The Bears won 35-24...

Here's your highlights...


The Packers lost to the Bears 33-14 at Wrigley Field a week to the day after Pearl Harbor in their only previous playoff meeting. Green Bay beat Chicago 10-3 in the season finale this season to clinch a playoff spot earlier this month. The Packers haven't been to the Super Bowl since the 1997 season, when they lost to Denver.

Remember that whole Terrell Davis-John Elway thing...???

And it'll be the Patriots smelling the agony of de-feet in their 28-21 loss to the New York Jets Sunday...

One of the early failures was a fake punt with the Pats down 7-3
((HT: NFL on CBS/Youtube))


Let's hear from the fella's that called the game Jim Nantz and Phil Simms. (Thanks CBS Sports.com)



Jeff Howe of NESN.com found out that the call was Chung's to make...
"We trust the decision Patrick makes," Mesko said. "It just didn’t work out in that particular occasion. That’s why the coaches trust him to run it, and that's why they give him the green light, if he has it."

Mesko said the play was implemented in training camp, and it's the first time it was run this season. Chung has the green light from the coaching staff to call for the direct snap by making a signal at the line.

"It would have definitely swung momentum our way if we could have marched down and take the lead into the half," Mesko said.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was asked about the fake punt after the game.

"We just made a bad mistake," said Belichick, who wouldn't add anything else about the play

So now you get to root for a loudmouth with an alleged foot fetish or a QB who was alleged to have done some not-so-nice things in rural Georgia over the summer...

Like your choice...???

And it seems the Jets post-game celebration was way to over the top for the Patriots. Comcast Sportsnet New England is reporting that according to tweets written by fans Jets coaches were flipping the bird to Pats fans.

Patriot wide receiver Deion Branch says the Jets are classless. (Thanks Comcast Sportsnet New England)

DEVELOPING: Seahawks Carlson, Trufant Taken Off Field By Stretcher

((HT: NFL on FOX/Youtube))

The day hasn't gone very well for the Seattle Seahawks in their NFC semi-final 35-24 loss against the Chicago Bears.

It took the Bears three minutes to go down the field for their first score, and the visitors lost their starting tight end to an injury in the first as well...

Here's the injury...


The third-year tight end from Notre Dame lay on the field for several minutes before taken off on a flatboard. No word on his injury, but the network TV guys are saying it's a head injury- not one to his neck or spine. That leaves the team with one tight end on their roster- Cameron Morrah.

In the third quarter, DB Marcus Trufant was trying to go low and tackle Bears WR Kellen Davis when Davis' knee connected with the side of Trufant's head.

Here's that play...
((HT: NFL on Fox/Youtube))


More when we know more...
Follow the Seahawks here at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer site...

Pro Football Saturday Destroys Favorites

((HT: NFL/NBC/Youtube))

Yes, the Seattle Seahawks and the Silver Surfer were double-digit underdogs.
No, they didn't give a tinker's damn what any of us thought, and if anyone ((translation- everyone)) bet against them- they lost...

Matt Hasselbeck threw 4 TD's and Marshawn Lynch scored on a 67-yard run with a little over three minutes left to clinch the first playoff victory by a losing team.

The Seahawks (now 8-9), the first division winner with a losing record, will play either at top-seeded Atlanta or Number 2 Chicago...

Here's Marshawn Lynch masquerading as a quality NFL running back...


And then in the AFC, if you bet against the Jets- and a lot of you did...
Nick Folk did you in, too...


Folk made a 32-yard field goal as time expired giving the Jets a 17-16 playoff victory over Indianapolis.

"I'll tell you what, it feels awesome because this is the playoffs and we're moving on," Jets head coach Rex Ryan said.

What will Sunday hold...???

Silver Surfer Introduced In Seattle...

Pete Carroll is, now, official...

With all the verve, vigor, and excitement that he ran the caffeinated approach to coaching at Southern Cal, he's now going to try and work on the dragon that's gnawing away at him- coaching in the pros...

Next up- hiring the General Manager...

But here's KOMO-4's breakdown of the debut...


The HQ wonders how long it will take for the players to either buy in to the over-jazzed head coach, or grow tired of his act entirely...

Three years...???

Silver Surfer Says So Long To SC, Mora Takes High Ground...

Outgoing USC head coach Pete Carroll said it was time to move on in a farewell presser on the USC campus...

Really... who has "farewell" pressers...???

But he emphasized again his departure had nothing to do with looming sanctions from the NCAA. That meeeting with the Committee on Infractions is set for sometime between February 19 and 21 when the COI meets in Tempe, Arizona.

He told Gary Klein of the LA Times Monday morning:
"Not in any way," Carroll said. "Because I know where we stand. It's just a process we have to go through. We know we've fought hard to do right."

Here's the presser, thanks to our friends at KTTV-TV/Fox 11
((HT: MyFoxLA))


The Daily News Scott Wolf was on SportsCentral and he explained the beginning of the end between Carroll and AD Mike Garrett
((HT: CBS 2 Los Angeles))


That leaves SC as the jilted lover in all of this... or the ex-girlfriend...
Here's a standard fan-student body piece from our friends at KNBC/NewsRaw...
((HT: NBCLA.com))


Not to be outdone, here's Rob Hayes work from Exposition Park...
((HT: KABC-TV))


On the flip side, outgoing Seahawks coach Jim Mora was a guest for a full hour on the "Softy and Hugh" Show on KJR-AM in Seattle... Check it out here...

The only issue where Mora gave a bit of a dig was involving the post-season press conference last Wednesday when it is now, somewhat apparent, that Seahawks brass was looking another way...

"If you conduct yourself in an honest way, you'll be fine," he said. "If you're sneaky and suspicious and self-serving, it'll get you. Maybe not immediately, but in the end, you'll pay."

Mora is getting $12-million to leave, so the HQ thinks everything will be fine.

BREAKING NEWS- AGAIN... It's Official: Silver Surfer To Seattle, Carroll Resigns From USC

Dan Loumena from the LA Times has learned that USC head coach Pete Carroll is resigning his post and will be taking the head coaching job with the Seahawks...

Gary Klein of the Times learned Carroll told the school's players and coaches via text message... Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke was in town Sunday to cross and dot what needed to be crossed and dotted...

The LA Daily News Scott Wolf sets the carousel in motion again...

Wolf has Oregon State's Mike Riley in the immediate running for the now-vacant USC job. But AD Mike Garrett would also like for Norm Chow to return to SC as the OC.

Carroll may also be interested in Chow, Jeremy Bates, and USC O-Line coach Pat Ruel for his Seattle staff. ESPN is reporting that Ken Norton, Junior is jumping with Carroll from his linebackers coach post in LA.

Others interested in the head coaching gig are Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio and Utah's Kyle Whittingham.

The HQ is intrigued by the individuals intersted in the head coaching gig in LA. We like the idea of Del Rio going back to his alma mater and we wouldn't be surprised if Jags owner Wayne Weaver gave Del Rio the go-ahead to kick the Trojan tires.

Mike Garrett is going to have to pay someone well- knowing full well that the program will be taking it in the shorts from the NCAA very soon. Whoever the new head coahc is will have to extraordinarily patient with the upcoming circumstances.

Silver Surfer Heading To Seattle

Multiple media outlets are reporting that USC head football coach Pete Carroll ((pictured wanting Mike Garrett to co-operate, thanks LA Times/Skalij and Gallardo))has reached terms on a five-year deal to become the new lead dog for the Seattle Seahawks.

The LA Daily News reported the length of the deal while other details ((namely "power" within the organization)) have to be worked out...

He replaces Jim Mora who was fired Friday after a frustrating 5-11 year in the Pacific Northwest.

The new questions now ripple through college football...provided the Seahawks comply with the Rooney Rule before they announce Carroll's hiring.

Adam Schefter says that Vikings DC Leslie Frazier will not interview if Carroll has been promised absolute power.

SI's Don Banks says that two GM candidates pulled out after the Carroll name was floated- Baltimore #2 Eric DeCosta and Philadelphia GM Tom Heckert, Junior. This leads to, according to Banks, DeCosta being named GM-in-Waiting for Ozzie Newsome and Heckert going to Cleveland to hang with Mike Holmgren.

Banks also thinks current New Mexico State head coach Rodney Walker may be Carroll's new DC- or the new USC coach. Norm Chow could follow Walker to either Seattle or central LA. USC OC Jeremy Bates is on track to follow Carroll to Seattle, if he doesn't go to the Chicago Bears where his services are requested also.

Make any sense yet...???

SI's Jim Trotter has people who have spoken to the Seahawks as well. His peeps say that Seahawks owner Paul Allen is not all that keen on giving absolute power absolutely to Carroll. He's been through that once before with Mike Holmgren...

And we all know how well that worked...

So, if TJ Simers column in the LA Times is accurate- it's premise that USC AD Mike Garrett has left Carroll hanging after Mark Sanchez, Joe McKnight, and hell the HQ will Say it- Reggie Bush... then, maybe it's time for the Silver Surfer to find a better set of waves...

More when we know more...

No Mora JL... Out After One Year In Seattle...Carroll Interested...???

((HT: Seattle Post-Intelligencer))

So much for that whole "ringing endorsement" thing...

Seattle Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke backed Mora six weeks ago when general manager Tim Ruskell stepped down in midseason.

But, when you lose your last four, you have no offense, and you're not generally liked, we get this... Jim Mora, Junior ((pictured yelling thanks, Stephen Dunn/Getty)) is out as Seattle head coach after a 5-11 season...

Jay Glazer of FOX Sports gets the HT on this one. He says the team has already gotten permission to interview assistant coaches from other teams.

Glazer lists Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier as a likely candidate, among others.

Apparently, Mora sent a text to KJR-AM 950's Dave "Softy" Mahler confirming that he had been fired...

Until we know more, here's some post-season SOTs from Mora on the future- before he got canned...
((HT: 1340AM KWLE))


The official release from the Seahawks says in part:

“This team, more importantly this community, means so much to me that it hurts not being able to see this through,” said Mora. “I am disappointed I did not get the chance to complete my contract. This is a tough business that sometimes demands immediate gratification.”

AFTERNOON UPDATE: Chris Mortensen is mentioning that current USC head coach Pete Carroll has shown interest and wants to bring Trojans OC Jeremy Bates with him to Seattle. Bates is also being courted by the Chicago Bears.

Mortensen, in a conversation with someone close to Carroll disclosed: "You're about to see a big headline that shakes up the major college football word," in reference to the Seahawks' development. The Seahawks did not confirm Carroll as a leading candidate but also did not deny it.

Also, Frazier, it is reported, has declined an interview opportunity with the Seahawks. Technically, he can't go through with one until the Vikings season is complete. He could talk with the Buffalo Bills last week since Minnesota was on a bye week.