“…Stafford, 37, had been sidelined for weeks with an aggravated disc, and neither he nor the team was sure if he’d be ready to start the season. He had tried everything: an epidural, hours of medical treatment and even sessions in a red-light therapy chair housed in a trailer the Rams parked at their facility. Time was running out. He was still in pain, but he had to see if he could throw..”

As a person who has dealt with back issues since i was in my 20s — i always wonder about players with back issues. Kevin Carter, Matt Stafford, etc.

Backs are weird. I can imagine a player being able to play a football game, but then not being able to sit on a couch the next day. It would not shock me if some of Stafford’s late season drop-off is due to his back issues. He’s certainly never going to talk about it.

37 years old. I wonder, just how many parts of Stafford hurt at this point in his career and this late in the season. Back, shoulder, neck, knees, elbows….

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Not to many atheist players or coaches in the NFL. But there have been a few.

link:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dL7EN8Qbvmg

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Atheist players in the NFL?
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Yes, there have been several NFL players who have identified as atheists, nonbelievers, or secular, despite the league’s predominantly religious culture. While many players are openly religious, some have publicly expressed views outside of traditional faith, with former Houston Texans running back Arian Foster being one of the most prominent examples.
Notable former players and instances include:

Arian Foster: The former Texans running back openly discussed being an atheist in 2015.
Pat Tillman: The former Arizona Cardinal who left the NFL to join the military was identified as an atheist.
Robert Smith: Former Minnesota Vikings running back who stated in 2006 that he did not believe in God.
Chris Kluwe: Former Vikings punter who has spoken at atheist conferences.
Josh Rosen: Former NFL quarterback who has been discussed as a non-religious, humanitarian-focused player.

These players often operate in an environment where pregame prayers and public expressions of faith are common, making public atheism rare but present in the league.

Nice summary of some stuff.

Zooey wrote:

It would make my day to see somebody do a Bo Jackson/Brian Bosworth on Ernest Jones tomorrow.

I dunno what happened with Jones, but I do not want to watch that guy get his revenge.

Yeah, Ernest and Cooper Kupp both seem pretty hurt/bitter about the trades.

The downside to buying into the whole ‘family’ thing etc, and so forth. Coach may call you ‘family’ and treat you that way — but at the end of the year, you are still a piece of meat in the NFL. In a way.

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zn wrote:

He’s their Quentin Lake.

Yeah, these hybrid LB/Safeties seem to be one of the responses to the new rules opening up the passing game. They are pure gold to defensive-coordinators.

Its nice to have a good ‘safety’ or a good ‘linebacker’ but the great defenses these days always seem to have at least one F’ing outstanding ‘hybrid’.

I still miss the old days, though. When all linebackers looked like Jack Reynolds or Kevin Greene. Or Myron Pottios

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“…The Rams drafted middle linebacker Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds as the team’s first pick in the 1970 NFL draft.[39] In 1970, Pottios regained his starting middle linebacker position, and started all 14 games. On the season, he had two interceptions and two fumbles recovered, playing for a defense that finished tied for 2nd among 26 NFL teams in points allowed.[1][16][40] However, though Reynolds did not become the starting middle linebacker until 1973, this was Pottios’s final year with the Rams…” wiki

Seahawk people sure do like their rookie hybrid LB/Safety Nick E-mman-wori. He ran a 4.38 at the combine.

“…Because of his strong debut season, Emmanwori earned a finalist spot for the AP’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Joining him are New York Giants EDGE Abdul Carter, Atlanta Falcons EDGE James Pearce, Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts, and Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger….

Emmanwori also made some single-game NFL history. He logged a performance in which he blocked a field goal, sacked the quarterback, registered another tackle for loss, and picked off a pass in the same game. No one else has ever accomplished that…”

zn wrote:

Dugar, Michael-Shawn@MikeDugar
The Seahawks haven’t sacked Matthew Stafford since 2023. They have just 7 hits on him in 2 games this year. He hasn’t turned it over in either game.

This will be a tough test for the league’s No. 1 defense.

Yes, but What about BBQ Sauce on pizza?

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Zooey wrote:

I hope you’re wrong.

I bet another teacher that the Rams would win. Loser buys into the pizza lunch we have on Fridays, so I will either get free pizza, or be out 6 bucks…
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What do you Cali-Fornians put on yer Pizza? Raisins, i bet.

Yeah, I hope I’m wrong too. I been mostly wrong all year in my prophesies.

There’s two weaknesses it looks like: Darnold and the Rams-Secondary. Hard to say which will implode.

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“It felt like a pop fly; a lot of those DBs just have a tough time tracking” the ball….

Stafford “the most talented i ever seen” — Louis Riddick

Zooey wrote:

Mike Vrabel, btw, is the guy who struck Kurt Warner in the head on the pass Lawyer Milloy returned for a pick 6 in the first Rams-Pats SB.

I’m hoping Aaron Donald is there to punch Mke Vrabel in the head right before kickoff.

Yeah, i forgot that was Vrabel. Wasn’t he taking advantage of an injury at LT or somethin like that.

Sigh. Belichex schooled Martz and McVay, i guess. F’ing Patriots.

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Macdonald is very likeable. He’s not a dick.

Mike Macdonald
https://www.seahawks.com/video/press-conference-january-21-2026-head-coach-mike-macdonald-previews-nfc-championship-vs-rams

Head Coach Mike Macdonald Previews NFC Championship vs. Rams

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald provides updates on player injuries and discusses the team’s preparation for their upcoming playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams. He emphasizes maintaining routine despite the heightened stakes (0:01). Macdonald reflects on the team’s growth throughout the season, particularly highlighting a pivotal Week 11 loss that solidified the team’s identity (10:49). He praises John Schneider’s leadership in building the roster (14:33). Macdonald credits the team’s success to players’ commitment during voluntary offseason workouts, which he believes was crucial in reaching their current position (16:37).