"They Fell on the Shield" Mike Reiss on Cardinal Debacle

[Mitch]

Wow...check this article out. Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe...

basically saying the Cardinals were not only a disgrace to themselves but to the entire NFL and the NFL Shield.

"They played like dogs"...he said.

"At the end of the third quarter the Patriots had amassed 470 yards, the Cardinals had 45."

Then asks how the number one passing team in the league runs the ball 8 of the first nine plays...

Quotes Whiz as saying regardless of the weather, "we wanted to work on the running game."

And Reiss claims the hardest any Patriot was tackled all day was an inadvertent hit on Junior Seau by a Patriots' sideline worker.

www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/12/22/they_fell_on_the_shield

 

[Perfectionist]

The Cards have brought this upon themselves. Cracked up when he states the Cards lifted their leg on the NFL shield Sunday. First chuckle I have had in a while.

 

[Sandan]

He is pissed off the Pats may miss the playoffs.

One wonders if a lack of cheating was a problem.

 

[D-Dogg]

He mostly credits it to us not caring, and looking toward the playoffs.

Whis says he would have ran 8 of the 9 times regardless of the weather.

I hate Boston, their fans and their writers. He can't even bash us very well.

 

[nashman]

Idiot we playaed like garbage because they didn't care. I hope they do miss the playoffs it will serve them right no one to blame but themselves! Win your division games then you don't have anything to worry about Cheatriots!

 

[Jttsaz]

Seriously....How did something so good and wonderful 4 weeks ago get sooooo bad?! Only the Cardinals could have done this. The curse rears it's ugly head and taints the very fabric of the NFL. An accomplishment (NFC West Crown and a home playoff game) that all of us have been waiting for for years is now an embarrasement to the NFL. It just isn't fair! If the Cards go 1 and done there will forever be an * in the history books....Just 2 weeks ago all of my friends were calling me to congratulate me on being a long suffering fan who finally got to enjoy a winning team...now those same friends are laughing at me.....

 

[DoTheDew]

This article wasn't really necessary, but we did essentially make the NFL look bad. As a playoff team we shouldn't lose that bad regardless of conditions. The fact that we made the Cheatriots look like the best team in the NFL makes it even worse.

 

[Kablansky]

Warner pissed away the MVP, I know this much.

 

[Russ Smith]

He is pissed off the Pats may miss the playoffs.

One wonders if a lack of cheating was a problem.

They have 10 wins and would be in the playoffs in most normal years. I hated the videogate nonsense too but given they've played without Brady most of the year I think it's pretty hard to to defend that statement?

I don't blame the writer at all that was a ridiculous "effort" we put out there yesterday. Sure the weather sucked but it sucked both ways, their guys just played like it mattered to them(which it did) and ours played like they couldn't wait to get on the bus.

We can debate why it didn't matter to our guys and I'm sure there's merit to that but we didn't give full effort, that was obvious from jumpstreet.

It seemed to me when they called that hands to the face penalty on T Smith that wiped out the first down run by Hightower, we basically gave up. From that point on the game was completely non competitive.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Only problem I have is that he said we played like "dogs"... IMO, dogs fight to the finish. He didn't intend to but he actually gave the Cards more respect than they deserve.

 

[jefftheshark]

This board is acting like the Germans just bombed Pearl Harbor or something. We lost a meaningless game yesterday. The Cards played like it was an exhibition game, because it basically it was. If Warner or Fitz (or insert any other name here) had broken a leg out there yesterday, we would all be yelling like a stuck pig and calling for Whiz's head on a platter.

Was this our shining moment? Well hell no. But other than pride, what difference does it make?

I expect that we will be seeing something similar next Sunday; that being players playing not to get hurt. And in one sense, how can you blame them? It's not like any of them have ever gone to the playoffs with the Cardinals before, and you can certainly make an argument that they might not make it again. So I ask you, does it make sense that Dockett might look at the Patriot game and say there's no way he's trading a hollow victory in December for a playoff game in January?

And as far as this game being embarrassing, well the current Cards have a long way to go to get to truly embarrassing, as any long time fan can painfully re-count.

So, Hey! Mr. Boston Fishwrap Hack: Your team got a gift yesterday. Don't be an ingrate writing this drivel, when you should be spending the last week of your season figuring out which teams need to lose their games next week, so your bitter team can back their way into the playoffs.

JTS

 

[Kablansky]

I find it comical he thinks the Cardinals are a disgrace but doesn't mention the Lions? Do you think the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a party when they go winless ala 1972 Dolphins?

BTW, is a "defeated season" the opposite of an "undefeated season"

 

[arthurracoon]

Warner pissed away the MVP, I know this much.

yup

 

[Russ Smith]

I find it comical he thinks the Cardinals are a disgrace but doesn't mention the Lions? Do you think the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a party when they go winless ala 1972 Dolphins?

BTW, is a "defeated season" the opposite of an "undefeated season"

Well the Lions aren't trying to be bad, they just are. his point was that we laid down, I think we did.

We can debate whether it's the smart thing to do or not and yeah if someone had gotten hurt we'd all be furious. But I think we should all agree that we didn't give our best effort yesterday and that's what he's saying.

Most won't remember but YEARS ago we played a game last game of the season where the team we were playing had to win, and by a certain margin, to make the playoffs. I'm thinking it was the Bears but don't quote me. We laid down, got HAMMERED, and they made the playoffs. And we got roasted on tv for laying down and not competing and costing another team a playoff berth(on point margin.)

At the time I always felt it was a bad rap, if you leave it up to point margin you have no business complaining, but over the years I've really come to regret that game because it gave us a HORRIBLE rep for years after. I think that was the game that Rusty Lisch started at QB, he'd been a backup Safety much of the year, played some QB in college.

Yesterday wasn't that embarassing but same idea, we didn't play the game to win, or even compete.

We had our reasons and I understand it, I just think we should admit what happened out there, we rolled over.

 

[Jttsaz]

Well the Lions aren't trying to be bad, they just are. his point was that we laid down, I think we did.

We can debate whether it's the smart thing to do or not and yeah if someone had gotten hurt we'd all be furious. But I think we should all agree that we didn't give our best effort yesterday and that's what he's saying.

Most won't remember but YEARS ago we played a game last game of the season where the team we were playing had to win, and by a certain margin, to make the playoffs. I'm thinking it was the Bears but don't quote me. We laid down, got HAMMERED, and they made the playoffs. And we got roasted on tv for laying down and not competing and costing another team a playoff berth(on point margin.)

At the time I always felt it was a bad rap, if you leave it up to point margin you have no business complaining, but over the years I've really come to regret that game because it gave us a HORRIBLE rep for years after. I think that was the game that Rusty Lisch started at QB, he'd been a backup Safety much of the year, played some QB in college.

Yesterday wasn't that embarassing but same idea, we didn't play the game to win, or even compete.

We had our reasons and I understand it, I just think we should admit what happened out there, we rolled over.

It was the Packers in Green Bay in another cold and snowy game..I think it was in 1999..the Cards lost 49-24...The Packers scored 34 points in the 2nd half...

http://www.footballdb.com/boxscore/2000010207

 

[Syracusecards]

I really wish we were using these games like preseason games. I would've liked to see them continue to work on trying to run the ball, even when we were down 30 points, keep working on the run game. What better way to practice? Their team was going all out for a chance at the playoffs so it's even better than preseason because we're getting their best effort.

We're in a rare situation, I think we should use the next game as if it were a live scrimage and just work on the things we need to get better at. It's like practice but there's full contact that you can't simulate in practice. Run the ball the entire game next game. Work on some screen passes. Work on blitz packages.

I could care less if we lose 56-0 if it means that our team will have improved for the playoffs.

 

[nashman]

Yeah it would have been smart to run, run, and run some more if nothing else to practice it against a pretty damn good D and in weather we should have been running the ball in. Too bad we have a coach that seems to be totally clueless on what to do right now and how to prepare our team for the playoffs or even gameday for christ sake!

 

[TheCardFan]

This board is acting like the Germans just bombed Pearl Harbor or something. We lost a meaningless game yesterday. The Cards played like it was an exhibition game, because it basically it was. If Warner or Fitz (or insert any other name here) had broken a leg out there yesterday, we would all be yelling like a stuck pig and calling for Whiz's head on a platter.

Was this our shining moment? Well hell no. But other than pride, what difference does it make?

I expect that we will be seeing something similar next Sunday; that being players playing not to get hurt. And in one sense, how can you blame them? It's not like any of them have ever gone to the playoffs with the Cardinals before, and you can certainly make an argument that they might not make it again. So I ask you, does it make sense that Dockett might look at the Patriot game and say there's no way he's trading a hollow victory in December for a playoff game in January?

And as far as this game being embarrassing, well the current Cards have a long way to go to get to truly embarrassing, as any long time fan can painfully re-count.

So, Hey! Mr. Boston Fishwrap Hack: Your team got a gift yesterday. Don't be an ingrate writing this drivel, when you should be spending the last week of your season figuring out which teams need to lose their games next week, so your bitter team can back their way into the playoffs.

JTS

What happened to funny JTS?

Dang...serious JTS is right on target as well!

Cardinals and embarassment in the same sentence? No way!

 

[RonF]

We may have made the playoffs but somehow we have lost the respect of many in this league. This frustrates me more than anything, I just watched "Come on Man," in tonights NFL Channel pregame show and we made the highlights as a bunch of ....(place your own adjective here.)

 

[DoTheDew]

This board is acting like the Germans just bombed Pearl Harbor or something. We lost a meaningless game yesterday. The Cards played like it was an exhibition game, because it basically it was. If Warner or Fitz (or insert any other name here) had broken a leg out there yesterday, we would all be yelling like a stuck pig and calling for Whiz's head on a platter.

Was this our shining moment? Well hell no. But other than pride, what difference does it make?

Then none of the starters should have been out there in the 3rd quarter even. If it was about keeping guys healthy and a meaningless game then why did we leave Warner out there until almost the end of the 3rd quarter? And why did Fitz play the whole game?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

He is pissed off the Pats may miss the playoffs.

One wonders if a lack of cheating was a problem.

omg, nidan . . . not once, NOT ONCE did he make mention of the pats and the playoffs. not once, NOT ONCE did he state that it was a travesty that the cards make the playoffs and the pats won't. it was just a straight forward blasting of the wussy cardinals. and it was POINT ON. but you just can't accept that they rolled over.

i wanted to puke at berry's comment that everyone was trying to win. b/c the "effort" was less than pathetic. the league SHOULD fine the team as a whole for the putridity that they put forth.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I find it comical he thinks the Cardinals are a disgrace but doesn't mention the Lions? Do you think the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a party when they go winless ala 1972 Dolphins?

BTW, is a "defeated season" the opposite of an "undefeated season"

have the lions given up close to or over 50 points in three games this season? the lions have seemingly been a lot more competitive in the last few games than have our cardinals. at least we see effort from them, even in futility.

 

[jefftheshark]

Then none of the starters should have been out there in the 3rd quarter even. If it was about keeping guys healthy and a meaningless game then why did we leave Warner out there until almost the end of the 3rd quarter? And why did Fitz play the whole game?

I think that the Cardinals were trying to avoid the criticism that they are getting anyway. But in reality, criticism by the talking heads counts about as much as their praise does. All their talk and 2 bucks won't buy you a mocha latte at Starbucks.

JTS

 

[IAWarnerFan]

If a struggling playoff team such as the Cardinals are "a disgrace to the entire NFL and the NFL Shield," what is a winless team such as the Detroit Lions considered? What is lower than a disgrace?

 

[Russ Smith]

It was the Packers in Green Bay in another cold and snowy game..I think it was in 1999..the Cards lost 49-24...The Packers scored 34 points in the 2nd half...

http://www.footballdb.com/boxscore/2000010207

No this was long before 99.