Thursday, January 13, 2005

Mind Games, NFL Style

Tony Dungy is publicly pleading for the refs to continue calling the games correctly. Last year the Patriots roughed up a lot of receivers on their way to the Super Bowl, including wins over Denver and Indianapolis, where they weren't just roughed up, they were abused.

Now Dungy is praising the refs for their work last week, as if the Broncos ever got close to covering one of his receivers, in an attempt to suck up and continue to get the calls (or non-calls) going his way. Mind-game #1.

New England has uncovered their field for the last few days in an attempt to "improve" conditions for their own linemen and to hopefully make it a slower field for the Colts' receivers. Leave it to the Patriots to do a little field tampering for, or in, a playoff game. Mind-game #2.

Andy Reid is still saying that it was good for him to rest his players for so long. Now he is citing the fact that there are so many leaders in the locker room that will help get the team intensity back up. Mind-game #3.

Mike Vanderjagt called the Patriots "ripe for the picking". Really, Mike? How would you know? When was the last time you really got nailed by a 300-pound behemoth intent on running all the way through you? Mind-game #4, advantage Patriots.

There's nothing like playoff football!

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