Mike Ditka

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by irish

I think Ditka got caught up in making sure he won the game.

Its impossible to coach when you have to worry about getting players stats. Ditka was focused on winning the game not making sure everyone (no matter how great) got a TD. I suspect WP would take the win without getting a TD instead of a loss and 3 TDs. Winning is all that mattered.

37-3 toward the end of the 3rd quarter, ball on the 1 yard line. That's BS that he got caught up in winning the game

[MTK]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

37-3 toward the end of the 3rd quarter, ball on the 1 yard line. That's BS that he got caught up in winning the game

The game was over from the start too. The Patriots got run over by that Bears D, just like everyone else did that year.

[irish]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

37-3 toward the end of the 3rd quarter, ball on the 1 yard line. That's BS that he got caught up in winning the game

Spoken like a true Monday morning QB. Unfortunately Ditka didnt have the luxury of knowing how the game would end. I'm sure he felt pretty good about winning the game but I am certain he didnt want to take any chances.

[Summo]

Originally Posted by irish

Spoken like a true Monday morning QB. Unfortunately Ditka didnt have the luxury of knowing how the game would end. I'm sure he felt pretty good about winning the game but I am certain he didnt want to take any chances.

Are you serious? Everybody knew that the Patriots weren't going to do anything in that game after the first half with their -19 total yards!

[irish]

Originally Posted by Summo

Are you serious? Everybody knew that the Patriots weren't going to do anything in that game after the first half with their -19 total yards!

Like everyone else I didnt expect NE to win that game. I also didnt expect the Jets to beat the Colts, Oak to beat the Redskins, or the Giants to beat Buffalo but things happen and I dont blame Ditka for making sure he won the game.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by irish

Like everyone else I didnt expect NE to win that game. I also didnt expect the Jets to beat the Colts, Oak to beat the Redskins, or the Giants to beat Buffalo but things happen and I dont blame Ditka for making sure he won the game.

Perhaps you missed the point that it was late in the 3rd quarter and the score was 37-3 when the Fridge got that carry.

The game was over.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Perhaps you missed the point that it was late in the 3rd quarter and the score was 37-3 when the Fridge got that carry.

The game was over.

No, I remember watching the game and pretty much thinking the same thing but you assume Ditka knew the score or if he did that he cared what the score was. I remember Buffalo coming from way back in the second half vs Houston in the playoffs. Ditka wasnt going to let that happen because he's coaching pro football not PeeWee league.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by irish

No, I remember watching the game and pretty much thinking the same thing but you assume Ditka knew the score or if he did that he cared what the score was. I remember Buffalo coming from way back in the second half vs Houston in the playoffs. Ditka wasnt going to let that happen because he's coaching pro football not PeeWee league.

Now I remember why I don't usually respond to your posts. We get better responses from kidwell...and we had to ban him for having no point.

There's really no defending what Ditka did, even Ditka's said as much.

[dmek25]

Originally Posted by irish

No, I remember watching the game and pretty much thinking the same thing but you assume Ditka knew the score or if he did that he cared what the score was. I remember Buffalo coming from way back in the second half vs Houston in the playoffs. Ditka wasnt going to let that happen because he's coaching pro football not PeeWee league.

huh? i usually see your side, but your way off base with this

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by irish

No, I remember watching the game and pretty much thinking the same thing but you assume Ditka knew the score or if he did that he cared what the score was. I remember Buffalo coming from way back in the second half vs Houston in the playoffs. Ditka wasnt going to let that happen because he's coaching pro football not PeeWee league.

Is your point that giving the ball to Payton on the 1 is a drop-off from giving it to the Fridge? I don't care if Ditka told NE he was giving the ball to Payton, and what hole he was hitting, they still wouldn't have stopped him. WP had a knack for getting in the End Zone. As the other guys have said, Ditka got caught up in the Fridge hype and made a call he would like to have back.

Here's another way to look at how bad Ditka's call in that situation was; Payton had a 2.24% fumble percentage per carry.....the Fridge 25% over his career. Up to that point Fridge hadn't fumbled, but giving the ball to a big, fat, DT has a much higher chance of a fumble occuring than a Pro bowl RB. Looking at it from that angle, the call couldn't have been worse. What if Fridge fumbles and NE recovers and scores, then sparks the unbelievable comeback? Let's say you give the ball to Payton, even if he doesn't get in, kick the FG and now it's 40-3. There is no way in hell NE was coming back from that (not that they had a snowball's chance anyway).