Requiem for a HARFHARFHARFyweight: Thursday Open Thread

So technically the biggest “news” of the day isn’t really news at all, with Ben Roethlisberger making the formal announcement of his long-expected retirement. I’m not going to waste your time or my energy with some bullshit “complicated legacy” take on his 18 year career. He was an asshole rapist with rocks in his head and a cannon for an arm. Very few people seem to have liked the man, which is almost impressive for a guy with two Super Bowl rings playing for a Top Four Stan-Filled Fanbase. He subsisted on the crumbs left by Tom Brady and managed to be just as unlikeable. No doubt he will end up replacing Terry Bradshaw on a pregame show.

COACHING NEWS

Jesus, I missed my traditional Blackish Monday coach-firing roundup and we’re suddenly two deep in the hiring phase? And neither one was an interim? The world spins faster every day….

*The Denver Broncos have hire Youngish White Failson Nathaniel Hackett as their new head coach. He is the son of long-time offensive coordinator Paul Hackett, and seems to be a less charismatic but less despicable Lane Kiffin.

This goofy-looking fucker…

He is most notable for his stints with Doug Marrone in Buffalo and jacksonville, where he ran offenses famous for their high-powered passing attacks.

No…wait…

His offenses historically sucked at passing (EJ Manuel and Blake Bortles were his main QBs) but ran it well, making hay with The Immortal Fred Jackson, CJ Spiller and Leonard Fournette. In 2019 he was hired as Green Bay’s offensive coordinator and had much greater success with his new “Let Aaron Rodgers Decide What He Wants To Do” offense.  He does fulfill the general brief: he’s relatively young (yes, Old White Roofing Supply Salesman is only 42), white, goofy-looking and never would have gotten a sniff in the NFL if he weren’t a legacy.

Some coaches are hired because of the staff they promise to bring on board. Hackett may have been hired because of the QB he might bring with him. You see, Aaron Rodgers likes him- a damning indictment if there ever was one. Rodgers was strongly rumored to be pushing for a trade to Denver last offseason, so the conspiracy-minded amongst us see this as an attempt to convince Q-aron that he still wants out of Wisconsin. Regardless, he’s got Adam Gase written all over him: a “genius” only in the reflected radiance of a HoF quarterback.

INSTANT AND IRREVOCABLE VERDICT:

*The Chicago Bears have hired Indianapolis Colts DC Matt Eberflus.

Slap a mustache on him and he’s the AI-generated ideal of “NFL Head Coach”

THIS GUY EBERFLUS, I CALL HIM “THE SOUND OF MUSIC” BECAUSE HIS NAME RUNS THROUGH MY HEAD TO THE TUNE OF “EDELWEISS”!  Oh, and because he might be a fascist prick. More on that below.

Eberflus’ “coaching lineage” is deeply concerning, doing most of his early work under The Wolfman Rob Ryan (AWOOOOOOOOO) and Rod Marinelli. He was then hired to be Josh McDaniels’ defensive coordinator in Indy during McDaniels’ less-than-a-day tenure. Frank Reich retained him anyway, and he’s turned the Clots defense from a huge liability to an asset that largely kept that team afloat.

The concerning part, to me, comes from a 2018 profile in The Athletic. The centerpiece of that article:

This man is not running a defense. He’s instilling a culture. It is an obsessive, uncompromising and ultra-demanding culture of hustle, discipline and teamwork.

Eberflus will not bend his inflexible rules for anyone. If you’re on the field, you will fall in line. You will buy in. The alternative is, well, there is no alternative.

Eberflus brought with him an intense grading system which assesses demerits, of sorts, to players who do not play with maximum effort. They are known as loafs, and literally every play of every game is graded.

Now, this is basically hardcore pornography for the Superfans portion of the Bears fanbase, who cum violently everytime someone yells about SMASHMOUTH FOOTBALL on sports radio. But as we’ve seen with so many micromanaging martinet coaches over the last 10 years, you better have some immediate ans sustained success, because otherwise you are going to lose the locker room real quick.

There are also concerns that the hire does nothing to address the Bears’ most fundamental issue: the inability to develop a quarterback since Sid Luckman.  Well, that and being run by Ginny McCaskey’s idiot children. The grade should be “incomplete until we see his staff” but that’s not my style.

INSTANT AND IRREVOCABLE GRADE:

And then he gets shot
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The Right Reverend Electric Mayhem
Feared conqueror; scholar; poet; revered holy man; professional raconteur; soldier of fortune; aloof yet thorough lover; bandit; blazing gypsy speedboat. I have been called some of these things.
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WCS

Ever get home, take your shoes and socks off, and then, ask yourself, “What stinks so much?” Then you look down and think, “Oh, Lord, I am so, so sorry.”

My socks could be weaponized, but would then be considered a war crime.

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ballsofsteelandfury

And this is how Luxembourg became a nuclear power.

2Pack
WCS

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Senor Weaselo

THESE WCS SOCKS, I CALL THEM A NASTY DUNK, BECAUSE YOU CAN’T FAKE THE FUNK.

2Pack

In honor of CHI’s new coach…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uAUoz7jimg

Brick Meathook

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ballsofsteelandfury

AFLW GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs in 2 hours!

rockingdog

Last funny;

The Hobbit to LOTR pipeline is hilarious in retrospect. It would be like if 20 years after Stuart Little was published, E.B. White slammed down 1000 pages about how Stuart’s nephew killed the devil.

Sharkbait

I am so fucking glad I have a driveway now and don’t have to park on the street anymore. Boston is looking at up to 2 feet of snow Saturday.

Game Time Decision

But did Boston get both feet inbound and have control of the ball?

Sharkbait

Even the weathermen can’t tell what a catch is anymore

2Pack

But can he at least make a football move?

Senor Weaselo

I have to move my car tomorrow. I don’t use the valet on principle (the principle being that Apartment Weaselo only has 1 spot reserved, which is for Grandpa Weaselo’s Buick that he doesn’t drive because he can’t friggin’ walk, and I don’t want to pay for the valet every time when there’s ample street parking), but I’ll pay it for not having to dig myself out of a foot of snow.

Sharkbait

Smart move.

Horatio Cornblower

Hey guys, get a load of this dumbass who’s about to learn about shoveling!

Sharkbait

Snowblower and flask FTW

BrettFavresColonoscopy

Here’s how much I’ve been underwater at work: I had no idea my team had hired a coach. And hey, he wasn’t on any of the shortlists I was aware of and sounds like he’s going to be a knock off Tom Coughlin who sucks even worse. Super excited for Arlington Heights Bears football.

Horatio Cornblower

I can top that. Last week I worked MLK Day because I forgot we had it off.

rockingdog

Warriors vs TWolves
Gooooo Dubs
Hopefully this game is Rockingggg

Last edited 2 years ago by rockingdog
Senor Weaselo

Ice Giants lose 5-3 despite out-shooting the Ice Buckeyes 36-19? *checks goalies* Ah, Georgiev in net… wait, is that how everyone else feels against Shesty?

SonOfSpam

At least your hated (?) Ice Jets (?) lost 3-2 to the Ice Rams.

And the 1st goal for 19 year old Quinton Byfield of the Ice Rams!

ballsofsteelandfury

They’re talking about Byfield like he’s The Saviour. Kid’s good, but that’s a lot of pressure.

SonOfSpam

Yeah, long way to go. I mean…19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oho9KaoxI-4

Last edited 2 years ago by SonOfSpam
Sharkbait

It’s like they forget he’s not Shesterkin and they leave him out to dry.

Oh and Adam Fox is hurt too. Fun!

Senor Weaselo

Oh goody…

Dunstan

Maybe this was discussed in an earlier thread, but: Jeff Garcia doing the “you didn’t play the game” thing at Mina Kimes because she said that Garrapolo didn’t play well against GB? Are you fucking kidding me? Yeah, I bet you have to have laced on the cleats to appreciate the subtle genius of that 11/19, 131 YD, 0 TD, 1 INT line.

Gumbygirl

They have that in common, I don’t recall him playing the game either.

litre_cola

Mina Kimes is superb.

Senor Weaselo

Without spoilers, I will just say Tombstone and Mammoth. Get your bananacakes ready.

scotchnaut

“Visit The Honduras-The odds of you being murdered while on vacation here have dropped by 26.4%! We’re not like those savages in The Barbados!”

-The Honduras Tourism Association

King Hippo

For everyone who sees Arsenal market “Visit Rwanda” and be all liek TOO MAINSTREAM smgdh

Senor Weaselo

Hey, they have great hotels!

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

292 coronavirus deaths in CA today. That’s the most since March of 2021.

SonOfSpam

Gotta be 288 unvaxxed and 4 olds

ballsofsteelandfury

Yup. Don’t really care at this point.

Dunstan

My cable tv had been behaving weirdly since like November, and after trying all the obvious things I gave up because dealing with cable companies is annoying and I don’t watch much live tv and the DVR was still working so I could watch live sports on a short delay.

Last week there was a service outage in my neighborhood, and when it ended, my cable was working again.

What I’m saying is, my lifelong strategy of “just ignore a problem and hope it goes away” has finally worked. I will now keep doing this for the rest of my life.

SonOfSpam

I do the same with my left arm tingle.

litre_cola

Mexico golllll

Redshirt

.

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Dunstan

It could be worse. He could be cleaning up the holodeck. Especially after Riker or Barclay has been using it.

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

Based on the color of his uniform top, at least it’s a safe gig.

Last edited 2 years ago by Rikki-Tikki-Deadly
Senor Weaselo

Still waiting for Grandpa Weaselo to come back home. He had knee replacement surgery yesterday. Hermana Weaselo and I are still amazed they let an 87-year old man go under the knife, but hey, it was a success.

SonOfSpam

And home after one day! Good for him!

Senor Weaselo

He’s not yet. Maybe tomorrow, maybe Saturday.

Saturday we’re supposed to get 8″ of snow, so I’d guess Friday or Sunday.

scotchnaut

Oof! Canuck ankles don’t bend that way.

Redshirt

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cincyjungle.com/platform/amp/2022/1/14/22883546/adam-pacman-jones-upgrading-from-andy-dalton-to-joe-burrow-is-why-these-bengals-are-different

He’s not wrong, but Adam Jones blaming Andy Dalton is like Adam and Eve blaming the Serpent for the Fall of Man. They’re right, but their fingerprints are all over this thing.

SonOfSpam

obligatory

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Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

“Woo, I’m Pac Man!” – King Hippo, after arriving home from the pharmacy

King Hippo

I DID THIS TODAY, IN FACT!!

SonOfSpam

/checks schedule for US-Canada on Sunday
//sees that game is being played at Tim Horton’s Field
///is disappointed they couldn’t narrow that down a bit

litre_cola

//// had tickets, stupid lockdown, not going

SonOfSpam

sourry man, would’ve been epic

Game Time Decision

Was looking forward to getting drinks with ya somewhere in the 6ix

rockingdog

Dude that would have been Rockingggg

litre_cola

I took Deci and Litrepug for a 5 km walk before the futbol. Covid wife is in the bedroom. I have tuckered them out and have wine and weed. Vamos.

scotchnaut

I did that sorta thing on late Sunday mornings when the kids were much younger and I wanted to watch football undisturbed. The kiddies would crash and wifey would nap with them and she would be so grateful. I may have been a genius in my younger days…

King Hippo

Has Mexico already started to React Reasonably?

scotchnaut

Honey Duras is going down that road already.

litre_cola

Very happy. Sad I am not on my way to the Hammer tomorrow for the US game but just win, just win.

SonOfSpam

Surely their fans (the El Fanos) don’t mind losing to a CONKYCALF team?

SonOfSpam

Well never mind

scotchnaut

“Spread your tiny MIGHTY wings and fly away…”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tYd2CbltzM&ab_channel=ANNEMURRAYVEVO

SonOfSpam

(flashes back to riding in a station wagon on the way to Big Bear and so there was no radio available because mountains so mom’s Anne Murray cassette got lots of play and oh my god I miss those days and also they were their own kind of terrible because life is really complicated no wonder Snowbird is popular it’s so soothing….)

scotchnaut

/because you brought it up

I spent one driving vacation listening to Tammy Wynette’s and Charlie Pride’s Greatest Hits (two separate tapes) on 8 track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQwB4Grs9gE&ab_channel=CharleyPride-Topic

Gumbygirl

I heard it on Sirius not too long ago
( yes, in Big Bear) and I belted it out like a lesbian in a Subaru!

Horatio Cornblower

THIS EL SALVADORAN KEEPER I CALL HIM A HARMLESS PEASANT, BECAUSE HE’S STOPPING A LOT OF SHOTS FROM THE RIGHT WING.

scotchnaut
SonOfSpam

Thought you meant Jamaica.

You definitely did NAWT mean Amurikka.

Horatio Cornblower

The US has broken through against El Salvador, and this time they’ve done it without even having to fund right-wing death squads.

rockingdog

Hahaha Yes!!!
It’s cool to see the crowd so hyped
That’s Rocking! 💪

Last edited 2 years ago by rockingdog
Dunstan

“Just because we don’t have to doesn’t mean we can’t though, right?” — CIA

SonOfSpam

(pops up)

-R. Reagan’s desiccated dong

scotchnaut

[winks]

-Nancy

Dunstan
Dunstan

And now, the hardest decision of the day. What to drink (first)?

Horatio Cornblower

Yes.

Dunstan

The winner is a Cherry Manhattan

Gumbygirl

If I never see the Rapist’s fugly face again, my life will be better for it. Good riddance, you fucking creep.

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

I’m glad he’s gone, too.

Redshirt

Yup. Even if he didn’t have the accusations, he has less charm and personality than Mongo.

https:/ /m.youtube.com /watch?v=t9P2B7NUPfM

NSFW: n-word (ducks thrown brick and rotten vegetables) it’s Blazing Saddles!

Last edited 2 years ago by Redshirt
Senor Weaselo

Mongo just pawn in game of life.

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

Meanwhile, the tea leaves in Las Vegas seem to be spelling out “J-O-S-H”.

I’ll be watching tennis tonight. Nadal vs. some Italian guy. Luigi, I think?

Horatio Cornblower

I think that making your next head coach the same guy who thought Tim Tebow was a 1st round QB prospect is a sound idea that cannot possibly go wrong.

Gumbygirl

.

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rockingdog

Found a funny;

a man in the dog park with a thick eastern european accent dipped the puppy he was holding and said “your friends are now upside down”

Redshirt

https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/2022/01/27/bengals-security-apologize-loud-paul-brown-stadium-afc-title-game/

Bengals players and coaches are preparing for the loud crowd at Arrowhead Stadium and practicing non-verbal communication by deafening themselves and everyone else whose within a square mile of Paul Brown Stadium.

Senor Weaselo

They went full Band Geeks level loud.

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

I don’t know if there’s anyplace more stereotypically “American” than Kansas City in that its residents are primarily known for two things: eating and yelling.

Last edited 2 years ago by Rikki-Tikki-Deadly
Redshirt

We Cincinnatians eat and yell as good as anyone else. We’re usually just eating more than yelling, though.

Gumbygirl

Pshaw, piker! Yinzers yell and eat AT THE SAME TIME!

scotchnaut

I checked the CONCACOUGH standings just to be sure but, yes, THE CANADA is in first place, baby!

rockingdog

USA vs Salvadorrrr
Goooo USA 🇺🇸
Pulisic is playing!

That’s Rocking!!!!

Senor Weaselo

The Hexagonal is a better name than the Octagonal. NO ONE DENIES THIS!