Your “Is It Too Early To Start Practicing My New Year’s Drinking?” Wednesday Evening Open Thread

No. It’s not, and it never is.

NFL News:

• Steve Smith is saying he’s “89 percent sure” done after this Sunday.
  • I think we shall all miss him, even Steelers fans.

• The Bills are admitting it’s a “business decision” to start EJ Manuel, because of that huge bonus Tyrod Taylor has guaranteed in his contract.
  • A worse look is that Anthony Lynn admitted that the decision came from the front office. We all know it did, but don’t admit it, stupid.
  • So, I hope EJ impresses someone. Hey, the Jets could use another half-dozen QBs.
• Still on the Bills, the Rex-replacement speculation is hot & heavy. ESPN has a list of contenders, both plausible and ridiculous, but two stick way out for all Commentists:
  • Josh McDaniels – I can smell the Belichick coaching-tree takes already
  • Todd Haley – tell me his Camaro wouldn’t look good screaming around Buffalo’s icy winter streets.

• Tampa RB Doug Martin was suspended 4 games for a PED violation.
  • He opted to start now so he only misses three games next year. S-M-R-T, since he gets paid more next year.
• In a sign he’s probably gone, Joe Staley is saying, aloud, that he’d love for Chip Kelly to return as 49ers head coach next year.
• Oh this’ll fix it – the Hall of Fame Game has been moved from Sunday to Thursday, so they don’t have to convert the field in 24 hours. This way, the game might be better get played.
  • So it’ll be:
    • Game Thursday
    • Dinner Friday
    • Enshrinement ceremony Saturday

I didn’t talk about this yesterday, but let me tell you about how crushed Seahawks fans were on Sunday afternoon.

Pregame, I spent in my usual drinking places – Henry’s Tavern, followed by Safeco Field. It was the usual fare: a few beers, some cheaper-than-stadium food, and Red Zone. There were the usual “SEA — HAWKS!!!” chants, and everyone feeling pretty good. We hung around there until about 12:45, and then made our way across the street to be metal detected and scanned in. My brother, having brought his in-laws, went to the box and I went to my usual seats. The air was heavy with anticipation.

Once the game started, things turned quickly. Arizona went up 14 pretty easily, and blocking that field goal sure helped temper peoples’ enthusiasm. The first sign it was really going to be a bad day was when Tyler Lockett broke his leg. On the big screen, it first looked like he had a concussion. But then they showed the end zone angle, and you saw his leg fold up. The “OHH!” was pretty shocking. He’ll be lucky if he comes back next year at all. Then they couldn’t convert on (essentially) 8 tries from inside the five yard line.

People actually booed the team off the field at halftime.

The start of the second half seemed good, with a quick 7 going up on the board. But then they fell back into the same malaise. The teams traded scores and a home finale bed-shitting seemed plausible. When the game went to 31-18, people started flocking ut the door. Now, I never leave early, mostly because my Scottish upbringing says ‘stay; you paid that much for the WHOLE game’. But I also sat through the ‘Hawks comeback against Green Bay, so you can just never look away from Russell Wilson.

And whaddya know, they did it again. You could see people outside trying to get back in. Hilarious. The fans left inside – about 3/4 – were going bonkers.

But then they missed the convert. And there was a minute left on the clock. Bruce Arians must hate him some Pete Carroll, because the Cards went for it hard. Palmer targetted everywhere Earl Thomas should have been. That got them in range, and you know how it ended. Catanzaro finally hit a pressure kick in the last minute. The overtime everyone expected (again) didn’t happen.

But the people. Oh, the people. The last time I heard C-Link that quite was the “Fail Mary” game, but this time there was no eruption, just sadness. About 40,000 zombies walking around the stadium, visions of a first-round bye gone from their heads. It wasn’t “Oh man, I can’t wait to play the Cowboys”; it was now, “Aww shit, we’re gonna get the Giants or Packers”. I saw people crying. I had the easiest time getting back onto the Interstate. It was then I-5 all the way home.

If you hate the Seahawks, Christmas Eve was your Christmas, and Bruce Arians gave you a present.

Tonight’s sports:

• Bowl games:
  • Foster Farms Bowl: Indiana vs. Utah – 8:30PM | FOX
  • Texas Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Kansas State – 9:00PM | ESPN
• NHL Hockey:
  • Leafs at Panthers – 7:00PM | Sportsnet
  • Canadiens at Lightning – 7:30 | Sportsnet360
  • Flyers at Blues – 8:00PM | NBCSN
  • Kings at Canucks – 10:00 | Sportsnet
• World Juniors: United States vs. Slovakia – 7:30PM | TSN / NHL Network
• College Basketball:
  • Monmouth at *North Carolina – 7:00PM | ESPNU
  • Virginia at Louisville – 7:00PM | ESPN2
  • Georgetown at Marquette – 8:30PM | FS1
  • Cincinnati at Temple – 9:00PM | ESPNU
  • UCLA at Oregon – 9:00PM | ESPN2

Too many of my words. YOU SAY SOMETHING!