Big Blue Huddle

https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/the-sopranos-turns-25-actor-steve-schirripa-who-played-bobby-bacala-tells-wins-the-show-will-endure-forever/ar-AA1mLERV?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=ad2c2c28038549ec9ce360b928d2cd48&ei=27

I never watched The Sopranos when it came out as I never had HBO. I was able to get the CDs/DVDs from our library and was able to watch them maybe 4-5 months after it was aired so I was always a huge fan.

What a gigantic show and always in the top 3-5 greatest TV shows ever.

When I watched the finale, I didn't know about the so-called 'controversy' about the ending, so I thought WTF happened, my screen went blank at the pivotal moment, only to realize that was it and the rest was left to one's imagination.

Just a terrific cast and it's hard to believe it has been 25 years since we watched. Funny, I tried to watch it again when it was shown on regular TV but it had so many edits, that it was impossible to really get the feel for the show and its amazing cast of characters.

I know a reference was made about The Sopranos on a thread on the main board, so it prompted me to relook at some of its greatest episodes.

For fans, what was your best episode?


Mine was when Christopher and Pauley were out in the woods, trying to kill the Russian and they get lost.
(Pine Barrens)
And, to me the most gut-wrenching was the killing of Adriana.

So how did the Giants do with their rookie draft class?

What do you think of these ratings

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/giants-rookie-report-card-grading-joe-schoen-s-2023-draft-class/ar-AA1mLhI6?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=be7ca37d023c4ee5883c1df4f8e57886&ei=26

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/chargers-news-bolts-put-in-request-to-interview-new-york-giants-assistant-for-gm-vacancy/ar-AA1mHXx2?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=ebd541a3936641739e6064333168d535&ei=41


Your Los Angeles Chargers are wasting no time with the NFL season now over, at least for them. Los Angeles missed the playoffs with a paltry 5-12 finish, and their offseason has now begun.

The franchise will need to find a new head coach and general manager this offseason, and they've already started looking around. The team has been active in requesting interviews for the two open spots, and we can add another name to the list.

The Chargers have put in a request to interview New York Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown for their open general manager job. He will also be interviewing with the Carolina Panthers as well.

I know we all have our favorites with music.

I just happened on a few clips from U-Tube of some rather nice renditions of The Lion Sleeps Tonite, I thought I would share

Maybe the best Flashmob I have ever seen. I have posted this several times over the years, but every time I watch it, it still makes me want to watch it again.

As I watched yesterday's dismantling of the once proud Eagles and watched a backup QB who was able to be aggressive and throw the ball down the field, I kept thinking about why now, and look, we do have some guys here who can play this game. Then on defense, we basically shut down the Eagles and their number 1 offensive unit.
We played aggressively, both on offense and defense, and we seemed to have guys who again, played the game well.

Now I'm not saying we are on a par with the Eagles and Dallas, but it sure seemed to me if we had a QB and a game plan that played aggressive football, we do seem to have guys who can play and maybe, with a new QB we could be competitive. Sure we need help on the OL, we need a true #1 WR and a good edge, but with our band of crazy characters, we may not be as bad as we thought we really were. AND this is from the eternal pessimist. With a good draft and a new QB and a few smart FAs, we could very well turn this mess into a real football team a lot quicker than I thought.

Not according to this article. Seems BB is being described as mediocre and only won because of Brady, thoughts also echoed by former players.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/ex-patriots-star-bill-belichick-is-absolutely-not-greatest-coach-ever/ar-AA1e1x2J

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/bill-belichicks-record-without-tom-brady-how-legendary-patriots-coach-has-fared-before-after-divorce-with-qb/ar-AA1iceYF

Did he win because of Brady or is BB responsible for making Brady-Brady?

Myse lf, I find him hardly mediocre as he has one of the best defensive minds in football. He is accused of being tart with the press, yes, he has never been known as Mr. Personality. His drafts have been less than stellar, but when it came to FA, he seemed to know who to pick up and when to release players, sometimes not to their liking.

It is hard to win without a decent QB as we have already found out (too many times).

Is he the GOAT, maybe, but there have been others who could also claim that title.

MVHO I would classify him as great, but I have always felt Bill Parcels was better. Many great coaches have won because they had the best players and/or QBs, like Lombardi, Bill Walsh, and Chuck Knoll. I would say guys like Shula, who won in several places, Parcels, Landy, and several others are just as good, if not better than Belichick.

This Monday is it for several coaches and coordinators--Black Monday as it has been commonly known

So who goes and who stays?

Ron Rivera -a given
Robert Saleh-- 50-50
Mike Vrable--75-25 gone
Bill Belichick--99% gone
Matt Eberflus--30-70 he stays
Dennis Allen--50=50
Arthur Smith-50-50
Brian Daboll 99% stays
Antonio Pierce--90% stays

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/jets-release-dalvin-cook-after-signing-him-as-highest-paid-free-agent-running-back-this-offseason/ar-AA1mn83z

Would it be a bad move to sign him and then try and trade Barkley? Cook is an excellent RB who just never fit into the Jets system. I don't think he would be a big drop-off from Barkley.

I assume many watched the Chiefs/Bengals game and how the officiating crew helped the Chiefs win another game. Maybe Mahones and company need to go ballistic a few more times as the refs clearly helped KC win t his game.

OK, maybe they would have won anyway, but that intentional grounding call was pretty hard to stomach if you were rooting for the Bengals, and then there is the Chris Jones clear as day, lining up in the neutral zone and then he goes on to sack the QB.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/calls-mount-for-bengals-chiefs-nfl-officiating-crew-to-be-investigated/ar-AA1mhOE5?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=5785966ca5814f6687d775c3b93bb894&ei=17

 On the intentional grounding, there was a Bengals player, not 5 yards from where the pass went.

Really, I know we complain when calls are obviously wrong, but when guys like Mahones goes ballistic against the refs and then, all of a sudden, they start getting ridiculous calls like this to help them win games, well the beat just goes on.

 I know we need players, but if this was the same team that started the year, would we be talking about a very low draft pick?
This team has played much better as the season wears on. Too bad the first half was wasted on Jones and his 4-yard dump-offs. I fully realize Taylor isn't the future, but he stays in there, and 'what' has time to throw deep balls and even 'gulp' complete some.

This season there were just too many duds to even talk competitiveness, and our QBs are still getting sacked, but these last two show that there is time to pass and WRs do get open, just like on all other teams.

This was what I wanted for the second half of the season, play highly competitive football and lose at the end.

We ened a QB desperately.

We have been purging our house of years worth of stuff. While going thru a closet, I came across 2 posters that I bought years ago at an auction from a club I used to belong to.
One is the Giant's 75th-anniversary poster signed by Michael Strahan
The other is a picture of the two Lombardi trophies from after our 2nd Super Bowl win, signed by Wellington Mara, Phil Simms, and Otis Anderson. There is a letter that came with it from the Giants saying that this is one of 2500 posters.
The letter isn't signed by anyone from the Giants, but I have no reason to believe that the letter and the signatures on the poster are authentic.

How would one determine the value of something like this if ever I wanted to sell it?

 If my figuring is right, we are drafting 6th right no w

Here is how the 2024 draft order looks with three regular-season games to play:

Chicago Bears (via Panthers)
New England Patriots: 3-11
Arizona Cardinals: 3-11
Washington Commanders: 4-10
Chicago Bears: 5-9
New York Giants: 5-9

Basically, all these teams could be going QB, with NE, and Washington for sure. Do the Bears give up on Fields and go QB, Does Arizona give up on Murray and go QB? If so there are 4 teams going QB ahead of us so who might be left?

I can see either the Bears or the Cardinals going WR but that still puts us about 4th in the QB derby. Do we stand a chance of getting a franchise QB where we are now?

We are continually bombarded with ads and phone calls for car warranties and home warranties. Has anyone ever tried them or are they all scams?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/chargers-cut-team-captain-ahead-of-matchup-vs-bills/ar-AA1lUEV4?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=03fbb5cd2f6b43eea602e3fa3315bc4d&ei=27

In an surprising move from interim GM JoJo Wooden, the Chargers cut defensive tackle and team captain Sebastian Joseph-Day on Friday.

While Joseph-Day has a career-low 31 tackles, he's set a career-high with 11 quarterback hits and has three sacks, which ties a career best. Joseph-Day had started every game for a Chargers defense that has allowed 24.6 points per game, which is the fifth-most in the NFL.

We seem to need a DT, even for 3 games, might this be worth a look?

 I have to run this by some of you because I have absolutely no answer for this.

I got a text last evening from someone who said they were shopping for me at a Walmart store. I had no idea what they were even talking about so I ignored it thinking it was meant for someone else. Around 6:30 PM I got an email saying my delivery was late at my front door. I opened the email and sure enough, there were 3 packages at my front door, left there by whomever shopped for this order. It said in the email, my credit card was charged for 2 orders of about $130 + each. I immediately went to my credit card page and sure enough 2 charges were pending from Walmart.com. I called the credit card people and canceled the card and told them these charges weren't mine.
I then went to the Walmart link and sure enough, there were 2 orders from my account there and more stuff in my shopping cart. Of course, I called Walmart and told them this wasn't me and to cancel this account, which they did.

OK, but here is the part I still do not understand. Someone obviously got into my Walmart account, used the credit card on the account, and ordered all sorts of groceries and other stuff, but why did it come to my house?
I am dumbfounded by this. If my account or card is hacked, who is benefitting from this if it is sent to me?

I have asked several people about this and all are basically dumbfounded by it.

Any suggestions?

I had already explained my recent health scare and hopefully recovery. We just had our yearly physicals and we both passed with flying colors. Well, not all that colorful, as I am still pre-diabetic and have been for many years, but it hasn't gotten worse.
So Thursday I went for my regular 4-month visit to my dermatologist and Wonder of wonders, another weird-looking thing on my arm was taken off, and the results yesterday another melanoma, my 4th. That is why I go every 4 months, hoping that when they do appear, it is caught early with no repercussions. I do need surgery to remove it, but hopefully, because it was caught early enough, I should be fine. What a month and a half this has been.

My first melanoma was maybe 10 years ago, then good for another  5 years, and now two in the past 15 months. I am sure paying for all that sun as a youth and all those years as an umpire, standing in the sun all day.

I have said this so many times already, anyone over  50 should do a yearly skin check. Even if you don't see anything, melanoma or other skin cancers can appear in places you couldn't imagine. I know people sluff it off, but believe me, I know. This is deadly when not taken care of, so don't be brave and get yourself checked just as you would a regular yearly physical. It COULD save your life.

 Who are those guys? Is this the same bunch that was on pace to set an NFL record for most sacks allowed?
Is this the same group that couldn't give Daniel Jones any time to throw more than 5 yards?
Did they, all of a sudden, figure out how to block and even open holes for our run game?

Really, what difference a QB who looks down the field and 'gulp' throws it there also?

These can't be the same maligned guys who were the laughingstock of the NFL/

Did Johnson remember how to coach all of a sudden?

Explain this to me, as I am completely befuddled.          

Tonight starts the 8 nights of Chanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. This year it is so important to be able to celebrate and show the world that being Jewish isn't a bad thing.

To all my fellow Jewish members, may the lights of your menorah burn bright, and may you be blessed with good fortune throughout. Enjoy this glorious holiday.

Enjoy your latkes, jelly donuts and whatever other foods that make this holiday so special.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/why-are-there-two-monday-night-football-games-in-week-14-here-s-the-reason-how-to-watch/ar-AA1l1bD2?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=af25ebce991e4a878def3f7162de5dac&ei=54

For the upcoming slate of games, there will be two simultaneous matchups on Monday night, Dec. 11 at 8:15 p.m. with the New York Giants hosting the Green Bay Packers on ABC (and streaming on the ESPN+ app) and the Miami Dolphins taking on the Tennessee Titans on ESPN.

The traditional "Monday Night Football" broadcast booth of Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (analyst) and Lisa Salters (sideline reporter) will be in the Meadowlands. The other crew will feature Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), Dan Orlovsky (analyst) and Laura Rutledge (sideline reporter) in South Beach.


But here is the kicker. On the Eli and Peyton broadcast, they will have both games on simultaneously and be able to comment on both games.

While the two former QBs usually have their single game to analyze, ESPN is also "Adding to the first-ever side-by-side Monday Night Football event, Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli (ESPN2 and ESPN+) will offer fans the ability to watch both games simultaneously, with the Manning brothers commentating on the important MNF matchups concurrently, delivering fans the most exciting action from each game in real-time."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/the-nfl-has-a-new-schedule-for-saturday-dec-16/ar-AA1kO1vl?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=0bbe9264c6274e2b989b19f5d1cf4e27&ei=10


Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals at 1 pm ET
Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts at 4:30 pm ET
Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions at 8:15 pm ET

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/cardinals-release-zach-ertz-per-request/ar-AA1kNBP2?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=eaf19cd0fa884e00bee8b07a097da6f7&ei=22

Seems no one wants to play for Arizona anymore.

The Cardinals have apparently granted a request made by Zach Ertz to be released so he can try and play for a contender to try and earn another SB ring.

Until I read the contender part, he would still look good in Blue. Always was a pain against us.

 I am looking at the Giant's schedule and I started thinking what if it were reversed, like we played a lot of these 'beatable teams' early on instead of starting with Dallas, SF, and then Miami, Bills, and Seahawks? I think we might have a different opinion of our team. Sure we are bad, but when we play teams equally bad, we play better and if we had played our later schedule earlier in the season, we may have gained lots of confidence, and who really knows how the rest of the season would go?
Sure, we aren't in the Dallas, Buffalo, or SF league, but with some confidence, we might have made the Raiders game a lot more competitive, along with the Jets.
We started out getting destroyed by most of the top teams in the league and that left us for dead. but again, what if our schedule were in reverse and we played these teams later in the season? We still would get destroyed by most, but as fans, we wouldn't be looking for other things to do on a Sunday afternoon.
When we play certain teams determine how a season can go upwards or spiral out of control downwards.

We beat the Commanders twice, we beat Arizona, we beat the Pats and we have a decent enough chance at beating the Packers or the Saints. I don't think we can beat the Rams. and never beat the Eagles. But if we started with the easier part of our schedule first, and built up a winning record, I think we beat the Jets and the Raiders. At least we wouldn't be looking at the #1 draft pick for most of the season, we would be looking at a wild card.

Come on, admit it, watching today's game was as exciting as watching paint dry. I know it was a Giants win, but really, could 2 offenses be that bad in the same game? DeVito may well be a serviceable QB, but he needs to learn to get rid of the ball a lot quicker. Maybe it's me, but I would think with a rookie QB in there, our OC would delve into his playbook to try and help him succeed with an array of quick slants and screens. Oh wait, we don't do screens. This is not a plug-and-play offense, just keep running the same thing no matter who is the QB, you need to nurture the rookie with easier plays. He seems to be able to make the throws, he just needs some serious tutoring.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/draft-watch-giants-fall-to-no-6-in-2024-nfl-draft-after-beating-patriots/ar-AA1kz3h3?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=e928090a47ff4559b4246ac5cfeb395e&ei=29

We all knew it was too good to be true. Watch us win a couple of more games and be out of the top ten altogether.

What would a 6-11 season really do for us?

If some of you have not watched this amazing TV series, run, do not walk, to your TV and tune in. Season 5 premiered last night (I haven't watched the first 2 episodes as of yet). Don't worry about not catching up because each season is independent of all the others and each season is a stand alone event.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2802850/


https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-11-20/fargo-season-5-review-juno-temple

I cannot really describe the show to anyone. It is very violent at times, funny at other times and just grabs you by whatever and keeps you watching. Great scripts, great acting, and enough of everything to hold your interest throughout.  From what I have read about this new season, it is returning to what is called its roots, in that it is going back to the Minnesota area. Last season it strayed to Kansas City.

Anyway, this series is a treat for one and all. Go back and start with Season 1 with Billy Bob Thornton to really get the feel of what truly great TV is.

 Maybe only to Dec 7, 1941 (Pearl Harbor was bombed), Nov 22 1963 is the date that most people who were alive then, will remember forever. John Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas and the entire world stopped.

I can't say who here was alive then, but those like myself, remember every detail of what and where we were when we heard the news. TV was also, in its sort of infancy, but we were all glued to the TV to watch the events and then the funeral for this man.
And then to watch live, Oswald being shot and killed on live TV. And then there are the questions, the conspiracies, will it ever end?


https://time.com/6338396/jfk-assassination-conspiracy-culture/

Please don't tell me that all of a sudden, players decide not to hold, not to grab, not to do many things that they have done all year, in this game. But credit to the refs in this game who basically let them play. I, along with most here, really tire of yellow hankies all over the field on basically every play. We all agree holding CAN be called on every play. Again, the refs in this game, either wanted to go home early or decided not to call every little dink and dunk which IMVHO made for a great game flow.

 If anyone is interested, for Black Friday, you can get Hulu (with ads) for .99 cents per month for 1 year. I do this every year and I manage through the quick commercials.
It is a great deal to get a full year of Hulu for $12.

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/black-friday-2023-hulu-99-cents-month-year-104880222

Nov 19th (tomorrow) will be the 160 anniversary of maybe the greatest speech ever written and made, the Gettysburg
Address.

https://www.djournal.com/lifestyle/arts-entertainment/this-day-in-history-lincoln-delivers-the-gettysburg-address-sunday-nov-19th/video_a0ba58ca-41fd-52d3-b1cd-d137bf42276e.html


This Day in History: , Lincoln Delivers the Gettysburg Address. November 19, 1863. In just 272 words, President Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the most memorable speeches in American history. The occasion was the dedication of a cemetery for 7,500 soldiers who fell during the Battle of Gettysburg. Lincoln was invited as an afterthought to say "a few appropriate remarks" to consecrate the grounds. His address lasted just two or three minutes. The speech is considered to be the most eloquent articulation of the democratic vision ever written. "... that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

I think, as school kids, we all learned this speech and most basically knew it by heart.

Myself, while watching a documentary on Lincoln and when, in character, he delivered this speech, well it sort of hit the right pot and it does really get to you.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln