KarateKen

NFL Honors have been announced, and the MVP goes to Rams QB Matthew Stafford. Coach of the Year is Mike Vrabel of the Patriots, and Walter Payton Man of the Year is Travis Kelcie of the Chiefs. All this on the same day the NFL announced a game between the Rams and 49ers will take place next season in Australia. Many fans are upset about that, but the league has a desire to expand the game outside the USA, and international games will become more common as the NFL continues to aim for a global audience.

The Olympic men's hockey games start on February 11, and the NHL will take a nearly three-week break during the time of the Olympics as many NHL players will be participating for team Canda, team USA, and others. Teams Canada and USA entire rosters are made up of NHL players, while every team has some NHL players. There is no team Russia, the country was banned because of the war in Ukraine, meaning that Alex Ovechkin and other Russian born players (Russia is a big hockey country) will not be participating in the games.

I credit it for saving me from a head injury when I fell on some icy steps a few years ago. Broke a couple ribs but a lot better than hitting my head!

Another terrible look for the NFL. It has been discovered that NY Giants co-owner Steve Tisch has been listed in the Epstein files, named over 400 times. Roger Goodell has said that he will "look into all the facts," with rumors that Tisch could be forced to sell, though that remains unknown at this time. Tish has admitted he knew Epstein but denies any wrongdoing. Other NFL owners who were named were Jets owner Woody Johnson, Commander's owner Josh Harris. the team's former owner Dan Snyder, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, as well as a few others. Who else is in them? Jay-Z. Why does that matter to the NFL? Jay Z has a company called "Roc Nation" which is who puts on the Super Bowl halftime show. The NFL has been in business with Jay Z since 2019. The NFL stuck with Jay Z after serious allegations against him came up in 2024, let's see if they stand by his side again after this one. There were also names from other sports leagues, such as the owner of the LA Dodgers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and former MLB star Sammy Sosa. As of this writing there are no criminal charges pending for anyone I mentioned. This is a very long and complicated situation with a ton to unpack, but to have these names come out in the files the week of the Super Bowl is not a good situation for the league. Instead of talking about the game, the news is about owners being in the Epstein files. Wow!

The US government approved ESPN buying NFL Network and RedZone. The NFL has been trying to sell off NFL Network for years since it was not profitable and they finally were able to. ESPN will now own NFL Network (or whatever the new name might be) and RedZone. It does not appear that it will change anything leading up to the Super Bowl this week, but next season it could shake up some of the on-air talent and game coverage. Maybe it is just in my circles, but I don't hear much talk about the game this year. We are a week away and almost all the football talk I am hearing is about Belichick and the ESNP/NFL deal I just wrote about. Usually there is some kind of a storyline leading up to the game. Maybe it will pick up now that it is game week and not a bye. I don't have a rooting interest in the game, as of now. Could change I guess if something were to happen this week. *shrugs* The Raiders are expected to hire Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak as their HC after the Super Bowl. The Arizona Cardinals have hired Rams OC Mike LaFleur as head coach. There was an NFL record 10 head coach openings, most have been filled.

I agree with both of you, and it looks like there is going to be a full investigation. I also agree with what some people have said on TV which is anyone who did not vote for Belichick should publicly explain it. There has also been talk of former Colts executive Bill Pollion who said he did not remember for sure if he voted for Belichick. Come on, that is just nonsense. If he can't remember he should not have a vote. Then later he said (after the blowback) he did vote for Belichick. Which is it? Heads need to roll. Not only is this clearly a monumental failure but it is shallow and short sighted. It makes the whole NFL look bad. It damages the integrity of the HOF. Jimmy Johnson, Ty Law, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Troy Aikman, JJ Watt, and many others have sounded off about this. Jimmy Johnson especially did not hold back, same with longtime sportswriter Peter King. Players, fans, coaches, broadcasters, and more have called this out for what a terrible mistake it was. I have not seen one person who defended it or agrees with it. Not one. Have you? This is an abomination that has created a national firestorm. Prediction: Belichick gets in next year and gets every single vote.

A bombshell on Tuesday night that also has to be one of the most bonehead moves in the history American sports. Former Patriots and Browns head coach Bill Belichick was not voted into the Hall of Fame, getting less than the 40 votes needed to be selected. He will get in, probably next year, but to not make him a first ballot HOF coach is beyond asinine.

My prediction of the Rams winning it all this year has been shot down. They had chances but Seattle wins it 31-27. I don't remember what my preseason predictions were for the Seahawks and Patriots, but I know I did not have them anywhere near the Super Bowl. Now we have two weeks to hear about how the Seahawks should have given it to Marshawn Lynch on the goal line ten years ago. Oh yeah Edit: This makes nine times in ten years that the AFC Champion was either the Patriots (4) or the Chiefs (5). The one other was the Bengals in the 2021 season. Seattle is the early favorite

I don't know about a coaching job, but since you live in Las Vegas maybe the Raiders would hire you to help players with their footwork. I've heard stories of teams doing that, bringing in a MA sensei to work with players balance, footwork and stances.

One head coach fired today and a few hours later another coach was hired. The Dolphins have hired Packers DC Jeff Hafley as their new HC, replacing Mike McDaniel who was fired on January 8.

Well just when I think the black Monday has concluded, here is shows up again two weeks later. The Bills have fired head coach Sean McDermott after Saturday's OT loss to the Broncos. Wow. McDermott had been the Bills coach for nine seasons, getting the Bills to two AFC Championship Games. He was 98-50 in the regular season and 8-8 in the playoffs. Back to nine teams now looking for a head coach. I think. I've lost track. I don't remember this many HC openings before. This is insane.

I'm with your prediction here @sensei8 I am going with the Rams to win it over the Patriots. Fun fact, either the Patriots or the Chiefs have been in the AFC Championship Game every year since 2011. The Patriots went 8 years in a row (2011-2018) the Chiefs seven (2018-2024) and now the Patriots in 2025. That is a lot of appetences by only two teams. Meanwhile in that same stretch of years the NY Jets have not made the playoffs at al, though they did make the AFC Championship in 2009 and 2010. OK, maybe that is not a FUN fact, but it is a fact.

It was snowing in New England and snowing harder in Chicago, so we get two snow football games today! The Rams and Bears are at halftime, tied at 10. This game looks like it could go down to the wire. It is 18 degrees in Chicago, so the weather could play a factor late in the game. Edit: The Rams and Bears are in overtime. You have to see this to believe it. Second edit: The Rams have won 20-17 in overtime and will visit Seattle on Sunday. The Bears scored a TD with 18 seconds left in regulation to get to overtime, but the same Caleb Williams who made an amazing play to get the late TD throws a pick in OT and the Rams go down the field to win it. The NFL final four is set. Patriots at Broncos - 3pm EST on CBS Rams at Seahawks - 6:30pm EST on FOX

For sure. The Patriots defense destroyed CJ Stroud and Justin Herbert. The Broncos will be starting Jarrett Stidham, a former Patriot who was backing up Tom Brady. Broncos can win this game with defense and not turning the ball over on offense.

It's snowing in New England, and the Houston offense is struggling. Four first half turnovers for the Texans and the Patriots lead 21-10 at the half. The Texans defense has been able to keep them in the game, but they better stop throwing interceptions of they have no chance to win. Edit: I don't know if you want to call it great defense or sloppy offense, but the Patriots and Texans combined for eight turnovers, five by Houston, and the Patriots win the game 28-16. They now will visit Denver next Sunday. Patriots are in their 16th AFC Championship Game, while the Texans remain the only active NFL franchise to never play in a conference title game, and the four teams that have never played in the Super Bowl (Texans, Jaguars, Browns, Lions) will not play in it this year either. Rams and Bears kicking off in a few minutes!