Superbowl LM-XVII - Arizona vs Pittsburgh

[Akiyama]

Double post for ratings.

MOST VIEWED TELEVISION PROGRAMS IN HISTORY (total viewers):
1. Super Bowl XLIII 151.6 million NBC 2009
2. Super Bowl XLII 148.3 million Fox 2008
3. Super Bowl XXVIII 144.4 million CBS 2004

The total audience of 151.6 million viewers tops the previous Super Bowl record audience of 148.3 million viewers by 3.3 million viewers (Super Bowl XLII, Giants-Patriots, Note: total audience measures viewership for all or part of a broadcast).

MOST-WATCHED SUPER BOWLS (average viewers):
1. Super Bowl XLIII 98.7 million NBC 2009
2. Super Bowl XLII 97.5 million Fox 2008
3. Super Bowl XXX 94.1 million NBC 1996
4. Super Bowl XLI 93.2 million CBS 2007
5. Super Bowl XXVII 91.0 million NBC 1993

Awful Announcing: Super Bowl XLIII Is The Most Watched Television Program Everf

So wow. This year's Super Bowl beat out the Giants/Pats from last year.

[tyven]

Except that he stopped speaking to his mother for the entire duration of her death to breast cancer.

Other than that he's classy as fuck.

dont forget about the restraining order against the mother of his son for abuse, knocking up of an oakland cheerleader, and alleged bribes for an abortion. but hey, at least he doesnt demand the football.

guess no one cared about him back in 07 when the cardinals werent in the playoffs and he was allowed to get his thug on.

[Clyne]

I'll bite.

Fitzgerald has been in the league for 5 years. In those 5, he's missed 4 games. He's caught 1400+ yards in a season more often than not, and broke the record for most receiving yards in a post season during his first trip to the playoffs.

If the trend continues, there's no doubt that he'll be a first ballot hall of famer.

Not sure what you're biting, I'm not trolling, simply stating that injuries, especially in this league, can derail a potential HOF career instantaneously. And Sharpe is the best example. He had a better start to his career than Fitzgerald did before a career-ending neck injury, and there's no way he gets into the HOF (at least on the regular ballot). Truthfully, Fitzgerald wasn't even considered the Cardinals first option until this season.

Sharpe never missed a game in 7 years, 5 Pro Bowl selections, led the league in receptions 3x, TD's twice, 1st receiver ever to have consecutive 100 reception seasons, etc.

Fitzgerald is amazing, and it's scary to think he may actually get better over the next few years. You never wish anything bad on anyone, but just being realistic that something could happen.

[Deejay]

Fitzgerald wasn't even considered the Cardinals first option until this season.

head asplode

[Akiyama]

Here's the thing. Standards that WR have to meet these days for a first ballot HoF bid are extremely high now. Tim Brown and Jerry Rice have chances to get in next year, and Rice is obviously in no doubt. Cris Carter has to contend with Tim Brown (who should be in as well), and it's just hard. It'll depend on when Fitz's class is and what not. If he continues to produce for I dunno.. another 6-8 years, I'm sure he'll get in. First ballot though? Maybe not. It just depends on a ton of shit.

Also, Fitz has been their #1 WR, lol. Boldin gets a lot of TDs, sure, but Fitz is the better WR.

[Deejay]

Despite his longevity, Cris Carter was never the clear cut BEST player at his position. Hell, there were years when he wasn't even the best WR on his own damn team....

Right now, Fitzgerald is far and away the scariest and most complete wide receiver in the game. To say that he wasn't the #1 on his own damn team is just dumb. Especially when he's being paid 3x as much as Anquan.

[archibaldcrane]

Right now, Fitzgerald is far and away the scariest and most complete wide receiver in the game.

Scariest and most complete? Sure. Far and away?

Not really. I'd say Andre Johnson is right behind him.

[Deejay]

True, can't knock Andre.

[tyven]

for some reason i dont think brandon marshall is far behind either of them. probably because im a sucker for off the field issues though.

[Kyo]

for some reason i dont think brandon marshall is far behind either of them. probably because im a sucker for off the field issues though.

^ P.S. Skins fo life.

[tyven]

^ P.S. Skins fo life.

devin thomas WITH aids > larry fitzgerald.

fuck da haters

[Null]

3. Super Bowl XXX 94.1 million NBC 1996

Fuck yeah, Super Bowl 96!

[archibaldcrane]

Fuck yeah, Super Bowl 96!

Funny thing is, that Super Bowl was supposed to be a total blowout - Cowboys by 13.5

[Clyne]

Also, Fitz has been their #1 WR, lol. Boldin gets a lot of TDs, sure, but Fitz is the better WR.

Right now, Fitzgerald is far and away the scariest and most complete wide receiver in the game. To say that he wasn't the #1 on his own damn team is just dumb. Especially when he's being paid 3x as much as Anquan.

"Truthfully, Fitzgerald wasn't even considered the Cardinals first option until this season."

I do so appreciate the Johnny-come-lately analysis of the team I've been following for a few decades. I must have been imagining the fact that 2007 was the first season Fitzgerald significantly outperformed Boldin, and he wasn't healthy for the full season. I fuking hate throwing out stats, because Boldin's contribution was even more significant than what you see on paper, but even without that you have the following:

Year G Rec Yards Avg. TD 1stDowns

Fitzgerald:
2005 16 103 1409 13.7 10 67
2006 13 69 946 13.7 6 52
2007 15 100 1409 14.1 10 69

Boldin:
2005 14 102 1402 13.7 7 68
2006 16 83 1203 14.5 4 53
2007 12 71 853 12.0 9 43

Arizona has some of the shittiest education rankings in the nation, but at least we teach reading comprehension here. The 2008 season is the first year Larry has been the man entering the season (maybe I should have elaborated more that this was what I was getting at). And it's because of his development with Warner in '07, Boldin's injury last year, and Rosenhaus' shitty influence on Boldin & his contract situation after Fitzgerald signed his extension in the spring.

Overall, Fitzgerald has also gotten higher contract dollars because he was a top 3 pick while Boldin was a 2nd rounder. Boldin's base salary is actually higher than Fitzgerald's (yes, I realize bonus money is what really counts, but you can't bring up contracts $'s and gloss over this). None of that matters now because he's completely eclipsed Boldin with his performance this year. But part of the reason Boldin's grousing about his contract last summer backfired so much was Rosenhaus somehow convinced him that he was still the #1.

Just because you've been bombarded with Larry Fitzgerald stories over the last 6 weeks doesn't mean you know shit about the team's recent history or his earlier career.

(Queue some stupid comeback that completely ignores my own experience following the team every week in addition to the stats right under your nose)

If he continues to play the way he has at the start of his career and avoids injury, he should absolutely be in the HoF. But my point was that it's too early in his career to even be talking about it.

[Deejay]

By that logic, Wes Welker, TJ Houshmanzadeh (before #85 forgot how to play football), Jason Witten, and Chris Cooley are all #1 WR's too, huh?

(Protip: Possession wide receivers are almost always going to get more touches than conventional ones.)

[Mizango]

devin thomas WITH aids > larry fitzgerald.

fuck da haters

lol

[Mizango]

How the hell do you even know that

And in countless interviews, he's stated how much he's regretted it, and she's the reason he continues to wear his hair long.

I did the same thing and I'm still classy Epic faggotry true... no I'm lying, im not classy. Nigga is still ashy.

[Clyne]

By that logic, Wes Welker, TJ Houshmanzadeh (before #85 forgot how to play football), Jason Witten, and Chris Cooley are all #1 WR's too, huh?

(Protip: Possession wide receivers are almost always going to get more touches than conventional ones.)

Protip only applies when you know what you're talking about. I included average yard per catch for a reason.

Calling Boldin a possession receiver when his average over the seasons I showed is only 0.3 yards less than Fitzgerald only proves to illustrate how little you actually know what you're talking about. Why don't you call Steve Smith a possession receiver while you're at it? All the players you mentioned had a differential of at least 3 average yards per catch less than the number 1 on their team. The simple fact of the matter is the disparity between Fitgerald's & Boldin's production didn't occur until this season, when that same 3+ yards/catch average occurs. Before then, Boldin was the #1, plain and simple. Stop trying to argue about a team you know nothing about, especially when the numbers don't back-up your position.

Miz needs to say something derogatory about the Cowboys (man, fuking bored @ 3am dealing w/ a sick kid).

[Deejay]

The simple fact of the matter is the disparity between Fitgerald's & Boldin's production didn't occur until this season, when that same 3+ yards/catch average occurs.

Maybe the disparity doesn't occur because Anquan Boldin is a better player than Welker, TJ, Cooley, and Witten combined? Newsflash: Boldin is a beast, and he's better than the #1 on every one of those other teams too. It should be obvious that his stats are going to look better in a pass happy system when you compare him to other players. I don't understand how you could even begin to use that as a talking point.

What I was trying to point out is that stats are almost meaningless when deciding who the #1 receiver is. What made him the #1? Because he got more catches? Stats don't decide who the #1 guy is, they only provide half the story. Where does he line up? Who does he line up against? What kind of plays are designed for him? When does he catch the ball?

Fitzgerald almost exclusively lines up on the outside, whereas Boldin makes his money in the slot. The other teams best CB always guards Fitzgerald. It's easy to say that Boldin could be the #1 in this offense, but you're ignoring the fact that the Cardinals run a fucking pass heavy system where they use Anquan as their running game just as much as they use him when they need long yardage. Boldin wouldn't have the freedom to line up inside without seeing double and triple teams if THEIR #1 WASN'T A THREAT ON THE OUTSIDE. Boldin NEEDS Fitzgerald in order to produce more than Fitzgerald needs Boldin, making FITZGERALD the number fucking 1. Defenses throw their best corner at Larry and leave a safety up top, leaving the middle of the field as open pasture for Boldin to get his beast on.

[octopus]

I guess no one watches the Pro Bowl, but it was cool to see the Wildcat formation in an all-star game ;o