Brian Billick: LION HOMER!

[MJZiggy]

the lions might be the least likeable team in football.

If this weren't so true, they'd have a whole lot of people rooting for them just because they've been down for so long. But you become assholes on the way up and everyone wants you back in the toilet where your attitude indicates you belong.

[jdrats]

If this weren't so true, they'd have a whole lot of people rooting for them just because they've been down for so long. But you become assholes on the way up and everyone wants you back in the toilet where your attitude indicates you belong.

And it starts with the coach. Did you see the clip of Schwartz celebrating when Lee bobbled the kick-off and ended up causing a safety? Schwartz was way over the top in celebrating a Packer mistake, that really wasn't any kind of exceptional play on the part of his players. The rant and time out on the endzone non-catch that he didn't have a challenge left for was obnoxious as well, particularly because you can see the ball move in the receivers arms anyway, so it shouldn't be a catch if I understand NFL rules defining a catch (which I'm no longer convinced anyone does, but you know).

[retailguy]

Keep talking shit before I call immigration on your ass.

I already did this. He's running the forum from Mazatlan.

[ThunderDan]

And it starts with the coach. Did you see the clip of Schwartz celebrating when Lee bobbled the kick-off and ended up causing a safety? Schwartz was way over the top in celebrating a Packer mistake, that really wasn't any kind of exceptional play on the part of his players. The rant and time out on the endzone non-catch that he didn't have a challenge left for was obnoxious as well, particularly because you can see the ball move in the receivers arms anyway, so it shouldn't be a catch if I understand NFL rules defining a catch (which I'm no longer convinced anyone does, but you know).

I was going to put this in my studs and duds post. I am glad someone else saw this.

[Pugger]

I think Billick is very good analyst. I didn't notice him dissing pack, but then again I'm not a sissy boy.

He didn't exactly diss the Pack but he was slobbering all over anything good the loins and especially Stafford did in this game.

[pbmax]

And it starts with the coach. Did you see the clip of Schwartz celebrating when Lee bobbled the kick-off and ended up causing a safety? Schwartz was way over the top in celebrating a Packer mistake, that really wasn't any kind of exceptional play on the part of his players. The rant and time out on the endzone non-catch that he didn't have a challenge left for was obnoxious as well, particularly because you can see the ball move in the receivers arms anyway, so it shouldn't be a catch if I understand NFL rules defining a catch (which I'm no longer convinced anyone does, but you know).

I was going to put this in my studs and duds post. I am glad someone else saw this.

Nice catch, I did not see that.

[pbmax]

Its a part of the modern broadcast playbook that they need to identify the stars and talk about the entire game through their perspective. When Rodgers, Matthews and Woodson were benched, it cut nearly half their programmed talking points out of the broadcast.

So its no surprise it was all Stafford. The Packers on the field looked like the 3rd quarter of a preseason game except for TWill, Wells, Sitton, Driver, Nelson, Jones and Kuhn.

[Upnorth]

So about ten minutes into the game my wife thanked me for muting it. She thought it was so she could concentrate on finishing the christmas cards finally. I am such a giving husband.

[Smidgeon]

Someone should confiscate his thesaurus.

[Lurker64]

Its a part of the modern broadcast playbook that they need to identify the stars and talk about the entire game through their perspective. When Rodgers, Matthews and Woodson were benched, it cut nearly half their programmed talking points out of the broadcast.

So its no surprise it was all Stafford. The Packers on the field looked like the 3rd quarter of a preseason game except for TWill, Wells, Sitton, Driver, Nelson, Jones and Kuhn.

Also, at the time Fox might have had a Lions playoff game to sell to people. Billick has every reason to try to convince people to tune in and watch the Lions.

[jdrats]

Its a part of the modern broadcast playbook that they need to identify the stars and talk about the entire game through their perspective. When Rodgers, Matthews and Woodson were benched, it cut nearly half their programmed talking points out of the broadcast.

So its no surprise it was all Stafford. The Packers on the field looked like the 3rd quarter of a preseason game except for TWill, Wells, Sitton, Driver, Nelson, Jones and Kuhn.

They need to sell the game. Check out this article and watch the clip. Tirrico and even keep himself from laughing when Jaworski starts in on, "Call me crazy but I'm excited about Tyler Palko tonight..."

http://deadspin.com/ron-jaworski/

[Pugger]

Also, at the time Fox might have had a Lions playoff game to sell to people. Billick has every reason to try to convince people to tune in and watch the Lions.

But Fox should realize there are other folks besides loin fans watching. I've had FOX and those clowns calling NFC games up to here and hope/pray another network gets these games soon.

[CaliforniaCheez]

1) The pregame storyline was the Packers did not care, they were resting their starters and the Lions had everything for which to play.

2) Billick's buddy is Linehan is the OC of the Lions.

3) Billick has been talking up the Packers this season so he needed to compensate.

4) Sports drama is created when the underdog has a fighting chance. Without Rodgers, Woodson, Matthews, and Bulaga, the Lions had a fighting chance.

[Fritz]

PB is right; Billick's job - the job of any announcer these days - is not to do an in-depth analysis for fans, but to sell, sell, sell the product. The Lions are best sold via Matt Stafford right now. Part of the problem for the NFL is that on the one hand, the league did in fact sell the Lions via their mid-season bad-boy image - the league itself on its website marketed the bad-boy Lions. On the other hand, Roger Goodell has simultaneously tried to mute the violence and the celebrations - the "No Fun League" approach.

So the league has a kinda schizophrenic attitude about the Lions. On the one hand, the storyline of the Lions-as-renegades is appealing; on the other hand, the league has tried to whitewash that sort of thing, too. They're in a bit of a pickle, and on Sunday the resolution was to focus on the good-guy Stafford. Some mention was made by Billick about Suh's belt move after a sack - Billick did say he wished Suh would play with more class - but the emphasis was on Stafford and not the showboating or the eleven penalites (which did, however, get some attention).

[Zool]

This idiocy will continue until they give us the option to watch without announcers.