Anyone watch the sunday night game?

[rtconner]

Hi I just wanted to get some perspective from fans of another NFL team.

Pretty much every fan of Buffalo wants to just throw up (if they haven't already) from the Bruschi love fest that was Sunday night football on ESPN. Did any of you watch they game, and how did you feel about the whole thing. Are we just over reacting because our team lost, or was the coverage really as gross as we all think it was?

They made up stats for the guy, said he had 11 tackles, really he had 2 and 5 assists. Also they made a new stat called "Hits" and gave the guy 40 something of them. Several times they played "Hero" while showing clips of him. Every interview and every chance they got they talked about him. One time they put the camera on Bruschi and only Bruschi in the middle of a Bills offensive play. They forsook replays on turnovers and important plays to talk about the guy. It was bad, really bad. Or am I just imagining things?

[Stripes]

I thought the Bills played tough. Even with an eleven point lead in the fourth, there is always that stigma in Foxboro that "the Patriots will still win." You all were victims of that and nothing more. You still have a legitimate shot at the division if New England remains inconsistent.

[Jet23]

Hi I just wanted to get some perspective from fans of another NFL team.

Pretty much every fan of Buffalo wants to just throw up (if they haven't already) from the Bruschi love fest that was Sunday night football on ESPN. Did any of you watch they game, and how did you feel about the whole thing. Are we just over reacting because our team lost, or was the coverage really as gross as we all think it was?

They made up stats for the guy, said he had 11 tackles, really he had 2 and 5 assists. Also they made a new stat called "Hits" and gave the guy 40 something of them. Several times they played "Hero" while showing clips of him. Every interview and every chance they got they talked about him. One time they put the camera on Bruschi and only Bruschi in the middle of a Bills offensive play. They forsook replays on turnovers and important plays to talk about the guy. It was bad, really bad. Or am I just imagining things?

It was a bit much. Just as bad was having to listen to ESPN babble on and on about him all Sunday morning. His wife is not bad, but I kind of got tired of looking at her after a while. I did see that stat, at one point, that said 'although he has only made two tackles, he was involved in every play'. What?

[rtconner]

I thought the Bills played tough. Even with an eleven point lead in the fourth, there is always that stigma in Foxboro that "the Patriots will still win." You all were victims of that and nothing more. You still have a legitimate shot at the division if New England remains inconsistent.

Hehe, well, I didn't ask abouth the team, I asked about ESPN. We Bills fans have lost all hope. We;ll be happy to get 7 wins. I really doubt we will beat you guys when we face you later. Thanks for the encouraging thoughts though.

[jjakq27]

Hi I just wanted to get some perspective from fans of another NFL team.

Pretty much every fan of Buffalo wants to just throw up (if they haven't already) from the Bruschi love fest that was Sunday night football on ESPN. Did any of you watch they game, and how did you feel about the whole thing. Are we just over reacting because our team lost, or was the coverage really as gross as we all think it was?

They made up stats for the guy, said he had 11 tackles, really he had 2 and 5 assists. Also they made a new stat called "Hits" and gave the guy 40 something of them. Several times they played "Hero" while showing clips of him. Every interview and every chance they got they talked about him. One time they put the camera on Bruschi and only Bruschi in the middle of a Bills offensive play. They forsook replays on turnovers and important plays to talk about the guy. It was bad, really bad. Or am I just imagining things?

We just went through the same thing a few weeks ago when the Bengals played the Jaguars. Jacksonville was the home team and I think, by design, they really pump up the home team. We played the Dolphins last year and other than having Pat Summerall butcher TJ's last name and his mumbling, they seemed to be talking more about the Bengals than the 'Fins.

[rtconner]

here's a quote

"Man, everyone is just rooting for Teddy, even Buffalo fans."

[HoosierCat]

I thought last night's game between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Bruschis was way over the top. Not as far over the top as the Thursday night opener featuring the New England OzzyGreenDayKrafts...but close. My favorite moment was when they went down to Suzy Kolber on the sideline -- for aboout the fifth time -- for another puff piece on Bruschi -- about the fifth one (that quarter) -- and as she babbles on uninterrupted by the announcing team, the Bruschis cough up the ball deep in Bills territory. When Suzy finaly runs out of steam, the Bills are already running plays, one of the guys in the booth says, "Thanks Suzy, and oh by the way we had a turnover." Yeah, way to go, espn.

[derekshank]

Yeah, and?...

The guy came back from a stroke, and is playing football. True, it is hardly heroic, but it is certainly more interesting and noteworthy than anything else that happened in that game.

If it had happened against the Bengals, I imagine I would have gotten tired of hearing about it too, but the fact remains that he's the only reason I (and probably the majority of football fans) had any interest in the watching that game at all... and it is also the biggest story of the NFL season so far.

It will subside with time, but for his first game back, you have to give the guy some props. There aren't a lot of players as committed to their teams and the game of football as Bruschi. His fame while maybe not a cure for cancer, is certainly earned.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

It was too much and sensationalized to the point of ridiculousness. I was about to throw up after the entire pregame was all about "Teddy."

It was as if the actual game meant nothing and no one else on the field mattered.

It's great that he made it back and obviously deserved some coverage/attention.

But we're talking about ESPN and they are all about hyping individuals and kissing the rear ends of players constantly, instead of focusing on the bigger picture - the cities involved and the teams.

If I were a Buffalo fan I'd be kind of ticked that coverage of your Sunday night game was so totally focused on "Teddy and his wife."

I'm honestly sick of his seeing his face and hearing about him - respect what he's done and he's a good guy - but, I just don't care.

[rtconner]

It was too much and sensationalized to the point of ridiculousness. I was about to throw up after the entire pregame was all about "Teddy."

It was as if the actual game meant nothing and no one else on the field mattered.

It's great that he made it back and obviously deserved some coverage/attention.

But we're talking about ESPN and they are all about hyping individuals and kissing the rear ends of players constantly, instead of focusing on the bigger picture - the cities involved and the teams.

If I were a Buffalo fan I'd be kind of ticked that coverage of your Sunday night game was so totally focused on "Teddy and his wife."

I'm honestly sick of his seeing his face and hearing about him - respect what he's done and he's a good guy - but, I just don't care.

Yeah, it almost felt as if the game got in the way of their "Tedy worship" session

[BengalByTheBay]

Yeah, and?...

The guy came back from a stroke, and is playing football. True, it is hardly heroic, but it is certainly more interesting and noteworthy than anything else that happened in that game.

If it had happened against the Bengals, I imagine I would have gotten tired of hearing about it too, but the fact remains that he's the only reason I (and probably the majority of football fans) had any interest in the watching that game at all... and it is also the biggest story of the NFL season so far.

Yeah, but....

Here's the problem -- if the only reason you are interested in watching the game is this silly story about Bruschi...why bother watching it? If you don't care about either team and can't enjoy the game for what it is, I just don't get why you would even turn it on. If you just want to see the silly Oprah episode about one player, then didn't the game kinda get in your way? This is always the problem with Sunday and Monday Night Football to me -- they try to turn it into something your girlfriend would want to see. It's not a good football broadcast and it's not a good talkshow either. Oh and it's not the "biggest story of the NFL season"...that's reserved for the establishment of the future dynasty in Cincy.

[BengalsMan3203]

Bruschi played last night? I swear I didn't hear ESPN say a word on it. :-p

[dweebe]

St. Louis Rams fan here.

I agree, that was way over the top as a Bruschi lovefest.

My friends and I have for a long time had a rule that anytime they say Bruschi (brewsky) that everyone has to drink. Last night we suspended that rule halfway through the 1st quarter because everyone was drinking too fast.

[derekshank]

Yeah, but....

Here's the problem -- if the only reason you are interested in watching the game is this silly story about Bruschi...why bother watching it? If you don't care about either team and can't enjoy the game for what it is, I just don't get why you would even turn it on.

Point taken... and that's the real issue. I wouldn't have turned the game on... (and in fact fell asleep) The outcome had no bearing on Cincinnati. If the Pats had been playing a NFC team, I would have watched and pulled for the NFC team, because that could have helped the Bengals out later on... but this was a game inside their own division, that I couldn't care less about the outcome.

Bruschi on the other hand is a great guy... and I want to see him succeed. When a play is going down, I want to see where he is on the field, and how he is doing. Is he still himself?

So if you're argument is that they are doing it to get ratings, I would say they succeeded. You might have been annoyed by it... but it didn't stop you from watching it. Other people who were only marginally interested in it though, and wanted to see how Brushi would respond in his first game back stayed tuned.

You might not like it... and for people who cared about the outcome of the game, it was probably frustrating... but for most of the country, Bruschi was the story. Did they play it up too much? Maybe... but they would rather err on the side of too much, than too little, and have people stop watching.

[Whur CHad At?]

ESPN always goes over the top with big news stories.......Anyone remeber the TO/Eagles drama this summer???

Speaking of some annoying things about ESPN, is on Sunday NFL Countdown, they always talk about the same thing. They Never, talk about the BEngals, just about the Eagles, Falcons, Colts, And Patriots. IT IS ANNOYING

But about Bruschi, it was pretty amazing that a guy coming off a stroke to come back and play. I don't know if you know, but people usually die from Strokes. Great story, but yes it was overplayed.

[rtconner]

ESPN always goes over the top with big news stories.......Anyone remeber the TO/Eagles drama this summer???

Speaking of some annoying things about ESPN, is on Sunday NFL Countdown, they always talk about the same thing. They Never, talk about the BEngals, just about the Eagles, Falcons, Colts, And Patriots. IT IS ANNOYING

But about Bruschi, it was pretty amazing that a guy coming off a stroke to come back and play. I don't know if you know, but people usually die from Strokes. Great story, but yes it was overplayed.

I'm so glad the NFL network exists. I can get NFL coverage without having to watch those idiots on that station.

ESBP - Entertainment Sports Bruschi Network

[BengalByTheBay]

Yeah, but....

Here's the problem -- if the only reason you are interested in watching the game is this silly story about Bruschi...why bother watching it? If you don't care about either team and can't enjoy the game for what it is, I just don't get why you would even turn it on.

Point taken... and that's the real issue. I wouldn't have turned the game on... (and in fact fell asleep) The outcome had no bearing on Cincinnati. If the Pats had been playing a NFC team, I would have watched and pulled for the NFC team, because that could have helped the Bengals out later on... but this was a game inside their own division, that I couldn't care less about the outcome.

Bruschi on the other hand is a great guy... and I want to see him succeed. When a play is going down, I want to see where he is on the field, and how he is doing. Is he still himself?

So if you're argument is that they are doing it to get ratings, I would say they succeeded. You might have been annoyed by it... but it didn't stop you from watching it. Other people who were only marginally interested in it though, and wanted to see how Brushi would respond in his first game back stayed tuned.

You might not like it... and for people who cared about the outcome of the game, it was probably frustrating... but for most of the country, Bruschi was the story. Did they play it up too much? Maybe... but they would rather err on the side of too much, than too little, and have people stop watching.

I don't disagree with you that many people watching were only doing so to see Bruschi. I actually don't even have a problem with that because, despite my displeasure with how everything that relates to the Patriots is deemed more important than everything else, even I can concede that it is a compelling story. But the story itself is interesting enough without having to make up new categories of stats. just so that it fulfills the prophecy that he's not only back, but better than ever. In short, the product sells itself. I hate the "Entertainment Tonight" version of the game where they focus on these things to the exclusion of the game.

As for me, I have a toddler, so my days of getting to watch the whole Sunday night game are now over. As such, it sounds like I missed a whole lot of love fest as it was. I did get to check in for most of the 4th quarter and, believe it or not, there was actually a game that broke out. Even though I only watched that much, I feel like I'm a member of Mrs. Bruschi's coffee circle she was on so much. Weren't they interviewing Kraft when the Pat's turned the ball over to, essentially, win the game? I hate all that stuff. If they were to do that during the regular Sunday day games, wouldn't you smash your TV? I nearly lost it with Fox's bad graphics and coming back late from commercials so consistently that you lost half of the first play back almost every time. If they were interviewing Mike Brown during the game with a little window showing what was actually going on I would've had a coronary. So, I'm just sayin' that the Sunday/Monday night games are directed as though they assume you don't care about the game enough so you need some compelling up-close-&-personal story to keep you watching. I don't, so it makes me grouchy.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Yeah, and?...

The guy came back from a stroke, and is playing football. True, it is hardly heroic, but it is certainly more interesting and noteworthy than anything else that happened in that game.

He came back from a stroke so minor that in anyone less famous, probably wouldn't have been diagnosed.

[turningpoint]

Hi I just wanted to get some perspective from fans of another NFL team.

Pretty much every fan of Buffalo wants to just throw up (if they haven't already) from the Bruschi love fest that was Sunday night football on ESPN. Did any of you watch they game, and how did you feel about the whole thing. Are we just over reacting because our team lost, or was the coverage really as gross as we all think it was?

They made up stats for the guy, said he had 11 tackles, really he had 2 and 5 assists. Also they made a new stat called "Hits" and gave the guy 40 something of them. Several times they played "Hero" while showing clips of him. Every interview and every chance they got they talked about him. One time they put the camera on Bruschi and only Bruschi in the middle of a Bills offensive play. They forsook replays on turnovers and important plays to talk about the guy. It was bad, really bad. Or am I just imagining things?

It was totally the bruschi love fest, anyways who cares the sunday night football announcers suck ass.

I rather us not play on sunday night anymore.

[rtconner]

I rather us not play on sunday anymore.

Next year I think they split up. Half go to Monday night, half stay. I forget the details and all. But there is a small glimmer of hope they will all lose their jobs.

[bengalboomer7]

Sorry, but ESPN did what they typically do, overblow it. But it's a sports only network. If they were showing the Supreme court nomineee press conference, they would overblow that, too.

BTW, I watch the SUnday night game because I'm a football fan. What I(and I think most people) want first of all is to watch the damn game, whether your a fan of those teams or not. Sorry, but I think it's a ridiculous comment to watch the game just for one player, who really does that?

I thought it was overblown to the point of being sad. Don't remember Pat Tillman getting this much coverage. If I was a Bills fan I probably wouldn't own a TV anymore because I would have destroyed it immediately. Their was so much ass kissing the game should have been aired on Playboy, cause it was X rated

[JPW]

I like Bruschi and it is a great story but I did think that it was a bit over done.

My over all impression of the game was that the Bills had out-played the Pats for almost the entire game and that it was going to be a very hard loss for the Bills to recover from.

On the other hand, maybe it balances out that Fin's fumble, down by the goal line near the end of the game, that allowed the Bills to hold on and win that game in Buffalo.

In any case I really don't think that this is going to be the Bills year.

In the off-season you lost a good starter on both sides of the line, on top of that it turns out that Losman is not ready to take over, and then Spikes goes out for the year.

Kelly Holcomb has always been hot and cold, he can be a gunslinger and put up big numbers but then always seems to find a way to lose when he does.

I like the way you have been using him and he should win some games for you but I don't think that he is the guy to lead you to the play-offs.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Losman back in getting some playing time before the season is over.

On the other hand, the Pats have looked very beatable and they have a rather hard schedule, so it is possible that you could hang with them, but I think that the loss last night makes that very unlikely.

IMO, that was a very hard loss for the Bills to take ...

[HoosierCat]

My over all impression of the game was that the Bills had out-played the Pats for almost the entire game and that it was going to be a very hard loss for the Bills to recover from.

See, that's just it for me. No matter what anyone turned in for, the fact of the matter is that an actual football game broke out last night. I realize this is inconvenient for espn, which probably figured it'd be 40-0 Pats by the middle of the 2nd quarter, and so planned endless tributes to Bruschi. But the best laid plans of mice and men, y'know? Instead, they plowed ahead...blah blah blah Bruschi...blah blah blah Bruschi...oh yeah, the Bills scored a few plays ago, we'll show you a replay sometime, now lets go to Suzy with Bruschi's wife..blah blah blah Bruschi.

I tuned in for a football game. And there was actually one going on! But it was a sideshow to the ESPN: Behind The Football episode "The Teddy Bruschi Story" that was actually on last night.

[bengalindian]

I definitely think they should have let it go after the first quarter and then maybe brought it up at the end or if he had made a huge play. Props to him for being in shape to play professional football again, though it WAS a minor stroke. I just think there was nothing else for them to talk about because the commentators suck, and Theismann was just bummed cuz his "Super Bowl Bound" Redskins showed how much they sucked.

[Columbusbengal]

I realize this is inconvenient for espn, which probably figured it'd be 40-0 Pats by the middle of the 2nd quarter, and so planned endless tributes to Bruschi.

Last night the same thing could have happened, but the commentators are better than the ESPN gang. They went into the broadcast thinking the game would be a total blowout by the Steelers (it certainly should have been), but the game turned out to be the compelling story and the announcers recognized it. Sometimes the predicted blowouts occur, but when it comes to Sunday/Monday night games, both teams usually play like Super Bowl contenders. The Bengals really had little chance playing on the road in Jacksonville. Jacksonville is a pretty decent team to begin with and then they played their absolute best given the circumstances. The Bengals played pretty well, too, but the home field advantage won in the end.