Playbook Picks: Steelers are unanimous choice

Published: January 19th, 2011 | Tags: NFL Playbook picks, Brian Baldinger, Brian Billick, Conference Championships, Joe Theismann, NFL Playbook

It’s prediction time again for “Playbook” analysts Brian Baldinger, Joe Theismann and Brian Billick.

Although the Jets have won playoff road games against Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in consecutive weeks, the crew doesn’t see it happening a third time against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers in Pittsburgh. All three are taking the Steelers at home.

The crew is split on the Bears/Packers, who split their two meetings this season. Baldinger, who is alone on taking the home Bears, sees how they can have success against the explosive Packers.

“The Bears are set up to contain Aaron Rodgers,” Baldinger said. “They really don’t have to do a lot. They win with their front four. Speed at linebacker to take care of underneath (coverage) and chase Rodgers when he does break the pocket. The safeties generally play deep to take away the deep throws. The cornerbacks really redirect and re-route the receivers. That’s what they did in the first game, they limited the big plays and tackled very well. Really, I give the Packers credit because they stayed pretty patient (in the second) game even though they turned it over a couple of times. The defense kept it close and they won it in the fourth quarter.

“That’s the challenge, but I believe the Bears think that their defense is in place to be able to slow this offense down.”

Here are the picks for the conference championship games:

Packers at Bears 
Baldinger: Bears
Theismann: Packers
Billick: Packers

Jets at Steelers
Baldinger: Steelers
Theismann: Steelers
Billick: Steelers

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Choice: Fallout over autograph doesn’t make sense

Judging by the comments from NFL Nation following Tashard Choice’s autograph request of Michael Vick, the whole thing is NOT A BIG DEAL. That hasn’t exactly been the case in Dallas, where on Wednesday we found Choice defending himself and his competitiveness to a group of reporters.

Here’s the money quote from Choice:

“Am I more competitive if I would have tried to fight him after the game? What would you have said then? That we would have won the game? … OK, that’s what I’m saying. Sixty minutes from the beginning to the end, that’s all you play in a football game. When the game is over, it’s over. We bury loses. Like I’ve told people … there’s no fan, no coach, no person in the media who cares more about a game, winning or losing, that I’m playing in. I play. And I give everything I’ve got for 60 minutes. That’s it.”

Choice did have an interesting response when asked if players view games as life-or-death as some fans appear to. Cowboys fans, take note:

“It’s different how they take it,” Choice said. ”People hate the Eagles. We build up hate during the week. But we still know, period, those are our brothers on the other side when the game is over. We compete as hard as we can, try to win. I wouldn’t even be in the NFL if I didn’t compete. It’s crazy. It doesn’t make any sense to me. Somebody to come across that way, and you’re not even in the NFL, how are you even going to say that? It’s crazy.”

The whole story took on a bizarre twist, from the initial reaction to Choice apologizing on Twitter to saying the media blowup ruined the surprise for his 3-year-old nephew. Which, incidentally, makes one wonder how much said nephew is paying attention to the sports media … anyways, hopefully we won’t have to dedicate much more space on the issue, which seems to closely resemble a non-issue.

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Choice offers apology over Vick autograph

Many of you probably agree it was a bit of an awkward moment when cameras caught Tashard Choice getting Michael Vick to sign his glove following Sunday night’s game between the Cowboys and Eagles.

Typically, these things happen when and where cameras aren’t around. So, maybe Choice doesn’t have the best timing. But he does have a reason: The autograph was for his 3-year-old nephew, apparently a big Vick fan.

“Listen y’all I know Vick,” Choice wrote in Twitter. “That glove was for my nephew who is 3. Not for me.”

Vick didn’t seem to have much of a problem with it.

“That’s probably the first time that’s ever happened to me,” Vick said of the request. “But [Choice] is a great guy. It doesn’t surprise me.”

Suffice to say Choice didn’t realize getting an autograph from Vick, on the field following a home loss, wouldn’t sit well with Cowboys faithful. It sounds as though he took a public beating on Twitter, or at least got wind of the reaction, because he offered an apology Monday morning.

“If its anybody that cares about winning and the d cowboys its me,” Choice wrote. “I apologize to the people it was just an innocent gesture for my nephew.”

It all seems innocent enough. Plus, of all the things Cowboys fans have to be frustrated about, this one just doesn’t seem to be high on the list.

What do you think, NFL Nation … big deal or not?

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