TUESDAY MORNING NOTES
Media day has begun & the only thing worth talking about is the health of two important patriot starters. Tight end Rob Gronkowski appeared this morning without the walking boot he had worn for the past ten days. He was unable to practice yesterday & he's not expected to participate in anything but Friday's walk-thru in an effort to let his high ankle sprain get as much rest as possible. I think he's going to dress for the game, just no way of knowing how effective he'll be. Starting left tackle Matt Light missed practice yesterday & wasn't made available for media day this morning. Light has some sort of illness, possibly the flu. Bill Belichick was his usual vague self about both players this morning. He had his team practice in full pads yesterday & DT Vince Wilfork said it was just what the team needed to get their focus on "what's important."
The "Occupy" people have decided picketing at the Super Bowl is a good way to attract attention. About 75 of them picketed on Saturday & they were back at it yesterday in the middle of the midway outside Lucas Oil Stadium. Yes, I said midway, like a state fair, that's another way for the NFL & some of it's biggest sponsors to earn even more money & get the exposure they crave. Food venues, bounce houses, zip lines, car displays, all sorts of football related games & exhibits cover acres & acres around the stadium. I have to believe this is one of the worst places for the "Occupy" folks to get sympathetic support, maybe I'm wrong.
Despite the sagging economy, tickets are going for near-record prices on Ticketmaster, StubHub, Craig's List & the NFL Ticket Exchange. The face value of tickets available to the public range from $800 to $1,200. The average price up to yesterday was $4,337 on the NFL Ticket Exchange.
Have you ever wondered how Super Bowl tickets are distributed? I always had & now I know. Lucas Oil Stadium holds 70,000 for football with the expanded seating. Here's how the breakdown goes:
75% goes to the teams-17.5% to each of the participants(12,250 each)
- 5% to the host team, the Colts(3,500)
- 1.2% to the remaining 29-teams(840)
individual teams distribute tickets in various ways
25% goes to the networks, sponsors, contest winners, media & team ownership(17,500)
Every year I complain about having the Super Bowl on Sunday evening. It ought to be on Saturday night, that way people can stay out late & get a day to recover before they go back to work.
I heard Ron Jaworski on Mike & Mike in the Morning today & he mentioned he had never seen a tape of Super Bowl XV, which he played in for the Philadelphia Eagles. losing 27-10. Never? Never he claims, it's just too painful for Jaws to think about watching. Dan Marino said when we get to Championship Sunday, he begins thinking of his only Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XIX, just his 2nd year in the NFL. He never returned. He said this morning "It's painful, I think about it everyday for about 2 1/2 weeks every single year. I imagine I always will."
I neglected to mention yesterday when speaking of Steve Hoffman's dismissal as the Chiefs' special teams coach there were two telling plays. I think the two blocked field goals in the Raider game which determined the outcome were a major reason for Hoffman's firing by Romeo Crennel. He's been an excellent kicking & punting coach, but far less effective coaching the return, coverage & field goal teams.
I never thought it would happen, but Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network is reporting Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is investigating the possibility of Todd Haley becoming the Steelers' offensive coordinator. I don't see Haley & Tomlin being a good match, but after Bruce Arians being let go, they need a new O.C. & they need one now. Haley's father Dick was one of the architects of the 1970's Steelers who won 4 Super Bowls.
New Raiders coach Dennis Allen has extended an offer to Gregg Knapp to become Oakland's offensive coordinator.
The "Occupy" people have decided picketing at the Super Bowl is a good way to attract attention. About 75 of them picketed on Saturday & they were back at it yesterday in the middle of the midway outside Lucas Oil Stadium. Yes, I said midway, like a state fair, that's another way for the NFL & some of it's biggest sponsors to earn even more money & get the exposure they crave. Food venues, bounce houses, zip lines, car displays, all sorts of football related games & exhibits cover acres & acres around the stadium. I have to believe this is one of the worst places for the "Occupy" folks to get sympathetic support, maybe I'm wrong.
Despite the sagging economy, tickets are going for near-record prices on Ticketmaster, StubHub, Craig's List & the NFL Ticket Exchange. The face value of tickets available to the public range from $800 to $1,200. The average price up to yesterday was $4,337 on the NFL Ticket Exchange.
Have you ever wondered how Super Bowl tickets are distributed? I always had & now I know. Lucas Oil Stadium holds 70,000 for football with the expanded seating. Here's how the breakdown goes:
75% goes to the teams-17.5% to each of the participants(12,250 each)
- 5% to the host team, the Colts(3,500)
- 1.2% to the remaining 29-teams(840)
individual teams distribute tickets in various ways
25% goes to the networks, sponsors, contest winners, media & team ownership(17,500)
Every year I complain about having the Super Bowl on Sunday evening. It ought to be on Saturday night, that way people can stay out late & get a day to recover before they go back to work.
I heard Ron Jaworski on Mike & Mike in the Morning today & he mentioned he had never seen a tape of Super Bowl XV, which he played in for the Philadelphia Eagles. losing 27-10. Never? Never he claims, it's just too painful for Jaws to think about watching. Dan Marino said when we get to Championship Sunday, he begins thinking of his only Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XIX, just his 2nd year in the NFL. He never returned. He said this morning "It's painful, I think about it everyday for about 2 1/2 weeks every single year. I imagine I always will."
I neglected to mention yesterday when speaking of Steve Hoffman's dismissal as the Chiefs' special teams coach there were two telling plays. I think the two blocked field goals in the Raider game which determined the outcome were a major reason for Hoffman's firing by Romeo Crennel. He's been an excellent kicking & punting coach, but far less effective coaching the return, coverage & field goal teams.
I never thought it would happen, but Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network is reporting Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is investigating the possibility of Todd Haley becoming the Steelers' offensive coordinator. I don't see Haley & Tomlin being a good match, but after Bruce Arians being let go, they need a new O.C. & they need one now. Haley's father Dick was one of the architects of the 1970's Steelers who won 4 Super Bowls.
New Raiders coach Dennis Allen has extended an offer to Gregg Knapp to become Oakland's offensive coordinator.
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