# The Sweet 16 Addition By Subtraction LOL RAIDERS Steelers March to the Super Bowl Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 6, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762 "2019-09-06T00:04:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Harrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac8455/32.png) [@Harrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harrington)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/141 "2019-11-17T02:44:19Z")
Maybe you can petition the mods to change the obviously erroneous title. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2019, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/142 "2019-11-17T04:26:58Z")
Especially since the Browns beat us for the first time in how many years – who likes a sore winner? On a lighter note, [Primantis has offered Maurkice Pouncey a job](https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019/11/15/primanti-bros-offers-pittsburgh-steelers-maurkice-pouncey-after-steelers-cleveland-brawl/). ---
**Author:** ![Harrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac8455/32.png) [@Harrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harrington)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2019, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/143 "2019-11-17T06:22:13Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Especially since the Browns beat us for the first time in how many years – who likes a sore winner? Well, the first game after the Browns finished 0-16 and the Steelers finished 13-3 (the 2017 season), the Steelers and Browns tied 21-21. That probably felt like a win to Brown’s fans and a loss to Steeler’s fans. Of course, that’s not a true victory. But if one has the moxie to start a “Steelers march to the Super Bowl” thread not on a Steelers Love message board, they must have the fortitude to withstand the expected criticism. I’m from Chicago (Bears, not Browns), but I do delight in a Steelers loss, admittedly mostly because the Steelers have been historically successful. I know the title is mostly in jest, but so was my suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![Harrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac8455/32.png) [@Harrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harrington)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/144 "2019-11-18T06:31:28Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Jesus Christ. > > What else can you say about that game? The Browns have apparently decided to be the new Bengals. Three helmet-to-helmet hits, knocking out both of Pittsburgh’s starting receivers, and then the ending, where Garrett sacked Rudolph, stayed on top of him, and then ripped his helmet off and clubbed him over the head with it. Pouncey punched and kicked him, and I certainly don’t approve of it but I understand. His quarterback just got cracked on the head with his own helmet, for God’s sake. > > Anyway, the defense did what it could, but the offense is beyond broken. There was almost literally nobody left that wasn’t on the practice squad earlier this year. You can’t win games with those players. Tonight was a disaster. > > But the Browns are dirty-ass bullshit. Garrett should be escorted from the stadium in handcuffs. @ 0:22 (Ignore the obnoxious commentary) Rudolph grabbed Garrett’s helmet twice and almost stripped it off (a potentially dangerous act) because he was upset Garrett continued to bring him down on a bang-bang play in which Rudolph released the ball just as Garrett was hitting him. Garrett may have thought Rudolph still had the ball. Garrett did not Charles Martin Rudolph. Garrett actually hit the ground first and pulled Rudolph on top of him for a soft landing. Garrett was not on top of Rudolph, they were side-by-side on the ground and Rudolph immediately grabbed his helmet. Even if Garrett was on top of Rudolph and lingered there longer than is reasonable, that does not justify grabbing his helmet. I’m sure Garrett was just as upset as Pouncy. No, I’m not advocating Garret’s actions, and I too think he should have gone to jail. No, I am not saying Rudolph grabbing Garrett’s helmet justifies what Garrett did. No, I am not saying Garrett’s actions, Pouncey’s actions, and Rudolph’s actions are equivalent. Not even close. But Garrett didn’t just inexplicably attack Rudolph without provocation, my impression after reading "…where Garrett sacked Rudolph, stayed on top of him, and then ripped his helmet off and clubbed him over the head with it. Interesting omission. Rudolph’s actions were not as potentially dangerous as Garrett’s, but still potentially dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/145 "2019-11-18T06:50:23Z")
you know I read a book about the NFL in the 70s and mid 80s that said the philosophy was "if you cant win … keep the fans happy by hurting people especially if there’s a rivalry because to some people busting the enemy’s head open is just as big of a win as a touchdown in their eyes and i think that mentality has stayed in certain regions ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/146 "2019-11-18T07:06:20Z")
> [@Harrington](#): > > @ 0:22 (Ignore the obnoxious commentary) > > Rudolph grabbed Garrett’s helmet twice and almost stripped it off (a potentially dangerous act) because he was upset Garrett continued to bring him down on a bang-bang play in which Rudolph released the ball just as Garrett was hitting him. Garrett may have thought Rudolph still had the ball. Garrett did not Charles Martin Rudolph. Garrett actually hit the ground first and pulled Rudolph on top of him for a soft landing. Garrett was not on top of Rudolph, they were side-by-side on the ground and Rudolph immediately grabbed his helmet. Even if Garrett was on top of Rudolph and lingered there longer than is reasonable, that does not justify grabbing his helmet. I’m sure Garrett was just as upset as Pouncy. > > No, I’m not advocating Garret’s actions, and I too think he should have gone to jail. No, I am not saying Rudolph grabbing Garrett’s helmet justifies what Garrett did. No, I am not saying Garrett’s actions, Pouncey’s actions, and Rudolph’s actions are equivalent. Not even close. But Garrett didn’t just inexplicably attack Rudolph without provocation, my impression after reading "…where Garrett sacked Rudolph, stayed on top of him, and then ripped his helmet off and clubbed him over the head with it. Interesting omission. Rudolph’s actions were not as potentially dangerous as Garrett’s, but still potentially dangerous. I’ve been reading a lot of comments like this. My response is this: if Rudolph’s actions did not warrant a suspension before the helmet swing, why would they now? Until the helmet was swung it was just another men-being-men football scrum. You see them all the time. They get pissed off, they go at each other, it’s broken up, fines are administered, warnings are given, and it’s over. What made this the big thing it is wasn’t even the ripping off of the helmet, it was Garrett deliberately swinging it at Rudolph’s head. He catches Mason just right and he’s still unconscious, or worse. That was the big sin here. Rudolph will be fined, if he hasn’t been already. All parties to the issue have been punished appropriately. I’m even fine with Pouncey’s suspension because even though he was protecting his teammate who had just been clubbed in the head with a helmet he still shouldn’t have gone wading in with kicks and punches. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/147 "2019-11-18T15:42:53Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > I’ve been reading a lot of comments like this. > > My response is this: if Rudolph’s actions did not warrant a suspension before the helmet swing, why would they now? Until the helmet was swung it was just another men-being-men football scrum. You see them all the time. They get pissed off, they go at each other, it’s broken up, fines are administered, warnings are given, and it’s over. > > What made this the big thing it is wasn’t even the ripping off of the helmet, it was Garrett deliberately swinging it at Rudolph’s head. He catches Mason just right and he’s still unconscious, or worse. That was the big sin here. Rudolph will be fined, if he hasn’t been already. All parties to the issue have been punished appropriately. I’m even fine with Pouncey’s suspension because even though he was protecting his teammate who had just been clubbed in the head with a helmet he still shouldn’t have gone wading in with kicks and punches. To add… people (justifiably) focus on the clubbing, but to me the way Garrett pulled Rudolph up by his face mask and yanked it off his head is almost worse. It is brutal to watch, and all involved are lucky Rudolph didn’t end up with some kind of serious neck injury. Rudolph kind of tugged and twisted Garrett’s helmet a little bit after a late-ish hit on the last play of the game, and then Garrett responded by going completely ballistic with multiple actions that seriously endangered another player’s health. ---
**Author:** ![Harrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac8455/32.png) [@Harrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harrington)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/148 "2019-11-20T07:03:31Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > I’ve been reading a lot of comments like this. > > My response is this: if Rudolph’s actions did not warrant a suspension before the helmet swing, why would they now? Until the helmet was swung it was just another men-being-men football scrum. You see them all the time. They get pissed off, they go at each other, it’s broken up, fines are administered, warnings are given, and it’s over. > > What made this the big thing it is wasn’t even the ripping off of the helmet, it was Garrett deliberately swinging it at Rudolph’s head. He catches Mason just right and he’s still unconscious, or worse. That was the big sin here. Rudolph will be fined, if he hasn’t been already. All parties to the issue have been punished appropriately. I’m even fine with Pouncey’s suspension because even though he was protecting his teammate who had just been clubbed in the head with a helmet he still shouldn’t have gone wading in with kicks and punches. I concur. I just thought that the entire incident should be entered into record. I read an article that stated that Rudolph was not going to press charges, but that is not his decision, right? This was a crime against the people, and the D.A. makes that decision, right? Luckily for Rudolph, it appears the padded part at the rear of the helmet struck him. Lucky for Garrett too. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/149 "2019-11-20T23:29:21Z")
Rudolph addressed the media earlier, apologizing for his own actions in the who mess. Considering he was least at fault, I’d say he’s got far more class than Garrett ever will. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/150 "2019-11-22T01:24:23Z")
Oh gee, big surprise: [Myles Garrett Doubles Down on Racial Slur Claim](https://www.tmz.com/2019/11/21/myles-garrett-mason-rudolph-racial-slur-suspension-hearing/) The NHL says they have [no evidence](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28130757/nfl-finds-no-such-evidence-mason-rudolph-directing-racial-slur-myles-garrett). I believe these dudes are micced up in their shoulder pads, right? Plus their teammates were right there, and none of them have corroborated Garrett’s story. I also doubt that Pouncey would’ve been so eager to defend Rudolph had that been the case. Wasn’t he just going on and on about how deeply sorry he was, and how he truely regretted his actions? Whatever, Garrett. Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/151 "2019-11-22T03:29:04Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I believe these dudes are micced up in their shoulder pads, right? No, typically only 1 or 2 players on each team are mic’ed up per game. There are parabolic mics on the sideline that can pick up a lot, but not everything. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/152 "2019-11-22T03:57:19Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > No, typically only 1 or 2 players on each team are mic’ed up per game. There are parabolic mics on the sideline that can pick up a lot, but not everything. Usually the QB on the offense and maybe some kind of captain on the defense who can relay to his teammates. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/153 "2019-11-22T05:46:37Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Usually the QB on the offense and maybe some kind of captain on the defense who can relay to his teammates. There’s two different systems at play, which is the source of the confusion. There are two players that have speakers in their helmet, [both marked with a sticker on the back.](https://images.app.goo.gl/p4qAyNKByxqwyu4r7) Those don’t have microphones attached, and are used to relay plays and instructions in to the players. Those speakers turn off when the play clock has only 15 seconds left. The other system is the microphones NFL Films puts on certain players during the game. The players change each week, and the microphone is transmitted to the sideline and recorded, then used with game film each week for [highlights.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D21D4rrjb78) These have been the source of controversy in the past, with notable instances being Sam Darnold’s “I’m seeing ghosts” caught on mic, and Randall Cobb blaming a punctured lung on landing on the battery pack. According to reports, no one from the Steelers/Browns game was wearing a mic, and it’s usually only a couple players per game, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/154 "2019-11-22T05:53:46Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Usually the QB on the offense and maybe some kind of captain on the defense who can relay to his teammates. No, those helmets have receivers, but not microphones. One player on offence and one on defense can receive information from the sideline, and they cut out with 15 (?) seconds left on the play clock. But the players can’t talk to the sidelines. The players with microphones are only for NFL Films and the TV folks, and it’s completely separate. But I do think the uniforms know have chips to relay location, speed, etc for some of the advanced metrics they now show. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/155 "2019-11-22T16:51:59Z")
Yeah, got it, I was thinking about the players with speakers getting plays sent to them from coaches. It was on my mind because of the recent thread talking about QBs calling their own plays. Sorry about the slip-up. :o ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/156 "2019-11-23T00:44:57Z")
Either way, the fact that he waited so long, and AFTER apologizing so thoroughly just screams of pulling the Race Card. ---
**Author:** ![Harrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac8455/32.png) [@Harrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harrington)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2019, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/157 "2019-11-24T23:32:51Z")
[Brows fans swing helmet at Rudolph effigy](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28153490/browns-fans-swing-football-helmet-mason-rudolph-pinata) > [@](#): > > Before Sunday’s game with the Dolphins, Browns owner Dee Haslam was photographed with Garrett’s No. 95 on her cap in a show of support. It seems like, since Rudolph was not seriously hurt, that idiots in Cleveland are treating this as no big deal and feel Garrett was unjustly punished. That, or they are just raw idiots and will support the team colors regardless of behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Harrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac8455/32.png) [@Harrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harrington)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2019, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/158 "2019-11-26T13:52:08Z")
The two resident chatters are uncharacteristically quiet. Is it because of a meek victory over Cincinnati? Apprehension due to the possibility of losing to Cleveland two times in three weeks? The probability of getting annihilated by Baltimore in week 17? ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/159 "2019-11-28T20:01:22Z")
If you include me in the “resident chatters”: my silence is due to a serious case of not giving a shit because tropical island. Anyway, the Steelers practice squad, helmed by our third string quarterback, beat the Bengals. I’m pretty good with that. It looks like a number of our starters, injured by the head-hunting Browns, won’t be back for the rematch. Fine, practice squad it is - the Browns won’t be able to help themselves and be the undisciplined rabble that they are, which in his game won’t be tolerated near as much as the first game, so it may be all we need to deal with what’s left after the ejections. Is that sorta what you were looking for? ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762/160 "2019-12-01T21:14:42Z")
Even though the browns managed to stay within the rules this time, the Steelers practice squad and a “training-camp arm”, not being actively headhunted, managed to get it done. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sweet-16-addition-by-subtraction-lol-raiders-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/839762.md?page=9)