OT - NFL rooting interest: team vs Michigan alum

Submitted by WolverineBoston on
I really dislike the Jets. Like, a lot. But watching the Indy/Jets game I found it impossible to not root for Braylon. Sick move, great TD catch. I (obviously) want him to be as successful as possible. Where should the loyalty lie? Is it like fantasy football? Want the team to lose but the player to put up huge stats? I almost found myself pulling for the Jets because of Braylon. In fairness, I really dislike the Colts too...
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Magnus

January 25th, 2010 at 9:29 AM ^

It was tough to choose based on UM allegiance, because both teams have two Michigan guys - Jackson and Hart for Indy, and Edwards and Harris for the Jets. But then I realized that I hate the Jets, so I rooted for the Colts, despite the fact that Jackson is injured and Hart doesn't play much. Hey, at least they'll still get rings if they win the Super Bowl...

Joined: 07/17/2008

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WolverineBoston

January 25th, 2010 at 9:44 AM ^

Very true - I was thinking less about Hart and Marlin less than Harris and Braylon simply because of who was on the field more. My friends and I have a name for these types of games: Meteor Games. Where the only thing you want is for a meteor to hit the stadium and blow up both teams. The phrase was coined for that horrendous ND/OSU Fiesta Bowl.

Joined: 01/22/2010

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Blue_Bull_Run

January 25th, 2010 at 11:25 AM ^

But, especially as a Pats fan, I think you should be rooting against Manning. The Jets are obviously much less of a threat to the Pats than the Colts are. By the way, what do you expect from the Pats next season? They have the Raiders pick this year (I think) and might be able to add some decent free agent talent. Any chance Richard Seymor goes back to Boston?

Joined: 11/25/2008

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WolverineBoston

January 25th, 2010 at 11:34 AM ^

I always root against Peyton. Starting from his Tenn days. And clearly the Colts are going to be more of a threat than the Jets. But it's hard not to root against NY teams when you're from Boston. Hence, the meteor game. I think the Pats will be fine next year. The D will get some maturity (will be interesting to see who next DC is though) And they have tons of 2nd round picks this year (the Raiders pick is for the '11 draft) If healthy, they can beat the Colts. Seymour will not be coming back. He's going for a big time contract and the Pats have zero interest in paying that.

Joined: 01/22/2010

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Rasmus

January 25th, 2010 at 12:31 PM ^

I generally loathe the Colts, but when Hart got into the game at running back against the Ravens week before last, I instantly switched over to rooting for the Colts in that game. I'm hoping the Pats use one of their later second round picks (they have three) to trade up in the first round to get Brandon Graham. They could use him.

Joined: 07/02/2009

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Bleedin9Blue

January 25th, 2010 at 9:32 AM ^

When it comes down to teams that I hate with Michigan alums, I'll root for the player to have a great game but for the team to lose, hopefully because a player that I hate (like an OSU alum) fumbles the ball or has a terrible penalty. Then, I don't have to feel bad that "my player" lost since it obviously wasn't his fault. Thus, yesterday I rooted for the Colts and for Braylon to make good grabs but hoped that Mark Sanchez would be sacked into oblivion and fumble the ball often. Essentially, root for the players like in Fantasy Football but root for whatever team you like more.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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Tauro

January 25th, 2010 at 9:32 AM ^

I just couldn't fathom watching the Jets in the Superbowl. I want to see two top quarterbacks going after the prize. Hopefully it will be a shootout.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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cjm

January 25th, 2010 at 9:48 AM ^

I know this isn't directly Alum related but I was a little intrigued by the Favre/Manning showdown. Now I will also say, I am happy we don't have to hear about Favre for the next two weeks.

Joined: 11/17/2008

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MaizeAndBlueWahoo

January 25th, 2010 at 10:01 AM ^

Alums on the team get thrown into the mix with everything else when it comes to my rooting interests in the game. Rarely the deciding factor. For example, the Vikings could be comprised of 100% Michigan and UVA grads plus Brett Favre and I would not have been rooting for them.

Joined: 07/02/2008

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bluebyyou

January 25th, 2010 at 11:16 AM ^

My sentiments exactly. Players come and go, but the team lives on. What do you do when someone is traded, get a new team to love? You wish the players well, do what you need to do to have a good showing, but football is about the team.

Joined: 09/07/2009

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Plegerize

January 25th, 2010 at 10:09 AM ^

It's always about the team, the team, the team... It's tough to just root for one player and justify an entire team winning based off that. However, I personally enjoy watching every Michigan alum have some individual success and hope they all have long fulfilling careers. I will always pick a team, and in the case of yesterday I rooted for the Colts and Vikings.

Joined: 03/26/2009

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Koyote

January 25th, 2010 at 10:33 AM ^

If I don't have a rooting interest, I usually go with either A.) Which team has more Michigan alumni players on it or B.) If both teams have Michigan alumni players, the team with the players that have the more prominent roll. Caveat - if I really hate the team, I hope our guys do well, but lose the game. This only applies to teams that I despise such as both NY teams Like for the Colts Saints Superbowl We have - Marlin Jackson (on IR) and Mike Hart of the Colts vs. Jonathan Goodwin and Adrian Arrington of the Saints Marlin and Goodwin are both starters for their respective teams, but because Marlin is out, I will likely be rooting for the saints. Hart and Arrington are backups so they both cancel each other out, although I suppose Hart gets more time. Oh and Peyton Manning annoys me.

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megalomanick

January 25th, 2010 at 11:24 AM ^

As far as the Super Bowl, I think I'm Saints all the way for the following reasons: Love and hope for the city of New Orleans, disliking Peyton, and above all else seeing midget quarterbacks with truckloads of moxie playing with the big boys gives me hope for Tate's future.

Joined: 07/06/2008

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Oaktown Wolverine

January 25th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^

I was rooting for the Jets because 3 Michigan alumni > 2 Michigan alumni. Its nice that Fav-re lost, but now we have to hear about Fav-re -re-retiring again. Hopeful the Superbowl hype machine will drawn that out for a couple of weeks.

Joined: 10/07/2009

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HAIL 2 VICTORS

January 25th, 2010 at 11:59 AM ^

I wanted to see Woodson get his SB-ring... I guess Woodson will just has to settle with the Ohio's Mr. Football Award, USA Today HS All-America Team, Big Ten Freshmen Of The Year Award, The many All Big Ten team recognitions, His Big Ten Championship rings, Big Ten Defensive Player Of The Year Award, NCAA All American Honors, Bronco Nagurski Award, The Heisman Trophy, his NCAA Championship Ring, His NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year Award, His Many All Pro appearances, His AFC Championship Ring, His NFL Defensive Player Of The Year award, His eventaul induction into the College Football Hall Of Fame and the NFL Hall Of Fame... Sucks to be Charles becuase that 24-Wine of his has not won a damn thing.

Joined: 12/01/2009

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I Bleed Maize N Blue

January 25th, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^

My feelings about an NFL team trump what U-M players might be on it. Like others, I like to see them make plays, but hope their team loses. Meteor game, indeed - I hate the Colts, but I really hate the Jets. Neutral about the Saints, so I can actually root for them. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

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