Daily Madden: The Common Trait Of The Championship Game Coaches
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - John Madden sees a common trait among the four coaches leading their teams into Sunday's battles for a conference championship and a trip to the Super Bowl.
"They're all grinders," John told the KCBS morning crew. "It's a grind of 17 regular season games and then the playoffs and then the championship and then the Super Bowl... If you take your foot off and stop grinding, it's hard to put it back on."
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Madden said that might be why the Packers didn't look very good in their loss to the Giants.
"I really didn't like what Green Bay did at the end of the season when they clinched everything," Madden said. "Aaron Rodgers didn't even suit up in a football uniform and he called plays.... The receivers are working with another guy. (Packers receiver Greg) Jennings doesn't play. The offensive line is blocking for another guy and the cadence is different. And then you don't play for three weeks, and then you have to turn it on... I don't know that you can be off that long and then come back and jump right back in where you were."
49ers coach Jim Harbaugh faces off against Giants coach Tom Coughlin Sunday at Candlestick, and Ravens coach John Harbaugh meets Bill Belichick and the Patriots in Foxborough. (8:00)
Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.
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