THE MAIL

Your article on the silent snap count brought back a lot of memories. When I was a defensive end in high school in the early 1970s, our football team played against the Michigan School for the Deaf in Flint. MSD's offense drove us crazy with its silent snap. As young teenagers, we had never seen anything like it—the anticipation of the snap without sound always had the defense on edge.

Jim Grant, Rochester Hills, Mich.

Bring the Noise

Mark Bowden's article on the silent snap (The Silent Treatment) and the reasons behind it was very informative. I've always wondered why home teams were allowed to rev up the stadium noise without suffering any penalties or what opposing teams could do to adjust. Baltimore's Memorial Stadium used to be called the World's Largest Outdoor Insane Asylum, mostly because of the raucous crowd. I remember being there for a Colts game in the early 1970s when the crowd held up play for 20 minutes because the players couldn't hear anything on the field.

PG Wist, Westminster, Md.

There was one error in Bowden's otherwise brilliant piece. Bernie Kosar was not a Pennsylvania high schooler. He attended Boardman (Ohio) High near Youngstown.

Tim Rogers, Canton, Ohio

Price Gouging

Nearly $300 for a Notre Dame single-game ticket (SCORECARD)? For a college football game? That is outrageous. I can't imagine what the scalpers are asking for season tickets. This is a disgusting sign of the times.

Daniel David Riley, Ann Arbor

Bold Prediction

It was quite daring for Peter King to pick the Patriots to win it all (Peter King's Super Bowl Prediction). Their explosive offense is not what it used to be. With both Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez out, their situation at tight end is questionable at best. They lost Wes Welker, one of the best slot receivers in the NFL, while his replacements have yet to prove themselves. They may go 12--4, but Tom Brady can't do it alone.

Mike Eagle, Old Saybrook, Conn.

Loved the NFL covers with the young quarterbacks and the shadows of veteran QBs.

Hank Schmitz

Dayton, Ohio

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SOCIAL MEDIA

What did you think of Eminem's appearance on ESPN's Saturday night football?

Miguel Gonzalez It made me cringe just to see it. I turned the channel until it was over.

Jay Costa It was obviously meant to be an Andy Kaufman--style bit.

Scott Atherton My favorite part was when he listed his greatest fantasy announcers of all time and left Kirk Herbstreit off the list while standing right next to him.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

So who goes to Final Jeopardy! among Rey Maualuga, Lavonte David and Clay Matthews?

Ray Rotto (@RattoCSN)

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FOR SEPT. 2, 2013

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AL TIELEMANS/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (GRIFFIN)

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ANDREW HANCOCK FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (LUCK)

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ROBERT BECK/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (WILSON)

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CARY EDMONDSON/USA TODAY SPORTS (KAEPERNICK)

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ESPN (EMINEM)

FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS