NFL 2012 Off-Season Thread

[Kris P Lettus]

http://i.imgur.com/fS1jB.jpg

[James Steele]

I thought the new Browns got to keep the history of the old Browns?

[Kris P Lettus]

New Browns are an expansion team..

[Supreme Olajuwon]

No, James Steele is right.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Art Modell had to release all the Browns history in order for the NFL to allow him to move the team, so technically the Browns were just "deactivated" for three years and the Ravens were an expansion team.

[Kris P Lettus]

gay

[FearedSanctity]

They're not the Browns but they're the Browns

[Kris P Lettus]

1996 Ravens had the same roster as the 1995 Browns, besides players who were drafted (eg. Ray Lewis, Jonathon Ogden)..

[James Steele]

I'm talking about the team history/records/etc. I wish Houston would have got to keep the Oilers history, but it was an entirely different situation.

[Requiem]

For the 3 years you've been a fan?? Bet that's been real hard on you..

How does that help your case? You've been a fan for years longer than I, and you don't even know your coach's name. :p

[James Steele]

:lol:

[James Steele]

Browns should make a modern version of this logo:

http://www.limasouth1955.com/_files/image/Logo%20Used%20In%20The%201950s.gif

[FearedSanctity]

Browns should make a logo period

[James Steele]

http://projectphantom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BrownsLogo.jpg

God bless Google.

[FearedSanctity]

Beats this...

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hyiLkZjTyUk/TNGyYP0AMfI/AAAAAAAAAXg/SxZtnDBrdEY/s1600/orange-color-table.jpg

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Hey if the Browns get a new logo then maybe you all can jump on that bandwagon like you did for the current teams you root for!

[Skippord]

clearly something only a bandwagon Bengals fan would say

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Oh look, Skippord has to come in and do the same thing other people were already doing.

"Hey guys! Me too, right?!"

[Skippord]

someone else said that? drag

[Kris P Lettus]

How does that help your case? You've been a fan for years longer than I, and you don't even know your coach's name. :p

I'm dyslexic and from Mississippi, unless it has a red line underneath it, it usually doesn't get corrected..

[James Steele]

I'm dyslexic and from Mississippi

That explains everything...

[Kris P Lettus]

Well, yeah..

[CSL]

Giants trade for Keith Rivers, give up a 5th round pick

not baddd

[Evil Vito]

Holy shit, love that move.

[Innovator]

Awesome.

[Ermaximus]

Lol I can't be a bandwagon fan. I'm the only Jags fan in the world. Come on now Supreme.

[Reavant]

The browns Mascot technically is a dog like a bulldog or mastif

[Reavant]

http://www.faniq.com/images/blog/d4b05c82a53040b20aa5c22b179c738c.jpg

http://www.photoshopfiles.com/photoshop_files/853/preview.png

[James Steele]

Why don't they use that instead of a vintage Air Helmet or upgrade their logo to the newer design helmets:

http://www.txhshelmetproject.com/PRO/NFL/Cleveland.png

[Droford]

The browns Mascot technically is a dog like a bulldog or mastif
you're on the Jag's unicycle then...

[Emperor Smeat]

Why don't they use that instead of a vintage Air Helmet or upgrade their logo to the newer design helmets:

http://www.txhshelmetproject.com/PRO/NFL/Cleveland.png

Somehow its all related to Art Modell who apparently hated logos and either nobody since has bothered to change or fan voting keeps rejecting changes.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Giants also sign OT Sean Locklear.</font>

[Kris P Lettus]

http://www.photoshopfiles.com/photoshop_files/853/preview.png

I like the "B" football..

[DaveBrawl]

I like the fact that the Browns don't use a logo.

I also like the fact that they are 5-21 against the Broncos.

[Next Big Thing]

I hope the Falcons stay off Hard Knocks. That show is the kiss of death for teams.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

How is it the kiss of death? The last two teams on it made the playoffs

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Giants trade for Keith Rivers, give up a 5th round pick

not baddd

Dunno, he's kind of a bust. Never played 16 games in a season, missed all of last year. Hope he works out though, he seems like a dude.

[Gonzo]

I would rather have my bro Jonathan Goff back. The price was probably too steep. :(

I think this move leaves the Giants with zero cap room. I smell a draft day trade coming.

[Kris P Lettus]

Dunno, he's kind of a bust. Never played 16 games in a season, missed all of last year. Hope he works out though, he seems like a dude.

He also got his jaw broken by Hinds Ward..

[Gonzo]

Hines Ward is such a tough guy. Reminds me of all the tough guys of yesteryear. Did you guys know he is also part Asian?

[Krimzon7]

:n:

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/14/who-dey-vs-who-dat/

This literally means nothing to me. When did you ever hear who dat chants? Saints fans are known for paper bags with eye holes cut out... #codyrhodes

[Krimzon7]

Keith rivers, traded? Meh...T-Newman sighs with the bengals? Meh. We better get some draft day gems

[FearedSanctity]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DttfyOeU3vw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

A little old but I don't care

[Reavant]

you're on the Jag's unicycle then...

huh?

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I remember there being a big fuss here about if the Bengals should draft Terence Newman with the #1 pick back in the day. They ended up with Palmer so that's cool. Dunno who else was in that draft. LEMME CZECH

[Kris P Lettus]

When did you ever hear who dat chants?

My whole life..

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Andre Johnson, Terrell Suggs, Troy Polamalu were all 1st rounders

so were Charles Rogers, Byron Leftwich, and Kyle Boller

[Supreme Olajuwon]

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kx6u5DhuGxw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[screech]

Lol Kyle Boller.

[Krimzon7]

Andre Johnson, Terrell Suggs, Troy Polamalu were all 1st rounders

so were Charles Rogers, Byron Leftwich, and Kyle Boller

Carson was totally the proper choice. It's just too bad that he had to deal with that cancer, chad johnson

[Krimzon7]

My whole life..

Yeah? Well, uh... I got nothing, how can I argue? Fuck a chant, I'd rather have a playoff run. We will revisit this issue if and when this ginger QB leads us to the superbowl.....



I've got an eye on you Kris:mad:

[Ermaximus]

Byron Leftwich

Ugh, can't believe that sack of shit has 2 Super Bowl rings and MoJo has none. Sickens me to no end.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Does it really?

[Ermaximus]

Yes it does. Leftwich is garbage. Complete and utter garbage.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Does this mean Byron Leftwich is a better QB than Peyton Manning?

Krimzon, your thoughts please.

[Ermaximus]

Ha, hell no. Leftwich may have more Super Bowl rings, but it by far does not make him a better QB. He just happens to have a knack for being picked up by teams who win the Super Bowl. I think he played in 1 game the year the Steelers won the SB.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Does he even have two? I thought he only had one

[Kris P Lettus]

Schefter said HBO is pushing to get the Falcons on Hard Knocks..

I really hope they take it..

[Kris P Lettus]

http://i.imgur.com/p1puC.png

:(

[Ermaximus]

Does he even have two? I thought he only had one

Could have sworn he won one with Pittsburgh and one with Tampa Bay. Let me check.

[Ermaximus]

Ok, I was wrong. He has one SB ring. Steelers back in 2008.

[FearedSanctity]

He wasn't even in the NFL when the Bucs won the Super Bowl

[Supreme Olajuwon]

OK so he is as good as Peyton Manning, but not better.

But he is definitely as good as Peyton Manning.

[Kris P Lettus]

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Oa1JhHcGD7g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Ermaximus]

OK so he is as good as Peyton Manning, but not better.

But he is definitely as good as Peyton Manning.

I'd put him on the level with Jamarcus Russell and Blaine Gabbert at this point, only with 1 ring.

[CSL]

you are the most irrational football fan of all the times Ermax

[CSL]

like Randy Quaid in Major League 2

[CSL]

which is probably easier for Jaguars fans than most

[CSL]

god Major League 2 was bad

[Ermaximus]

"The Vile thing! The choke on your own vomit and die thing."

[Emperor Smeat]

Joe Vitt set to be the Saints interim coach for next season but he won't have the job for the first 6 games due to his suspension. Aaron Kromer will take over for the first six games then return as the team's o-line coach.

Parcells already announced a day or so ago he's staying retired.

[Ermaximus]

So I'm really hoping now that the Rams really take Trent Richardson with the #6 pick so the Jags can snag Blackmon at #7. My only concern is, I have no fucking clue who the Browns are going to draft at #4.

[Kris P Lettus]

Joe Vitt set to be the Saints interim coach for next season but he won't have the job for the first 6 games due to his suspension. Aaron Kromer will take over for the first six games then return as the team's o-line coach.

Parcells already announced a day or so ago he's staying retired.

Vitt and Kromer won't "take" the job from Payton, if the Saints do really well next season.. Well, they are less likely than Pete Carmicheal or Spags, who both have HC credentials.. That was kinda the reason Payton wanted the Tuna.. I don't think Benson (owner) will get rid of Payton regardless of what happens this year, but I can see Payton's concern..

[Kris P Lettus]

So I'm really hoping now that the Rams really take Trent Richardson with the #6 pick so the Jags can snag Blackmon at #7. My only concern is, I have no fucking clue who the Browns are going to draft at #4.

Richardson will be gone.. He'll go to the Browns or the Bucs, mos def..

[Kris P Lettus]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/bankrupt-warren-sapp-asks-buccaneers-if-he-can-liv,27908/

lol :(

[Next Big Thing]

Richardson will be gone.. He'll go to the Browns or the Bucs, mos def..

That 4 through 6 spot is interesting. For whatever reason, people think Ryan Tannehill is a top 5 pick. I could see the Browns wasting their pick on him and the Bucs picking up Claiborne. Dude is dumb as hell, but a beast at Corner.

Don't get me wrong, I think Tannehill can be a good QB, but he's a guy who could benefit from sitting for 3 or 4 seasons before starting. Instead, he'll get ruined because the Browns or Dolphins will have him starting mid-year if not sooner and he'll end up fading away.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>At this point I don't know if I could justify a top 10 pick for any running back no matter how good they seem to be. Sure you could get a couple of beast years out of him, but then he'll demand a huge contract before long and you'll wind up screwed in the long run. RBs just don't last that long.</font>

[Next Big Thing]

That's true about backs. I think Richardson is one of those backs that can be a game changer instantly though. Plus, the new rookie contacts have mandatory four year deals with a team option on the fifth. By the time dude plays out his rookie deal, the team likely would have gotten his best years anyway.

[Kris P Lettus]

You can't base Claiborne's football intelligence on the Wonderlick.. He played at a high level, for multiple years, for a top 3 defense, in the SEC and succeeded.. He'll do just fine at the pro level..

Vito, I thought the same thing but Greeny has changed my mind over the past few days.. His reason is exactly the reason you say not to draft him.. This day in age, RB's get used up in their first few years, so the draft is really the only way to get an "elite" RB, without having to pay them a HUGE contract, with the new rookie salary limit.. Draft a RB high, run him for 4 years and then trade him..

[Gonzo]

You can't base Claiborne's football intelligence on the Wonderlick.. He played at a high level, for multiple years, for a top 3 defense, in the SEC and succeeded.. He'll do just fine at the pro level.

He is a DB right? If anything, there was a study that showed that DBs and TEs had a tendency to perform better with lower Wonderlic scores.

[Crimson]

He is a DB right? If anything, there was a study that showed that DBs and TEs had a tendency to perform better with lower Wonderlic scores.

Exhibit A= Deion Sanders. Nuff said

[Crimson]

Tannehill will be a bust. So will Coples, god I hope the Cowboys dont draft him.

[Next Big Thing]

Is Brees not going to show up at OTAs? Damn. No Payton and no Brees. That would have to feel surreal in the locker room.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>A record 26 players have been invited to the NFL draft. Yay for another year of every 1st round pick being shown before the announcement!</font>

[Crimson]

No kidding..I hate that. Why do they have to be the first to spoil the damn pick. It'll be like a minute before the pick is in and they show the player on the phone with a smile on his face
Analyst; Well we know what the next pick is folks you saw it here first!!! What do you think about the pick Mel??! Even before the commish announces it

[Next Big Thing]

If you were projected to go between 20 & 25 and the NFL invited you would you go? I feel like they're setting guys up for some awkward camera shots and unintended hilariousness if someone shows up, doesn't go in the first round and has to sit there in their suit with their family as the party slowly dwindles to just them and the janitors waiting to put up the tables and chairs.

[Kris P Lettus]

http://daveartlocker.blogspot.com/2012/04/nike-redesigns.html

[Skippord]

whoa the Broncos released Andre Goodman

a few years late, but still

[Kris P Lettus]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/sports/football/when-the-nfls-culture-of-violence-seemed-funny.html?_r=3&ref=football

In ’89, Idea of Bounties Seemed Funny to Many
By MIKE TANIER
The N.F.L.’s last bounty scandal of note did not provoke outrage or condemnation. It did not result in fines or suspensions. The accused perpetrators showed no remorse. The only person to receive any penalty was the victim.

Mostly, the incident was played for laughs.

There had been bad blood between Buddy Ryan’s Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys since 1987, when the Cowboys sent their stars onto the field against Philadelphia’s overmatched replacement players during the strike. The feud intensified in 1989 when Ryan released kicker Luis Zendejas after a string of poor games, and Zendejas criticized Ryan before signing with Dallas.

After Zendejas kicked off to start the third quarter of the Eagles’ 27-0 victory over the Cowboys on Thanksgiving that year, Jessie Small, a 239-pound linebacker for the Eagles, ignored his usual blocking assignment and raced across the field toward the 175-pound Zendejas. The kicker crumpled in self-defense, his helmet colliding with Small’s ankle.

The referees, dutifully enforcing the letter of the rulebook, flagged Zendejas for a low block. He stumbled to his feet with what was later diagnosed as a concussion. Small was not penalized.

After the game, Cowboys Coach Jimmy Johnson accused the Eagles of putting a price on Zendejas’s head.

“We were told last night by a coach, and it is confirmed by two different players: there is a $200 bounty on Luis Zendejas, a $500 bounty on Troy Aikman,” Johnson said in his postgame news conference.

Livid, Johnson also took a shot at Ryan.

“I would have said something to Buddy, but he wouldn’t stand on the field long enough,” Johnson said. “He put his big fat rear end into the dressing room.”

Ryan, one of the game’s more colorful personalities, called the bounty allegations excuses and “High School Charlie stuff.”

He added of Johnson’s “fat” comment: “I resent that. I’ve been on a diet, lost a couple of pounds. I thought I was looking good.”

Ryan was not the only one who found humor in the unsportsmanlike hit. “The NFL Today,” the pregame show on CBS, devoted a long segment the next week to what became known as the Bounty Bowl. The host, Brent Musburger, chuckled at Ryan’s remarks. “Oh, the rips you can make in 30 seconds,” he said. Irv Cross asserted that the Eagles had a reward system for big plays, not a bounty system. “What they are is aggressive and arrogant,” he said.

“What they are is in trouble,” their “NFL Today” colleague Will McDonough added, noting that players were not allowed to receive noncontractual money from a team.

Finally, Chicago Coach Mike Ditka, who had a checkered history with Ryan, the Bears’ defensive coordinator when they won the Super Bowl in 1986, added a dollop of sarcasm during a satellite interview. “That would seem much too constructive for him to think of anything like that,” Ditka said of Ryan.

Set aside the humor, however, and there are many parallels between the Bounty Bowl and the current scandal which led to the suspensions of Gregg Williams, Sean Payton and other coaches and executives for the New Orleans Saints, punishments that were upheld this week after an appeal to Commissioner Roger Goodell.

In both instances, there were initial denials and dismissals by players that it was all “part of the game.” Some tried to make distinctions between “big-play bonuses” and bounties. There was even a tape: Zendejas claimed to have recorded a telephone conversation in which the Eagles’ special teams coach, Al Roberts, warned him of the bounty in the week leading up to the game.

The N.F.L. looked into the matter, though not as zealously as it pursued the Saints scandal.

“Calling it an investigation would be overstating it,” said the Hall of Fame sportswriter Ray Didinger, who covered the Eagles for The Philadelphia Daily News and now writes for CSNPhilly.com. “It was more of an inquiry.”

The N.F.L.’s security chief met with Ryan, Roberts and several Eagles players but found no evidence of wrongdoing.

“After a thorough review of all information available to the league, Commissioner Tagliabue has concluded that there is no proof that ‘bounties’ were placed on any Dallas Cowboy player by the Philadelphia Eagles,” the N.F.L. said in a statement, referring to Paul Tagliabue. “Nor is there convincing evidence of an intent to injure any Cowboys’ player or to make contact with any player outside the rules of the game.”

Ryan reacted in typical fashion: he demanded an apology from Johnson.

The commissioner’s ruling came just days before a rematch between the teams in Philadelphia. The game was called Bounty Bowl II. “The NFL Today” promoted the game with on-screen “wanted” posters of players. Tagliabue attended the game. Small and Zendejas played.

The Eagles’ 20-10 victory passed without incident between the teams, but Philadelphia fans pelted Johnson and everyone else they could reach with snowballs. The television commentators Verne Lundquist and Terry Bradshaw endured a barrage inside their open-air broadcast booth.

“I got to tell you what a joy it is to come here to Philadelphia to dodge ice balls,” Lundquist said in the telecast’s final seconds.

Didinger never found any clear evidence of a bounty system, but he is convinced that Small was acting on Ryan’s wishes, whether they were stated or implied, and was compensated with money or simply the coach’s favor.

“Looking at the film of the play, there is no other logical explanation,” he said. “Somebody put this idea in Jessie Small’s head.”

Didinger also believes that Johnson’s allegations would have been taken more seriously at the time were it not for the personalities involved: the blustery Johnson, the smart-alecky Ryan and a tiny journeyman kicker in Zendejas.

“There was a slapstick element to it,” Didinger said, noting that the incident might not have been brushed aside so quickly if a star like Joe Montana or Phil Simms were involved.

Attitudes have changed, and teams, the news media and fans take excessive roughness much more seriously than they did 23 years ago. That is a reflection of the league’s emphasis on safety issues and the awareness that the deaths of some former players have been linked to injuries sustained on the field. They include Andre Waters — Ryan’s favorite enforcer, who was on the field for the Bounty Bowls.

“To a large degree, it was laughed off,” Didinger said of the Bounty Bowls. “No one is laughing now.”



That's what Mike Golic was talking about..

[FearedSanctity]

whoa the Broncos released Andre Goodman

a few years late, but still

About fucking time. Keep reading Denver reporters defend him with "DON'T FORGET THAT INT HE HAD AGAINST THE VIKINGS!!!!!" No. A fucking DT could have caught that gift, all he had to do was not drop a pass directly to him.

Now his pick 6 against the Jets was nice, too bad he was regularly getting abused by basically every average WR in the league

[Next Big Thing]

KRIS P!!!

Now that I got your attention, settle this bar debate for me. Who is more loved by modern day Saints fans, Joe Horn or Archie Manning?

[Kris P Lettus]

My generation, "Hollywood" Joe Horn.. My dad's, prolly Archie..

[DaveWadding]

The Cardinals need to draft Matt Kalil or Riley Reiff.

[Kris P Lettus]

Kalil will be gone..

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Chase Blackburn re-signs with the Giants</font> :cool:

[Next Big Thing]

In hindsight, I wish the Falcons had not done the deal they did for Julio Jones so they could offer the same pieces this year to move up for Kalil. That line is the one thing holding them back.

[Kris P Lettus]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8285000a/article/roddy-white-expresses-remorse-for-antigay-tweets?module=HP11_headline_stack

Roddy White is a dickhead.. When players get this out of control and keep fucking up via social media, the coach, GM, and owner should step up and ban them from things like Twitter, Facebook, etc..

[FearedSanctity]

I just don't understand how hard it is for them to NOT say dumb shit

[DrA]

How is Roddy White 30, it seems like he was just drafted a couple of years ago.

[Next Big Thing]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8285000a/article/roddy-white-expresses-remorse-for-antigay-tweets?module=HP11_headline_stack

Roddy White is a dickhead.. When players get this out of control and keep fucking up via social media, the coach, GM, and owner should step up and ban them from things like Twitter, Facebook, etc..

Yeah. There's no excuse at all for that. He was being a jackass. #period

[Kris P Lettus]

Same when he said all that shit about NOLA..

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/12/roddy_white_adds_another_page.html

[Next Big Thing]

Meh. That's not that bad. I think it was trash talk gone a little too far, whereas the homophobic stuff was blatantly out of line.

[Kris P Lettus]

Saying that God gave New Orleans a championship so the city wouldn't fall apart isn't out of line??

[Next Big Thing]

Saying that God gave New Orleans a championship so the city wouldn't fall apart isn't out of line??

When you look at it in the context of the other tweets and the trash that was being talked on both sides, no. I think it tiptoes the line between appropriate and inappropriate depending on who reads it, whereas his refusal to back down from his borderline homophobic comments is just ignorant.

[Kris P Lettus]

Show me the Saints trash talk..

[Next Big Thing]

Dude it was in the article. There was back and forth on both sides. He called them the Aints, Will Smith tweeted his Super Bowl ring, Scott Shanle said something, Tracy Porter said Falcons fans were following him to know what it was like to follow a real champion, White said the comment about God, etc...

It's a rivalry game. I've been at the Superdome and the Georgia Dome when they've played. There's always something being said by one side to the other. It would be different if he said the God stuff and then continued to harp on it like he did the gay stuff, but it was one tweet among several that was nothing but trash talk.

[DaveWadding]

Kalil will be gone..

Are you aware that there is a process where teams can trade picks?

[Krimzon7]

Does this mean Byron Leftwich is a better QB than Peyton Manning?

Krimzon, your thoughts please.

No, stats and reg season wins make you good, championships make you great. Byron Leftwich rode the bench to the titles, he didn't lead a team to the title.

He really has two titles???



He's prob better than Peyton anyway.

[Krimzon7]

How is Roddy White not dead or in jail? I see him tricking in the strip club every time I go.

I wonder the same thing. Luckily chlamydia doesn't inhibit all pro play

[Emperor Smeat]

No, stats and reg season wins make you good, championships make you great. Byron Leftwich rode the bench to the titles, he didn't lead a team to the title.

He really has two titles???



He's prob better than Peyton anyway.

Just one but had the chance to have 2 rings if the Steelers had beaten the Packers the previous year.

[Kris P Lettus]

Eli to host SNL on May 5th (http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/eli_manning_to_host_snl_ap6dOWuKqz71lc7pw65n5L)

[Kris P Lettus]

Lee Evans signs a 1 year deal with the Jags (https://twitter.com/#!/F_E_Insider/status/191573975858556928)

[Ermaximus]

Lee Evans signs a 1 year deal with the Jags (https://twitter.com/#!/F_E_Insider/status/191573975858556928)

I guess we aren't drafting Blackmon then.:-\

Droford, fill me in on this guy would ya?

[Kris P Lettus]

He spent more time on the Bills than the Ravens..

[Ermaximus]

Just read that. Mularkey drafted him when he coached the Bills so it makes sense why he came here.

[Krimzon7]

Is this true? Is it coming out that Fujita is the snitch?

[Kris P Lettus]

I've been hearing it was Shockey..

[Supreme Olajuwon]

It was probably that guy who was making the video on Steve Gleason. The guy who released the audio that everyone flipped out about.

[Kris P Lettus]

No, this has been an investigation for 3 years..

[Next Big Thing]

I've been hearing it was Shockey..

Sapp put that out there, but apparently he was wrong because Shockey tweeted a bunch of texts between him and Payton after his suspension that made it sound like they were on good terms.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was a former defensive player like Fujita.

[Next Big Thing]

Now this is too far:
The NFL’s decision last year to move kickoffs from the 30-yard line to the 35 may have been the first step toward moving kickoffs out of football completely.

That’s the word from Giants owner John Mara, a Competition Committee member who says the conversations have already started about potentially taking the play that has started every football game in history out of the league for good.

“We had a lot of discussions about whether we should eliminate it and if we did what we could do in its place,” Mara told Giants.com. “There’s no consensus on it right now, but I could see the day in the future where that play could be taken out of the game. You see it evolving toward that.”

Mara says the Competition Committee’s top priority is player safety, and that the increase in touchbacks last year coincided with a decrease in concussions. In the eyes of the league office and NFL owners, that proves that moving the kickoff was the right idea.

What’s unclear is what would take the place of the kickoff if it ceased to exist. Mara says the NFL won’t eliminate the kickoff until it has the right plan for how to get rid of it, but he seems to think the kickoff is just a fundamentally unsafe play.

“Nobody would go that far now, but we talk about different blocks that we can outlaw,” Mara said. “The problem is that the concussions come from everywhere, from the wedge, from the crossing blocks where a guy goes from one side of the field to another, from a full speed collision between a return guy and a tackler. So there’s no one thing that you can do. It’s something that we’ll continue to watch as closely as possible.”

If the NFL were to eliminate the kickoff, it would likely adopt a rule that after every touchdown or field goal the other team gets the ball at the 20-yard line, and that each half starts with one team getting the ball at the 20 as well. A bigger question is whether onside kicks would continue to exist: Late-game strategy would change significantly if the onside kick was no longer an option.

But make no mistake: The NFL is serious enough about cutting down on injuries on kickoffs that last year’s rules change won’t be the last one.

“There was no support for moving the kickoff back to the 30 yard-line,” Mara said.

And some day, there may be no support for having kickoffs at all.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/14/john-mara-nfl-evolving-toward-eliminating-kickoffs/

A kickoff return for a touchdown is one of the most exciting plays in sports. Plus, having a good kick returner changes the dynamic of the game. Hester had the Colts kicking squib kicks in the Super Bowl because he was so dangerous. Just having teams start on the 20 is terrible.

I understand that having 11 guys bum rushing a returner who's looking up for the ball isn't exactly safe, but damn. There's got to be other ways without taking that out. Keep the 11 players out there, but maybe have 2 or 3 players not rush the kicker unless he crosses the 40 or something. I dunno. Taking kickoffs out would be a horrible move.

[Kris P Lettus]

Dan Patrick said yesterday, they are talking about this so in 20 years when Roger Goodell has to sit on a stand to testify about injuries, he can say he did everything possible to protect players..

They say the rate of concussions on kickoff went down tremendously BUT guys are now returning kicks 7 yards deep, so they are essentially getting a full head of steam before taking the hits, which is, seemingly, more dangerous..

[Krimzon7]

I hate goddell so fucking much.

[FearedSanctity]

https://yfrog.com/ny7uhcp:iphone

:love:

[Kris P Lettus]

He is grimacing..

[Kris P Lettus]

Man tries out to be a Denver Bronco Cheerleader (http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/316076/71/Man-tries-out-to-be-Denver-Bronco-cheerleader)

Triple Naitch??

[Gonzo]

I truly hope kickoffs aren't removed from the game. It would drastically change the landscape of the NFL and I don't think in a good way.

The sheer hypocrisy of the commissioner's office and the implementation of policies to "protect player safety" is bogus. The only thing that they're trying to protect is the bottom line.

[owenbrown]

Man tries out to be a Denver Bronco Cheerleader (http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/316076/71/Man-tries-out-to-be-Denver-Bronco-cheerleader)

Triple Naitch??

probably Skippord

[Next Big Thing]

I hate goddell so fucking much.

I have mixed feelings about Goodell. Sometimes I think he's overreacting and sometimes I think he's doing what he can to send a message. It's such a complicated situation. Players and fans are upset about the suspensions related to hits and the Saints situation, but he has to do those things when you have situations like this:

ATLANTA -- Four former NFL players have filed the latest lawsuit claiming the league didn't properly protect players from concussions.

The lawsuit filed Monday in state court in Atlanta cites the controversy surrounding New Orleans' bounty system as evidence the league has long glorified violent hits.

The NFL's investigation found that as many as 27 Saints defenders from the past three seasons may have taken part in the club's pay-for-pain bounty system.

The complaint was filed on behalf of Myron Guyton, Lomas Brown, Jessie Small and Willie Whitehead. It was filed by attorney Von DuBose, who's also an NFL agent.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7820753/latest-ex-player-lawsuit-cites-new-orleans-saints-bounty-program

The same players who complain about the game changing are the ones who will join up in one of these lawsuits and say the league didn't do enough to protect them. If he lets anyone involved in that off with a slap on the wrist, that's more fuel for their case. I agree that Goodell cares more about the league's bottom line than he does about player safety, but isn't it his job to protect the league from billion dollar class action lawsuits? Companies have quality control inspectors so they don't get sued, not because they care so much about the consumer.

Don't today's current players realize that if the league is successfully sued, it could affect them financially and in terms of how they are able to play the game? If fans hate the current rules, what do you think is going to happen if the league is found negligent in Federal Court? The jackass politicians in Washington would be all about regulating the sport and the result would be a lot worse in my humble opinion.

[Crimson]

Just have players wear flags for kickoffs

[Triple Naitch]

Man tries out to be a Denver Bronco Cheerleader (http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/316076/71/Man-tries-out-to-be-Denver-Bronco-cheerleader)

Triple Naitch??

Dude, you see all that pussy trying out? I totally would. :naughty:

[James Steele]

I remember on ESPN one coach recommended replacing kickoffs with punts and treating it like a 4th & 10 play on the 20yd line. If you want to do an onside kick, you try and make a 1st down. I could see that, but football without kickoffs just seems so weird. What would they call Kickoff Weekend?

[Next Big Thing]

What would they call Kickoff Weekend?

Concussion Awareness Sunday?

[Krimzon7]

Concussion Awareness Sunday?

Goddell is a pussymoronasshole weekend.

Protect the millionaires who pissed their money away, now they wanna fake the jitters and sue the NFL so we've pussified the game weekend

Basketball hasn't started yet, baseball is winding down and hockey isn't American, so watch us weekend.

Or, Benoit weekend, cuz you know, they don't even mention his name in the wwe, and knockouts have killed way more people.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

you should probably calm down

[Next Big Thing]

NFL schedule is being released at 7 PM on the NFL Network. What other sport could make an entire show about the release of their schedule?

[Krimzon7]

you should probably calm down

yes, I lost it for a second. I got a little carried away.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Bengals @ Ravens MNF Week 1

YEAH DROFORD YEAH

[Emperor Smeat]

ESPN leaked the standings for strength of schedule earlier.

Giants have toughest overall with Denver at #2 toughest while New England has the easiest and Green Bay at 2nd easiest.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/56896/2012-nfl-strength-of-schedule

Majority of the 2011 playoff teams are in the middle to bottom half for schedule strength this year (only Baltimore and Denver are in the top 10 for toughest).

[Crimson]

Does any website have the schedule yet. Stupid nfl.com doesnt have it up yet

[ClockShot]

Oh great, let's give Peyton Manning a nice welcome back by playing THE STEELERS.

:roll:

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>The Giants' schedule is heavily backloaded for the 4th year in a row. Color me shocked.</font>

[Kris P Lettus]

<font color=goldenrod>The Giants' schedule is heavily backloaded for the 4th year in a row. Color me shocked.</font>

All teams schedules get tougher (more divisional games) towards the end of the season.. The NFL started doing that so the last 6 weeks of the season mean something and teams can't rest starters leading to lower tv ratings and lower attendance..

O_o

[Crimson]

Woopee Patriots have the easiest schedule. Why do those other afc east teams have to suck so much for so long

[Crimson]

Mainly the Dolphins and Bills

[Droford]

Manning will probably be retired before the Broncos Come to Baltimore week 15.

Also can't believe of all the good games that the Ravens have, 3 of the 4 prime time games they have are front loaded into the first 4 weeks:

Week 1 MNF vs Cincy
Week 3 SNF vs New England
Week 4 Thursday Night vs Cleveland

also gonna be a bitch to have a late Sunday game vs the Patriots and turn around and play a Thursday night game..at least both are home games.

they also play both Texas teams in back to back weeks 6/7 before their bye week.

[Evil Vito]

All teams schedules get tougher (more divisional games) towards the end of the season.. The NFL started doing that so the last 6 weeks of the season mean something and teams can't rest starters leading to lower tv ratings and lower attendance..

O_o

<font color=goldenrod>It's not divisional games that make it tough. In fact this year both Cowboys games happen pretty early. Giants have a Week 12 bye before being greeted by teams like the Packers, Saints, Falcons, and Ravens.

They got out of it by the skin of their teeth last year. Hopefully this year the Giants can avoid their annual late-season skid.</font>

[Droford]

The Ravens schedule is pretty balanced all the way through. Its also the 4th toughest so that makes sense.


vs Cincinnati
@ Philadelphia
vs New England
vs Cleveland
@ Kansas City
vs Dallas
@ Houston
BYE
@ Cleveland
vs Oakland
@ Pittsburgh
@ San Diego
vs Pittsburgh
@ Washington
vs Denver
vs New York
@ Cincinnati

[Krimzon7]

Yr season is Bookended with losses to the NATTI!!!! Sucks for you Droford

[Next Big Thing]

Peyton in the dome on Monday night! Fuck yeah.

[#1-norm-fan]

They say the rate of concussions on kickoff went down tremendously BUT guys are now returning kicks 7 yards deep, so they are essentially getting a full head of steam before taking the hits, which is, seemingly, more dangerous..

Umm... they are getting the same head of steam as they were before. They're taking the ball 5 yards deeper because it's being kicked from 5 yards closer. The distance between the returner and the defenders hasn't changed. How are they getting more of a head of steam? lol

[Droford]

Yr season is Bookended with losses to the NATTI!!!! Sucks for you Droford

not a chance

[Supreme Olajuwon]

yeah but what do you know, fatasssssssssssssssssssssssss

ahahahahahahahaha

[Droford]

I guess we aren't drafting Blackmon then.:-\

Droford, fill me in on this guy would ya?

<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LI38HksVB4Q?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LI38HksVB4Q?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object>

Good fucking riddance.

[#1-norm-fan]

The more I see it, it wasn't THAT terrible. The defender got his hand in just the right spot. It happens. When I first saw it for some reason I thought he flat out dropped it.

[FearedSanctity]

Yeah wtf are you bitching about? He clearly caught it, the defender just did and excellent job of knocking it out

[#1-norm-fan]

He was a pretty great receiver in Buffalo in a shitty situation. Last year he got inured and lost in the shuffle. Don't know if he is still what he used to be since he kinda fell off the map.

[screech]

I like Lee Evans. Very good, in my opinion. Would still like to have him.

And that play in the AFC title game was an excellent job by Sterling Moore, not a drop by Evans.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

God, poor Lee Evans. He's had to play in offenses with Kelly Holcomb, JP Losman, Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Joe Flacco. And now he's playing with Blaine Gabbert.

This guy is just a magnet for shitty QBs.

[#1-norm-fan]

lol. Kelly Holcomb reference!

[James Steele]

http://www.txhshelmetproject.com/PRO/NFL/Dallas.png
SCHEDULE ANALYSIS


@ NY Giants TOSS-UP WIN
@ Seattle WIN
vs Tampa Bay WIN
vs Chicago TOSS-UP WIN
Bye
@ Baltimore TOSS-UP WIN
@ Carolina WIN
vs Giants WIN
@ Atlanta WIN
@ Philadelphia TOSS-UP WIN
vs Cleveland WIN
vs Washington WIN
vs Philadelphia TOSS-UP LOSS
@ Cincinnati WIN
vs Pittsburgh TOSS-UP LOSS
vs New Orleans TOSS-UP WIN

@ Washington WIN

America's Team will go 14-2 after an awe-inspiring 11-0 start. They will go on to the playoffs as NFC East Champions and the top seed in the NFC. They will go on to the SuperBowl and upset the Houston Texans to get their elusive 6th SuperBowl and piss all over the fucking obnoxious Pittsburgh Steelers cocksuckers who remind us of how they have 1 more than America's Team. 2012-2013 will be the single greatest football season ever as we have an all-Texas SuperBowl!


http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/229/744/jerry-jones_display_image.jpg?1274209412
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8fWSyMvjWqM/0.jpg
http://joelkimmel.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/dallas_observer1.jpg
http://www.davesfootballblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/yeehaw-six-flags.jpg


In order to be more realistic (or pessimistic), the Dallas Cowboys will get cocky and start circle jerking after a nice 9-2 or 8-3 start and start shitting down their leg like a kitten with a broken neck at home and Philly will possibly screw them out of the NFC East Title. The Dallas Cowboys will make the playoffs and either get embarrassed or play up to their fucking talent and make a chase for the Super Bowl. I believe in America's Team and I believe we have the talent* to win the Super Bowl.


*"talent" assumes we finally fill those DB and OL issues we've had for a few fucking years.

[Krimzon7]

Week 14 your precious cowboys will LLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSEE to the NATTI

[owenbrown]

Titans Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, New England, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, at San Diego, 4:15 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, Detroit, 1:00 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, at Houston, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, at Minnesota, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Thursday, Oct. 11, Pittsburgh, 8:20 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, at Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, Indianapolis, 1:00 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, Chicago, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, at Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, at Jacksonville, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, Houston, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Monday, Dec. 17, N.Y. Jets, 8:30 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, at Green Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, Jacksonville, 1:00 PM

ready for another 8-8 season

[#1-norm-fan]

http://www.txhshelmetproject.com/PRO/NFL/Dallas.png
SCHEDULE ANALYSIS


@ NY Giants TOSS-UP WIN
@ Seattle WIN
vs Tampa Bay WIN
vs Chicago TOSS-UP WIN
Bye
@ Baltimore TOSS-UP WIN
@ Carolina WIN
vs Giants WIN
@ Atlanta WIN
@ Philadelphia TOSS-UP WIN
vs Cleveland WIN
vs Washington WIN
vs Philadelphia TOSS-UP LOSS
@ Cincinnati WIN
vs Pittsburgh TOSS-UP LOSS
vs New Orleans TOSS-UP WIN

@ Washington WIN

America's Team will go 14-2 after an awe-inspiring 11-0 start. They will go on to the playoffs as NFC East Champions and the top seed in the NFC. They will go on to the SuperBowl and upset the Houston Texans to get their elusive 6th SuperBowl and piss all over the fucking obnoxious Pittsburgh Steelers cocksuckers who remind us of how they have 1 more than America's Team. 2012-2013 will be the single greatest football season ever as we have an all-Texas SuperBowl!


http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/229/744/jerry-jones_display_image.jpg?1274209412
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8fWSyMvjWqM/0.jpg
http://joelkimmel.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/dallas_observer1.jpg
http://www.davesfootballblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/yeehaw-six-flags.jpg


In order to be more realistic (or pessimistic), the Dallas Cowboys will get cocky and start circle jerking after a nice 9-2 or 8-3 start and start shitting down their leg like a kitten with a broken neck at home and Philly will possibly screw them out of the NFC East Title. The Dallas Cowboys will make the playoffs and either get embarrassed or play up to their fucking talent and make a chase for the Super Bowl. I believe in America's Team and I believe we have the talent* to win the Super Bowl.


*"talent" assumes we finally fill those DB and OL issues we've had for a few fucking years.


All this is probably 100% completely correct.

:shifty:

[Ermaximus]

God, poor Lee Evans. He's had to play in offenses with Kelly Holcomb, JP Losman, Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Joe Flacco. And now he's playing with Blaine Gabbert.

This guy is just a magnet for shitty QBs.

Don't forget Chad Henne. I don't see Gabbert playing the whole season to be honest.

[Hanso Amore]

Chad Henne has a rocket, and Lees best years came just catching 80 yard bombs from JP Gunz Losman.

[Hanso Amore]

Lee is a good guy, I liked him when he was here. But he is really not a legit number one. And he was paid like one here.

He is a deep threat, but cant be counted on as THE guy.

[Hanso Amore]

Woopee Patriots have the easiest schedule. Why do those other afc east teams have to suck so much for so long

Bills beat the pats last year. So you can toss that one out. Blame the NFC west. The AFC East plays them this year, and all 4 east Teams have top 10 easiest Strength of Schedule. Hell, the bills have the 4th easiest and they have two jets and two pats games.

So take that theory and put it up that ass.

[Crimson]

Wasnt a theory . It's a fact Bills and Dolphins have sucked lately. Sure upsets can happen,but Bills and Dolphins twice a year every year when they always stink makes it an easy schedule for the Pats.

[Team Sheep]

6 of the first 9 games look very tough for the Jets, but after week 10 everything looks very winnable. 10 or 11 wins I think. This Sanchez-Tebow thing is going to surprise a lot of people mark my words.

[Next Big Thing]

Is the Louisiana Superdome really called the Mercedes-Benz Superdome now?! When the hell did that happen? It doesn't even sound right.

[Hanso Amore]

Wasnt a theory . It's a fact Bills and Dolphins have sucked lately. Sure upsets can happen,but Bills and Dolphins twice a year every year when they always stink makes it an easy schedule for the Pats.

As I noted, that isnt the reason they have an easy strength of schedule. You could say that about ever team in the NFL. Your statements are based on the numbers given for Strength of Schedule, and thats just not the case.

Sure, the bills are typically a 6 win team. The Phins are typically a 7 win team. Just like every other division. You think thats any different than getting the Rams and Cardinals every year? Or the Jags and colts? In fact the Bills and Phins combine for more wins than most of the bottom two in all divisions.

If your complaint is about their easy strength of schedule, like I said, blame the shift the whole AFC east gets this year.

[Nark Order]

I have a strong feeling that the 9ers could sweep their division games this year. The only thing stopping us is Larry Fitzgerald being an asshole sometimes.

[Innovator]

WEEK 6 NARC

[Team Sheep]

The 9ers will be pretty strong again, but I could easily see them having 2nd season syndrome, which often happens in sport. Also the Cardinals and Seahawks got progressively better as the season went on last year, and the Rams are bound to be a lot better assuming they don't get raped by injuries again, and should kick on from their decent 2010 season. NFC West could be pretty damn entertaining this year.

[Kris P Lettus]

Is the Louisiana Superdome really called the Mercedes-Benz Superdome now?! When the hell did that happen? It doesn't even sound right.

Yes, it's been like that since like October.. People in NOLA were freaking out when it happened but personally, I like it.. It's a huge international name and they are giving the Dome like $17 mill a year for upkeep, something the state of Louisiana couldn't afford..

http://www.notcot.com/images/2011/11/superdome1.jpg

The Dome now looks better than it has my whole life..

[Team Sheep]

I have a question about the scheduling. The last time the Jets played the Seahawks in 2008 it was in Seattle, so why are they playing in Seattle again this year? I thought it rotated home and away every 4 years between the AFC and NFC?

[Kris P Lettus]

Wk Date Matchup TV Time
1 Sun, Sept. 9 vs. Washington Redskins FOX 1 p.m.
2 Sun, Sept. 16 at Carolina Panthers FOX 1 p.m.
3 Sun, Sept. 23 vs. Kansas City Chiefs CBS 1 p.m.
4 Sun, Sept. 30 at Green Bay Packers FOX 4:15 p.m.
5 Sun, Oct. 7 vs. San Diego Chargers NBC 8:20 p.m.
6 Bye
7 Sun, Oct. 21 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers FOX 1 p.m.
8 Sun, Oct. 28 at Denver Broncos NBC 8:20 p.m.
9 Mon, Nov. 5 vs. Philadelphia Eagles ESPN 8:30 p.m.
10 Sun, Nov. 11 vs. Atlanta Falcons FOX 1 p.m.
11 Sun, Nov. 18 at Oakland Raiders FOX 4:05 p.m.
12 Sun, Nov. 25 vs. San Francisco 49ers FOX 4:15 p.m.
13 Thu, Nov. 29 at Atlanta Falcons NFLN 8:20 p.m.
14 Sun, Dec. 9 at New York Giants FOX 4:15 p.m.
15 Sun, Dec. 16 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers FOX 1 p.m.
16 Sun, Dec. 23 at Dallas Cowboys FOX 1 p.m.
17 Sun, Dec. 30 vs. Carolina Panthers FOX 1 p.m.

[Kris P Lettus]

A thursday nighter on NFL network against the Falcons??

Also, the fact that we have to go back to Lambeua..

Also, the bye week that early??

GAY

11-5

[Kris P Lettus]

I just saw that the Oct 28 game against the Broncos is a primetime game at the same time as Game 4 of the world series..

:eek:

[Innovator]

Giants Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Wednesday, Sep. 5, Dallas, 8:30 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 16, Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Thursday, Sep. 20, at Carolina, 8:20 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Sep. 30, at Philadelphia, 8:20 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, at San Francisco, 4:15 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, Washington, 1:00 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, at Dallas, 4:15 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, Pittsburgh, 4:15 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, Green Bay, 8:20 PM
Week 13: Monday, Dec. 3, at Washington, 8:30 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, New Orleans, 4:15 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, at Atlanta, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, at Baltimore, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, Philadelphia, 1:00 PM

[Kris P Lettus]

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/feature/madden2013cover

Plz go vote for Cam Newton for the Madden cover..

[Ermaximus]

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/feature/madden2013cover

Plz go vote for Cam Newton for the Madden cover..

Fuck no! Voting Megatron all damned day.

[Kris P Lettus]

Why do you want Megatron to get hurt??

[FearedSanctity]

Yes, it's been like that since like October.. People in NOLA were freaking out when it happened but personally, I like it.. It's a huge international name and they are giving the Dome like $17 mill a year for upkeep, something the state of Louisiana couldn't afford..

People cried and cried about the Broncos' new stadium being INVESCO Field @ Mile High instead of just Mile High Stadium, and it's pretty stupid given everyone just ended up calling it Mile High anyway. No one really cares about the corporate names of these stadiums, they'll call it whatever they want

[Ermaximus]

Why do you want Megatron to get hurt??

Why would I want Cam to get hurt?

[Kris P Lettus]

People cried and cried about the Broncos' new stadium being INVESCO Field @ Mile High instead of just Mile High Stadium, and it's pretty stupid given everyone just ended up calling it Mile High anyway. No one really cares about the corporate names of these stadiums, they'll call it whatever they want

I still call it the Chocolate ThunderDome..

:o

[Crimson]

Great either Cam or Megatron are doomed..2 of the most exciting players

[Gonzo]

I still refer to MetLife Stadium as Giants Stadium or the Meadowlands. The Jets can fuck off.

[Gonzo]

Giants schedule is pretty tough. I don't think there are any gimmes on that thing. Could be a real tough year as a fan.

[Emperor Smeat]

Minnesota state government rejects latest stadium bill which would have provided the funds for a new stadium after next year.

Vikings stated they won't renew the lease after the current 30 year lease ends next season and teased the team might be preparing to move out of Minnesota.

NFL themselves are preparing to ask the governor if there is any other cities in the state that would be willing to host the new stadium since Minneapolis city government doesn't want to anymore if it means they have to provide funds. If the governor doesn't provide a list, the NFL will prepare the paperwork needed to move the team out of the state.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7830779/nfl-exec-says-minnesota-vikings-options-stadium-bid

[FearedSanctity]

Come on down, Vikings/Chargers/Jaguars/Rams! San Antonio would gladly take you after we got screwed out of the Vikings originally, and to a lesser extent the Saints

[owenbrown]

*cue a post about someone wanting to move a team to L.A.* :shifty:

[Next Big Thing]

I'm not familiar with the situation up there, but isn't Minnesota a football city? I thought the Vikings have sell out crowds every game. It sucks when cities like that lose teams in that manner.

If any team should move it should be Jacksonville.

[RoXer]

Narcissusses' feelings on divisional games

[Nark Order]

That was a tad late. Losing your touch there, you shithead.

YOU SHITHEAD.

[Emperor Smeat]

I'm not familiar with the situation up there, but isn't Minnesota a football city? I thought the Vikings have sell out crowds every game. It sucks when cities like that lose teams in that manner.

If any team should move it should be Jacksonville.

Problem isn't with the fans or support base but more of the bickering between city/state government and the owner(s).

Neither side wants to provide the huge amounts of funds needed to build a brand new but expensive stadium. I think Minneapolis doesn't have the funds needed to cover a new stadium which is why the state got involved.

The current owner wants the city to take a much smaller share of concession revenue and provide the majority of the funding without expecting most of it to be paid back.

[Crimson]

LA is defeniatley getting a team soon. Rather have the Vikes than the Jags

[Droford]

The Ravens are officially F'ed if Flacco gets hurt. Curtis Painter backup 1 year deal.

Id have a hard time believing they wouldnt go to Tyrod Taylor first, but still..

[FearedSanctity]

A lot of teams looking like they could move. Vikings and Jags are obvious, Bills to Toronto is possible, Bucs to London was rumored for a bit and then there are the wildcards like the Rams and Chargers. That's several teams with only a few real good cities to move to other than LA. Best options after that are what? San Antonio and... where?

[Emperor Smeat]

Vegas has always been a rumored spot but neither the NFL nor any other league is really willing to risk their image with the amount of betting that goes over there.

[Droford]

With as big as football is in Oklahoma/Nebraska college wise, I wonder if OK City would support an NFL Team...I never thought they could do an NBA team..

[FearedSanctity]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population

According to this, the only cities in the top 32 that don't have a team or one in the immediate area are: San Antonio(#7)/Austin(#14), Columbus(#15), El Paso(#19), Memphis(#20), Louisville(#27), Milwaukee(#28), Portland(#29), Las Vegas(#30), Oklahoma City(#31) and Albuquerque(#32)

Gotta think Memphis, Columbus and Milwaukee aren't really options due to well established in state teams. And El Paso basically just sucks. Really only leaves San Antonio/Austin, Louisville, Portland, Vegas, Oklahoma City and Albuquerque as the most viable in terms of population. Though I don't really see anyone racing to set up in Kentucky, New Mexico or Oklahoma

[Krimzon7]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population

According to this, the only cities in the top 32 that don't have a team or one in the immediate area are: San Antonio(#7)/Austin(#14), Columbus(#15), El Paso(#19), Memphis(#20), Louisville(#27), Milwaukee(#28), Portland(#29), Las Vegas(#30), Oklahoma City(#31) and Albuquerque(#32)

Gotta think Memphis, Columbus and Milwaukee aren't really options due to well established in state teams. And El Paso basically just sucks. Really only leaves San Antonio/Austin, Louisville, Portland, Vegas, Oklahoma City and Albuquerque as the most viable in terms of population. Though I don't really see anyone racing to set up in Kentucky, New Mexico or Oklahoma

Kentucky is Bengals turf. They draw a good share of their fan base from there(since most Ohioans like winners:-\)

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Louisville is pretty close to Indianapolis too. So they're probably out.

[ddpBANG]

Portland won't have an NFL team any time soon. Paul Allen wouldn't allow it.

[Emperor Smeat]

Looks like LA has a huge chance of getting the Vikings if they do end up moving as Goodell supposedly had a meeting with the mayor of Los Angeles today before traveling back to Minnesota.

[Hanso Amore]

Bills are working on a new lease with the Tax payers fronting 200+ million dollars for stadium renovations.

I dont fear them moving anytime soon, though for awhile that seemed legit.

As long as they can keep selling games to Toronto and claiming Ontario as their own turf, they can make it work in Buffalo. They are one of the most profitable teams in the NFL actually.

[Hanso Amore]

I feel like Minne is a definite to go, and that sucks for that area. They deserve that team. Seems less about money and more about Ego at this point.

SD I think will end up in LA, quick easy move and they want the money.

[FearedSanctity]

Nah, the Minnesota situation is almost totally about money. The Vikings don't wanna pay for all of it and the city doesn't wanna pay for any of it, which is kinda ridiculous IMO

[James Steele]

If you move to LA, you better fucking win or you will be hemorrhaging money in an empty stadium. I'd love for another team in Texas. Oklahoma City is a good market as the Thunder have shown.

[Emperor Smeat]

I'd assume the divisions probably get realigned if LA gets the Vikings with the Vikings going to the West and the Rams to the North as a way to cut down on the traveling.

[Next Big Thing]

If you move to LA, you better fucking win or you will be hemorrhaging money in an empty stadium. I'd love for another team in Texas. Oklahoma City is a good market as the Thunder have shown.

Are there a decent amount of Texans fans nowadays? I kind of figure that team is like the smart, but ugly stepchild in Texas and Jones and the Cowboys are the older brother who's got a beer belly and has a bit of a meth habit nowadays, but everyone still loves him because he was the star quarterback who got all the girls in high school.

[James Steele]

You have plenty of douchebags who are hipsters and anti-Cowboys, especially in Austin metro.

[CSL]

Falcons passed on Hard Knocks, I'm glad about this

[ClockShot]

Brian Dawkins calls it a career.

I guess my Broncos gotta go Safety shopping during the draft unless we already plugged that hole.

[FearedSanctity]

They drafted two safeties last year so they'll probably be set for the next year or so at least, to see how they develop. Carter looks like a keeper, Moore can be awesome if he works on his tackling (which is pretty shit) and they signed vet Mike Adams as a capable starter if Moore or Carter struggle.

[Triple Naitch]

B-Dawk is probably one of the most underrated players in NFL history. He's probably gonna retire as an Eagle this week and they already announced that they will retire his number this season. He is one of the most beloved athletes in Philadelphia history as well.

[Emperor Smeat]

Holy shit at the Saints being in worse trouble now that the FBI hinted the GM of the Saints was supposedly wire-taping opposition teams coaches booths and areas for 3 years worth of Saints home games.

NFL probably going to upgrade the 8 games the GM got to something more harsher if it ends up being true. What's worse is originally the whole system was setup so that the previous GM could eavesdrop on his own coaches without them knowing during games and the current GM supposedly switched it to listen to opponents.

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/7846290/new-orleans-saints-mickey-loomis-eavesdrop-opposing-coaches-home-games

Not the first time a team has tried to "spy" on another but would defiantly be the first involving a law being broken.

[ClockShot]

I wonder what he used. The pen microphone? Camera in the helmet trick?

[Next Big Thing]

I think it would be dumb as hell if this becomes a federal issue or leads to some kind of investigation. Listening in obviously didn't help much either since they didn't do a damn thing anyways.

It provides great insight into the fact that Mickey Loomis is a slime ball, but reporting on something that went down 8 years ago is kind of ridiculous.

[Skippord]

it's reporting on a crime allegedly committed by a public figure, why wouldn't it be reported on?

[Next Big Thing]

It took place 8 years ago and the statute of limitations has expired. Where were these sources back then? If there is no evidence that the practice has continued into today, what is the real relevance of it other than confirming that Loomis is a trashy individual? It's not like they won the Super Bowl due to the information they got from it or even made an impressive playoff run. I'm not dismissing the act, just the timing.

I was using a bit of hyperbole calling the reporting ridiculous. I don't have a problem with it being reported, I just don't think it's something that needs to be splashed over the frontage or treated like Watergate.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>NFL pre-season rosters have expanded from 75 to 90 players.

Heh. Giants have 11 retired numbers now...so at least a couple of guys are gonna have to double up unless they "unretire" a number just for meaningless preseason.</font>

[Kris P Lettus]

This is ridiculous what is happening to my team..

Someone is hating HARD..

[Reavant]

LOL at Vikings if they move to LA... it would be like the Lakers all over again. What if the Vikings went on to win the superbowl year after year like the Lakers did with the nba back in the day.

[Emperor Smeat]

Wouldn't happen since the Vikings are nowhere good enough to be even considered a contender based on what they have right now and the Lakers actually won their first 5 titles in Minnesota before moving to LA.

[Reavant]

yea thats what I meant when i said "if they went on to win"

[Ermaximus]

Vikings have talent, they just need to fix that defense and that horrible O-Line. Have fun in L.A. Vikings.

[Evil Vito]

I'd kinda hope they change their team name, logo, color scheme etc if they move. A team in LA called the Vikings just seems weeeeeeird.

[Ermaximus]

Or they could just do like Oakland used to do. The Minnesota Vikings of Los Angeles?

[Hanso Amore]

This is ridiculous what is happening to my team..

Someone is hating HARD..

Yeah, its really HATING when they are getting busted on LEGIT charges.

[Hanso Amore]

And fuck, you got a super bowl out of all they did, so who cares if you have to pay the piper now. Its not like that Trophy is going anywhere.

[Next Big Thing]

Samuel, Robinson and Grimes... Not a long term solution, but definitely good enough for now.

[Crimson]

Alright Cowboys, lets draft Mark Barron

[Emperor Smeat]

Big storyline for next season is going to be Calvin Johnson vs the Madden Curse since he will be the cover star for Madden 13.

https://p.twimg.com/ArXLPcZCIAEHYf8.png

In terms of non-injuries, everyone else either had a huge decline or retired (Barry Sanders) although to be fair, all the players selected had "career"-type years as the reason for being picked so it was natural for a decline to occur the next season.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Fitzgerald was on the cover with Polamalu and it didn't effect him at all. WR's might be immune.</font>

[Emperor Smeat]

Still counts as a "cursed" year since Polo got hurt and Fitz ended up missing the Pro Bowl due to an injury. Stats-wise, Fitz had better years but because the Cards neither made it to the SB nor won it, still counts as a cursed year.

That year ended up being an exception due to having 2 players although also meant the curse had double the people to impact for that year and it did with Polo.

[Triple Naitch]

Madden curse has struck as many times as it hasn't in the past 6 years.

[FearedSanctity]

For the first time in a while I'm totally not looking forward to the first round of the draft. Picking so late combined with the fact that there really isn't anyone exciting past like the top 15 just leaves me feeling bleh. Just hope they don't reach on a DT or draft a RB. Or Fleener. Please, no

[Droford]

tired of hearing about how RG 3 is gonna lead the Redskins to glory again.

he has HUGE BUST written all over him, not to mention they have way more holes than just QB.

[FearedSanctity]

How does he have "HUGE BUST written all over him"? I have to know

[Droford]

Ben Maller had this discussion a few weeks ago, theres no way that both Luck and RG3 are great NFL QBs, so one of them has to be a bust, and I think it'll be RG3. Its also more likely that they are both busts than they both have good careers...


Of the five quarterback duos to go 1-2 since 1967, only one saw both quarterbacks go on to start 80 games over the course of their NFL careers. That pairing, Jim Plunkett and Archie Manning in 1971, had its own quirks, asterisks and “yeah, buts.” Plunkett, the Patriots (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/new-england-patriots/67054)’ top pick out of Stanford (like Luck), was initially deemed a bust after six mediocre years in New England. He didn’t find success until after he bounced to one team (San Francisco), then another (Oakland), where he finally won two Super Bowl rings in the latter part of his career. Manning, Peyton and Eli’s father, retired after 13 NFL seasons having never played on a team that notched a winning record or made the playoffs.
The other 1-2 duos don’t even come close to the cumulative “success” of Plunkett and Manning.
Drew Bledsoe (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/drew-bledsoe/70231) and Rick Mirer (1993), Peyton Manning (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/peyton-manning/69814) and Ryan Leaf (1998), and Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb (1999) were all 50/50 scenarios. Mirer had a somewhat promising start to his career in Seattle, only to fizzle out as an NFL journeyman before retiring in 2004 with seven NFL teams listed on his resume. Both Leaf and Couch were out of the league altogether within five seasons.

I dont even think you can count Archie Manning as a good QB, he just managed to hang around long enough with a bunch of bad teams.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Why can't Luck and Griffin both be great QBs?

[Supreme Olajuwon]

That doesn't make any sense at all.

But I bet there's some stupid history behind it that doesn't have any logical backing.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Like always.

[FearedSanctity]

So your reason for this has nothing to do with his ability? You just had to pick between the two QBs and you somehow arrived at the conclusion that Griffin "has HUGE BUST written all over him" despite not basing your opinion on anything about him, but rather results of past drafts?

OK

[Droford]

Part of my reasoning is also because the Redskins seem to fuck everything up somehow, and the whole trade the farm for the #2 pick only to have RG3 bust out seems about par for the course of the franchise over the last 15 years.

[Droford]

That doesn't make any sense at all.

But I bet there's some stupid history behind it that doesn't have any logical backing.

How does the fact that the last 5 times QBs have gone 1/2 since 1970, one of the QBs was great and the other was horrible not translate to this draft?
Its not like the overall track record of top 5 picked QBs is that great either :
<table><tbody><tr><td>2011 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Cam Newton </td><td> Carolina Panthers </td><td> Auburn </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 2010 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Sam Bradford </td><td> St. Louis Rams </td><td> Oklahoma </td></tr> <tr><td> 2009 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Matthew Stafford </td><td> Detroit Lions </td><td> Georgia </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 2009 </td><td> 5 </td><td> Mark Sanchez </td><td> New York Jets </td><td> USC </td></tr> <tr><td> 2008 </td><td> 3 </td><td> Matt Ryan </td><td> Atlanta Falcons </td><td> Boston College </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 2007 </td><td> 1 </td><td> JaMarcus Russell </td><td> Oakland Raiders </td><td> LSU </td></tr> <tr><td> 2006 </td><td> 3 </td><td> Vince Young </td><td> Tennessee Titans </td><td> Texas </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 2005 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Alex Smith </td><td> San Francisco 49ers </td><td> Utah </td></tr> <tr><td> 2004 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Eli Manning </td><td> San Diego Chargers </td><td> Mississippi </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 2004 </td><td> 4 </td><td> Philip Rivers </td><td> New York Giants </td><td> North Carolina State </td></tr> <tr><td> 2003 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Carson Palmer </td><td> Cincinnati Bengals </td><td> USC </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 2002 </td><td> 1 </td><td> David Carr </td><td> Houston Texans </td><td> Fresno State </td></tr> <tr><td> 2002 </td><td> 3 </td><td> Joey Harrington </td><td> Detroit Lions </td><td> Oregon </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 2001 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Michael Vick </td><td> Atlanta Falcons </td><td> Virginia Tech </td></tr> <tr><td> 1999 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Tim Couch </td><td> Cleveland Browns </td><td> Kentucky </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 1999 </td><td> 2 </td><td> Donovan McNabb </td><td> Philadelphia Eagles </td><td> Syracuse </td></tr> <tr><td> 1999 </td><td> 3 </td><td> Akili Smith </td><td> Cincinnati Bengals </td><td> Oregon </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 1998 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Peyton Manning </td><td> Indianapolis Colts </td><td> Tennessee </td></tr> <tr><td> 1998 </td><td> 2 </td><td> Ryan Leaf </td><td> San Diego Chargers </td><td> Washington State </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 1995 </td><td> 3 </td><td> Steve McNair </td><td> Houston Oilers </td><td> Alcorn State </td></tr> <tr><td> 1995 </td><td> 5 </td><td> Kerry Collins </td><td> Carolina Panthers </td><td> Penn State </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 1994 </td><td> 3 </td><td> Heath Shuler </td><td> Washington Redskins </td><td> Tennessee </td></tr> <tr><td> 1993 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Drew Bledsoe </td><td> New England Patriots </td><td> Washington State </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 1993 </td><td> 2 </td><td> Rick Mirer </td><td> Seattle Seahawks </td><td> Notre Dame </td></tr> <tr><td> 1990 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Jeff George </td><td> Indianapolis Colts </td><td> Illinois </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 1989 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Troy Aikman </td><td> Dallas Cowboys </td><td> UCLA </td></tr> <tr><td> 1987 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Vinny Testaverde </td><td> Tampa Bay Buccaneers </td><td> Miami (Fla.) </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 1986 </td><td> 3 </td><td> Jim Everett </td><td> Houston Oilers </td><td> Purdue </td></tr> <tr><td> 1983 </td><td> 1 </td><td> John Elway </td><td> Baltimore Colts </td><td> Stanford </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 1982 </td><td> 4 </td><td> Art Schlichter </td><td> Baltimore Colts </td><td> Ohio State </td></tr> <tr><td> 1982 </td><td> 5 </td><td> Jim McMahon </td><td> Chicago Bears </td><td> Brigham Young </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 1979 </td><td> 3 </td><td> Jack Thompson </td><td> Cincinnati Bengals </td><td> Washington State </td></tr> <tr><td> 1975 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Steve Bartkowski </td><td> Atlanta Falcons </td><td> California </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 1973 </td><td> 2 </td><td> Bert Jones </td><td> Baltimore Colts </td><td> LSU </td></tr> <tr><td> 1971 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Jim Plunkett </td><td> New England Patriots </td><td> Stanford </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 1971 </td><td> 2 </td><td> Archie Manning </td><td> New Orleans Saints </td><td> Mississippi </td></tr> <tr><td> 1971 </td><td> 3 </td><td> Dan Pastorini </td><td> Houston Oilers </td><td> Santa Clara </td></tr> <tr class="alt"><td> 1970 </td><td> 1 </td><td> Terry Bradshaw </td><td> Pittsburgh Steelers </td><td> Louisiana Tech </td></tr> <tr><td> 1970 </td><td> 3 </td><td> Mike Phipps </td><td> Cleveland Browns </td><td> Purdue </td></tr></tbody></table>
I bolded the ones that won a Super Bowl..and with the exception of McMahon, all that won SBs were #1 picks

[FearedSanctity]

Part of my reasoning is also because the Redskins seem to fuck everything up somehow, and the whole trade the farm for the #2 pick only to have RG3 bust out seems about par for the course of the franchise over the last 15 years.

Another point that has nothing to do with Griffin himself