NFL Thread

[Snowprince]

My sense was both people in the midwest as well as Baltimore and the media were still mad at he Colts and Bob Irsay in particular for slinking away in the middle of the night like a suspect fleeing a crime scene and refused to acknowledge them, much less embrace them. Amazing how winning can change that on a dime.

 

On that score, I guess I'm an old school traditionalist. In my mind and heart the Colts belong in Baltimore, the Cardinals in St Louis, the Browns (Art Modell's Browns, not these guys) belong in Cleveland and the Rams in Los Angeles. And don't get me started on the Raiders....

 

Feel free to leave my lawn when ready.   :) 

Edited October 25, 2014 by Snowprince

[nowandlater]

IF we are talking about going way back to the 90s NO ONE AT ALL cared about the Colts before Manning came along. People in Indy barely followed the Colts before Manning was drafted. The Bears still had a huge following all over Indiana up to the mid 90s.

 

If nobody cared about the Colts before Peyton, why was its starting QB (out of all the NFL starting QBs) on Saved by the Bell in 1996?

 

 

Why would the Colts starting QB star in a national commercial in 1996 if nobody was interested in the Colts?

 

Edited October 25, 2014 by nowandlater

[Haleth]

Because he was the All American Boy and, you know, such a nice guy?  LOL

[merylinkid]

Don't forget the London game between the Lions and the Falcons comes on at 9:30 a.m. ET.   Yes that is A.M. as in MORNING.   It is not part of the regular slate of afternoon games.    Good heavens, I just realized that is 6:30 a.m. on the West Coast.   You have to be a die hard football fan to see this game out there.

[ebk57]

My sense was both people in the midwest as well as Baltimore and the media were still mad at he Colts and Bob Irsay in particular for slinking away in the middle of the night like a suspect fleeing a crime scene and refused to acknowledge them, much less embrace them. Amazing how winning can change that on a dime.

 

On that score, I guess I'm an old school traditionalist. In my mind and heart the Colts belong in Baltimore, the Cardinals in St Louis, the Browns (Art Modell's Browns, not these guys) belong in Cleveland and the Rams in Los Angeles. And don't get me started on the Raiders....

 

Feel free to leave my lawn when ready.   :) 

 

WERE still mad?  This person near Baltimore is STILL livid and will be to my dying day!!  I'll never root for the Colts or Peyton Manning...just because I'm an old, bitter curmudgeon.  So There!!!  

 

Lifelong sports grudges are the best grudges!

 

(I agree with the rest of your post.  Especially the "get off my lawn" thing)

Edited October 25, 2014 by ebk57

[King of Birds]

Good heavens, I just realized that is 6:30 a.m. on the West Coast.

Yup. So the NFL sends two teams to the UK to play a game that's not really catching on as well as they hope, and will be a non-event worldwide, even here in 'Merica. Why is this "experiment" still happening?

[DrSpaceman]

If nobody cared about the Colts before Peyton, why was its starting QB (out of all the NFL starting QBs) on Saved by the Bell in 1996?

 

 

Why would the Colts starting QB star in a national commercial in 1996 if nobody was interested in the Colts?

 

The Colts had one great playoff run where they almost made the SB in 1996 and got some brief recognition.

That was the one brief moment for the Indianapolis Colts pre-Manning that resulted in some recognition. There was no year to year or consistent national media attention for the team from the time they moved to the time Manning was drafted

And really one cameo on a second rate saturday morning TV show and one commercial is hardly proof of a ton of national media pub for a team even for the brief time they did do decent.

Until Manning was drafted, when the Bears played in Indy, half the fans were still cheering for the bears. This was true up through the mid 1990s, really until that 1996 playoff run. They did actually gain a few fans after that playoff run but nothing close to what they had after Manning joined the team.

[HalcyonDays]

Yup. So the NFL sends two teams to the UK to play a game that's not really catching on as well as they hope, and will be a non-event worldwide, even here in 'Merica. Why is this "experiment" still happening?

 

I can't believe that the NFL really wants to put a team in the UK? It just seems so out of place. Flying time too long, time zone changes, etc. Makes no sense.

[Snowprince]

And those are the same arguments the league has used AGAINST putting an expansion team in Hawaii....

Edited October 25, 2014 by Snowprince

[merylinkid]

I think the team in London thing is the same as a team in LA thing.   A bargaining chip to get new stadiums and/or tax breaks for teams in existing NFL cities.    If moving the Bills to Toronoto presented too many labor law challenges, can you imagine a team in London?    Besides, the games are sold out in London because they are novelties, 8 games a year will not be nearly as unique.    NFL Europe didn't work because it can't compete with soccer there.    It's like soccer here.   Some interest, but not a lot because too many other established sports taking attention away.

[Constantinople]

I guess I'm an old school traditionalist. In my mind and heart the Colts belong in Baltimore, the Cardinals in St Louis

 

The Cardinals belong in Chicago, whippersnapper.

 

 

 

 

Just kidding.  The Chicago Cardinals were before my time.

[Snowprince]

The Cardinals belong in Chicago, whippersnapper.

 

 

 

 

Just kidding.  The Chicago Cardinals were before my time.

If you know of anybody that remembers the Cards in Chicago, please send em my way....I wanna buy them a drink and listen to their stories/memories. I know they're out there somewhere, they made the move in 1960.

 

I'm guessing it was a classic "this town ain't big enough for the both of us" move, like the Rams and Chargers. The Bolts were born in L.A in 1960, but moved to San Diego the following year.......where I believe THEY belong!

Edited October 25, 2014 by Snowprince

[nowandlater]

Don't forget the London game between the Lions and the Falcons comes on at 9:30 a.m. ET.   Yes that is A.M. as in MORNING.   It is not part of the regular slate of afternoon games.    Good heavens, I just realized that is 6:30 a.m. on the West Coast.   You have to be a die hard football fan to see this game out there.

 

I am a diehard fan, and I'll be there at 6:30 am....actually, probably 7:30 to 8 am on DVR. But I'm excited. I've seen ever London game. But this'll be the first time I get to see an NFL game at Wembley when it's daylight outside, though the daylight probably will be as "daylight" as the semi-domed stadiums in the NFL.

[mojoween]

The question I have is what goes into the decision to decide which teams to send? I mean, other than two very specific markets, is anyone clamoring to see the Falcons and Lions? If they want this to be a marquee event, send the Broncos and Cowboys or something.

[Rick Kitchen]

The Lions have suspended CJ Mosley for two weeks, and sent him home from London, won't say why.

 

Don't forget that the Rams belong in Cleveland :D

[HalcyonDays]

The question I have is what goes into the decision to decide which teams to send? I mean, other than two very specific markets, is anyone clamoring to see the Falcons and Lions? If they want this to be a marquee event, send the Broncos and Cowboys or something.

 

Don't the teams have veto rights? I thought they could say no to being sent to Wembley. Or maybe its a lottery thing.

 

I see it like when the Buffalo Bills play here in Toronto. It's a gimmick, solely for publicity and to attempt to boost sales (here, it's failing big time), but if you are a marquee team, you sure as hell are not going to risk your season on a gimmick. Because in the NFL, one game matters.

[merylinkid]

Teams are clearly balking at losing a home game (hello ticket sales, merchandise sales, parking fees, food sales).    So now it is a condition of a Super Bowl bid that you be willing to give up a home game and play in London in exchange for hosting the Super Bowl that year.

 

The League may be reaching the point of shooting itself in the foot.   First they tried to get the Super Bowl half time entertainment to pay for the privilege, now this.  The Super Bowl may be a BIG DEAL but not that big of deal.   Even for those of us who take the next day off work so they can enjoy every single second of Super Bowl coverage.

[ebk57]

Admittedly, I did not get up for the start of the game this morning, but the end was pretty fun!

[merylinkid]

The end was insane.   Wide Right.   No wait, the fastest delay of game call in the history of football.   Everyone knows that there is a bit of delay between the game clock going to 0 and the ref noticing and calling it.    Then the Lions kicker gets moved BACK to make it more tense since the Lions have not been good with long FGs this year.   And that one is GOOOOOOD.    Amazing.

 

What the HELL happened to the Falcons?  21 points in the first half -- then nothing after Fairley goes out.   They should have been marching up and down that field.

 

That field was hideous.   Soccer pitches cannot just become football fields.   It came up far too easily creating a mess.   

[HalcyonDays]

* slowclap* to the Detroit Lions, for getting a penalty and using it to WIN the game for them. What a great final 46 seconds.

 

Poor Falcons, though...

[AimingforYoko]

Two weeks in a row for the Lions. Looks like Stafford's found his Megatron replacement.

[Crucial]

Another ugly win for the Lions but I am so glad it's a win.  They'd never win these games before.  I thought Atlanta was going to just destroy them.  Golden Tate has been so golden for us.  Adding more tension was leaving the win for Prater to make.  So happy he made it for him as well as for the team.  Hopefully when Megatron comes back we can stop with the ugly wins and just get some dominant wins.

[DrSpaceman]

I think the London idea, both playing games there and putting a team there, is a horrible idea. Its just not feasable with a fair schedule for the league to have one team on another continent.

You'd have one divsion playing games in London every year, which is a horrible travel schedule to have to endure.

Basically with the Thursday games, playoff expansion, London ideas, the NFL is telling fans we don't really care if you like it or not as long as you keep watching. They would put a team on Mars if they found a way to make another billion dollars to add to their ever expanding pile of bills they all jump into each offseason in a old man monetary orgy like kids diving into leaves in the fall.

Edited October 26, 2014 by DrSpaceman

[GuiltyPleasures]

As a dutiful NFL fan, I got up early to watch the London game, saw the first quarter, then woke up after the game ended.  Then I had coffee and turned the channel to NFL Redzone which whips around so fast I have no idea who played whom and what happened to anyone.  My Broncos don't play today and I am anchorless.  So I suppose I should go rake some goddamned leaves.

[merylinkid]

Next week the Cardinals play the Cowboys.   That is when reality brutally returns for Dallas.   Unless it happens tomorrow night, but I am holding out hope that the dream continues at least a little longer.

[Jx223]

Several high scoring games today. Including Buffalo, New England and the Steelers. Tom did a great job today with his 5 touchdown passes, helping keep the Patriots on top of the AFC East Division. The Steelers also played really well today. Ben played great with six touchdown passes. I had thought that the Steelers would lose against Indiana, but they came out and started dominating early in the game. They have been playing well the last couple of weeks.

 

Also I was glad to see Cleveland get a win against Oakland, even though I'm seeing some concerning issues for the team over these last two games they have played. I think that the defense really helped them win today. I think that the AFC North Division is interesting, all the teams in the division are very close, first place is obtainable for any of the teams right now. This Division really is up for the taking. I think it's going to be interesting to see how things play out the next few weeks in this division, especially since there are some more divisional matchups coming up for the teams in it.

 

Buffalo is also playing well and I am glad to see Sammy Watkins shine. I didn't like to see Carolina lose again, but I still think they will win their division.

 

We're already about halfway through the season. I think it's been a nice season so far, I am interested in seeing how the second half pans out for everyone.

Edited October 27, 2014 by Jx223

[Popples]

Whooooooooooooo, Steelers!!!

 

The Jets are just a complete dumpster fire.

 

I think the London idea, both playing games there and putting a team there, is a horrible idea. Its just not feasable with a fair schedule for the league to have one team on another continent.

You'd have one divsion playing games in London every year, which is a horrible travel schedule to have to endure.

Basically with the Thursday games, playoff expansion, London ideas, the NFL is telling fans we don't really care if you like it or not as long as you keep watching. They would put a team on Mars if they found a way to make another billion dollars to add to their ever expanding pile of bills they all jump into each offseason in a old man monetary orgy like kids diving into leaves in the fall.

 

I know it's just the Daily Mail, but according to them the NFL is now planning to play FIVE games in London next season. They're hoping it leads to a permanent team there. Oy.

[merylinkid]

NFL already dumped on that story.  NFL Disputes Report

 

Troy Aikman made an excellent point about jet lag.   You can give the teams a bye week afterward, but there is no hope for the week before the game.   You gotta get there early to adjust to the time zone but that disrupts the regular schedule.   That's why you get snoozefest of games.   

 

But as long as the games are a sellout and people here in the US get up early on Sunday to watch the game, the NFl will seriously consider more games there.  Wish I were not so addicted to football that I could skip the games.

 

 

[Rick Kitchen]

Oakland is 0-7 and they play Seattle and Denver the next two weeks.  Good luck.

[Snowprince]

Oakland is 0-7 and they play Seattle and Denver the next two weeks.  Good luck.

The 1972 Dolphins aren't the only ones popping the champange corks. The Raiders are the last hope for the 2008 Lions this year to replace them as the answer to a trivia question.

Edited October 27, 2014 by Snowprince

[mojoween]

So is Andrew Luck going to get eternal crap for the buttsafety, or is that honor only ever going to be reserved for Mark Sanchez, who got a lot more grief for basically his existence on a football field that I ever thought he deserved.

Sorry, but the hubs is a Jets fan so I am fond of them on his behalf, and I never thought the buttfumble was as funny as it was made out to be. I'll never understand why he insired so much vitriol.

I wonder how Lions fan Kid Rock feels about "Cowboy" being played over that gross picture of Jerry Jones winking during the MNF commercials? Although, he's getting paid and they're not putting the ad on iTunes so he's probably fine with it.

[Snowprince]

The season is half over. It's been a wild ride so far and it's just going to get wilder from here on in. Who's going to catch fire and scorch their way into the post season? Who is going to collapse and find themselves on the outside looking in? The AFC North is the only division where EVERYBODY is above .500. The NFC South is the only division where EVERYBODY is under .500. If the season ended today, both San Francisco and Seattle WOULD NOT qualify for the playoffs (see chart at the link below. Tonights game would have no effect on the playoff standings). The Saints or Panthers could win their division with a sub .500 record.

 

Lace up those cleats and buckle those chin straps for the second half.....this is going to be fun!

 

http://www.nfl.com/playoffs/playoff-picture

[mojoween]

I disagree with Stephen A. Smith (shocking!) in that I think JJ Watt came off like a humorless jerk in his postgame explanation as to why he took a selfie after sacking Mettenberger.

So the kid posted a selfie before the game. So what? It was his first start and he was most likely excited about it.

JJ, here's the thing....your job, is a GAME when you boil it all down. It's not rocket surgery, so how about you don't pass judgments on people who are having a little fun with it.

[wingster55]

Poor Falcons, though...

 

*cries uncontrollably*

[Danny Franks]

I disagree with Stephen A. Smith (shocking!) in that I think JJ Watt came off like a humorless jerk in his postgame explanation as to why he took a selfie after sacking Mettenberger.

So the kid posted a selfie before the game. So what? It was his first start and he was most likely excited about it.

JJ, here's the thing....your job, is a GAME when you boil it all down. It's not rocket surgery, so how about you don't pass judgments on people who are having a little fun with it.

 

I think Watt, like a lot of players and coaches, pretends that football is like war, and that it's as serious a thing as possible. 'When you strap on those pads and go out there, you don't know if you'll ever make it back, man'. If Watt wants to pretend to be a warrior or whatever, then nothing is stopping him from joining the armed forces. 

 

Being reminded that it is actually a game, for entertainment purposes, probably annoys him more than most things.

[Minneapple]

Nobody takes football more seriously than JJ Watt. Nobody.

[xaxat]

That may be true, but I am really getting tired of hearing about his legendarily monastic dedication to the sport.

[merylinkid]

Dammit it's Weedon time in Dallas.   Weedon.   Bradon Weedon.    Good grief. Great back up choice there GM.    So much for your "finest offensive mind" QB.   You jinxed it with your bullshit.

 

Just one more week of the dream that's all I asked.   I knew they would disappoint but I never thought it would be like this.    

[mojoween]

Dancing in ads and tweeting a month after it started airing "have they played my ad yet? I haven't seen it" is ok in JJ world, but selfies are BAD.

Now, I like JJ, don't get me wrong, but it's one thing to take your craft seriously to the point of reprimanding the scoreboard operator and another entirely to be a giant hypocrite about it. IMO, etc. etc.

I want the Cowboys to fail SO MUCH but not at the expense of Romo's health.

I cannot believe they did an in-game interview with Jerrah Jones. Did he say anything of import? I muted the TV when I saw the mic.

Hey guess what? Colt McCoy's parents are at the game! I'm really shocked they didn't even show them until the fourth quarter.

Edited October 28, 2014 by mojoween

[loriro]

Sorry, but the hubs is a Jets fan so I am fond of them on his behalf, and I never thought the buttfumble was as funny as it was made out to be. I'll never understand why he insired so much vitriol.

 

I'm a Pats fan, so a) I have no love lost for the Jets and b) the Pats were the recipients of that play, which at the time put a smile on my face. That said.. I completely agree with you that the play was a miscue, sure, but it's no worse that a lot of other things we've seen (*cough* Lamarr Houston tearing an ACL by celebrating a sack of a BACKUP QB when his team is down by nearly 30 points!*cough*. And that's just one example).  

 

I think Sanchez in general got a really bad deal in New York and I think the best thing that could have happened to him was to get the hell out of dodge. 

 

I disagree with Stephen A. Smith (shocking!) in that I think JJ Watt came off like a humorless jerk in his postgame explanation as to why he took a selfie after sacking Mettenberger.

 

 

 

I agree it was a silly criticism. And I have a hard time listening to JJ Watt reprimand someone for acting like he's in High School when just a few short years ago, Watt himself, along with all his teammates, sported lovely High School era letterman jackets for their game in Foxboro.  (And last year, with the Pats playing IN Houston, the game itself was billed as their HOMECOMING game...). 

 

So someone needs to tell JJ Watt how to spell h-y-p-o-c-r-i-t-e.  That seems to be one thing he missed in HS. 

Edited October 28, 2014 by loriro

[mojoween]

Arizona is already licking their chops, as Tyrienn Matthieu tweeted as soon as the game was over. I feel like it's going to be a bloodbath, if Dallas's o-line continues to forget how to pick up a blitz and once first down is over they forget Murray is on their team. And I am OK with that. Go Cards!

It felt wrong, to root for Washington when their win total equals the Giants now and the Giants have to play Indy next.

At the end of the game it was so funny when ESPN interviewed Colt and then some other guy came in with a mic, but then this other dude starts pushing Colt saying "there is no time" and "no means no!" I wonder if that was a network thing, because ten minutes later Colt was back on the field still dressed.

[Bastet]

It felt wrong, to root for Washington when their win total equals the Giants now and the Giants have to play Indy next.

 

Yes, and also because I have never been able to stand Colt McCoy.   But root for them I did!

[merylinkid]

Never picking Dallas again.   Never.   This is how they treat people who believe in them.    We lost to the THIRD STRING QB.    

[mojoween]

Only time I EVER rooted for Colt was against Alabama and his arm fell off.

So far I like what I am hearing in the game wrapup. I was so afraid that Washington was going to get no credit, but dammit they were playing well before Romo got hurt. This morning it sounded like the Philly loss was attributed more to their failure and not to Arizona playing well. I really just want nice things for Larry Fitzgerald, dammit, for no particular reason as I'm not even a big Arizona or Pitt Panthers fan.

Edited October 28, 2014 by mojoween

[nowandlater]

That was a fun game. I forgot how fun a game could be.

[DrSpaceman]

We will find out how good the Pats truly are starting this week.  Next five games are

Denver

Indy

Detroit

Green Bay

San Diego

 

That is much harder than their schedule has been so far.  You could argue every one of those teams is better than any of the ones they have played in the first 8 games, except maybe the Bengals.

 

Already discussing Pats-Broncos game on all the morning shows. 

[Ohwell]

I flattened two tires over the weekend and I was pissed about that, and I was depressed as hell going into last night's game because I hate Dallas, and practically everybody thought they would win.  They didn't.  My team did.  All is right with the world.  For now. 

[nowandlater]

Is it me, or does it seem like the week goes faster with Thursday Night Football?

 

Tuesday and Wednesday amount to a "weekend" of no football.

 

Then suddenly, Thursday Night Football is here, followed by Friday and the actual weekend.

[merylinkid]

Nowandlater, I feel the same way.   The week for football ends on Monday night, then you have "weekend" of Tuesday/Wednesday, then the next week starts Thursday night.   It goes by way too fast.   I liked it better when Thursday nights were an end of season thing.   Now with it every week, it's just too short and goes too fast.

[merylinkid]

Kinda longing for the days of blowouts here.   At least something happens in those games -- for one team anyway.