NFL Thread

[BitterApple]

Brent Grimes needs to take his wife's phone away.

Wow, such a classy lady.

Regarding Stephen A., he's always crying about something. I'd be shocked if a day went by where he WASN'T complaining.

[topanga]

HAHAHA Cam Newton you asshole!

I feel for the Carolina fans, but Cam is an arrogant cheating classless jerk.

How does Cam cheat? I'm not going to argue with you about arrogant and classless. I disagree, but I can see how his actions might be interpreted as such.

[merylinkid]

Brent doesn't need to take his wife's phone away.   She is a grown up.   But she needs to act like one and realize her "support" for her husband is actually harming his career.    The best thing she can do is shut up.   

[caracas1914]

So the KC Chiefs are the " hottest" team in the NFL, though I suppose that's tempered come playoff time by the fact that they are helmed by ALex Smith.

Having said that, it would amuse me no end if he proved the NINERS and every sports pundit of the past 8 years wrong.

[xaxat]

Brent doesn't need to take his wife's phone away.   She is a grown up.  

 

I'm not too sure about that. 

 

But she didn't try to headbutt any cops this time, so. . . progress?

[merylinkid]

I meant legally.   but hey, maybe she needs a guardian.   You know that commercial with the life coach helmet guy?    Every time she picks up her phone to tweet it shouts NO at her.

[rallymantis]

Royals & Chiefs & playoffs = first time ever.  I'm a dazed-but-happy Kansas City fan.

[Fukui San]

Former head of officiating Mike Perreira is accusing the league office of calling in a penalty for the Facemask penalty called after a play was over in this game.  That was never allowed by the rules, but hey, #integrity.

[roamyn]

How does Cam cheat? I'm not going to argue with you about arrogant and classless. I disagree, but I can see how his actions might be interpreted as such.

He cheated in college on exams. His father also took money where some found its way to Newton, but he never got busted or dinged for it.

[Jx223]

I thought that the DEN/CIN was a good game. I had figured it was going to be close and competitive. I had thought that the Broncos would be able to get the win. Brock did a nice job leading them to victory tonight.

 

This has been very interesting week of football games.  A lot of topsy turvy results. Many good teams losing to teams with worse records, including Carolina and Seattle. I wish that Carolina would have gone undefeated but maybe this loss will drive them to perform even better in the playoffs.

 

CLE almost beat KC, even though Johnny had a bad throwing day. He did rush for over 100 yards, almost helping the Browns getting the upset. But It wasn't enough in the end. I was happy to see Ryan Mallett get a win as well. I hope he makes the best of his second chance.

 

I am definitely looking forward to the playoffs and am interested in seeing how things shake out for the AFC.

Edited December 29, 2015 by Jx223

[yourpointis]

Even though I didn't have a dog in this fight, I gave up watching at halftime. I hate watching lopsided games. Went to NFL.com to check the final score only to see the teams being tied and going into overtime. That's what I get for not sticking it out. Congrats to Brock and the rest of the Broncos. 

 

AJ Macarron (sp) looked like a young teenager when wearing his helmet. It made me think of Doogie Howser M.D. lol. From what little I saw of his playing, he looks like he may have a promising future in the league, as long as he's behind a good offensive line. 

[Danny Franks]

He cheated in college on exams. His father also took money where some found its way to Newton, but he never got busted or dinged for it.

 

So he did what pretty much every other high profile football player in college did? 

 

Taking money out of the NCAA's pockets should see you nominated for an award, if you ask me.

[nowandlater]

AJ Macarron (sp) looked like a young teenager when wearing his helmet. It made me think of Doogie Howser M.D. lol. From what little I saw of his playing, he looks like he may have a promising future in the league, as long as he's behind a good offensive line. 

 

 

When I think of McCarron, I think of his stupid tattoo.

[shoregirl]

Eagles fire Chip Kelly

http://deadspin.com/eagles-fire-chip-kelly-1750203858

Wonder which college he'll coach at next?

Edited December 30, 2015 by shoregirl

[Jx223]

Eagles fire Chip Kelly

http://deadspin.com/eagles-fire-chip-kelly-1750203858

Wonder which college he'll coach at next?

 

There has been some speculation that he might end up coaching the Titans.

Edited December 30, 2015 by Jx223

[AimingforYoko]

There has been some speculation that he might end up coaching the Titans.

Why, 'cause of Mariotta? He'll go back to college, where he'll have total control.

[merylinkid]

Why would an NFL team hire him?   He took a really good team and turned it really bad.   And I doubt he will realize asking for total control over the roster was the problem.    I remember his first game.   Peter King was actually speculating about what Chip Kelly's Hall of Fame Induction Speech would say.   I pointed out the guy should actually coach half a game before putting him in the Hall.    But everyone got excited because he was the "hot" coaching choice that year.    

[yourpointis]

When I think of McCarron, I think of his stupid tattoo.

 

Thanks. Now I can't stop seeing that lol. 

[Minneapple]

Kelly could go back to college, but I'm pretty sure all the big-time college jobs have been filled. Unless some AD sees that Kelly is available and quickly fires his coach just so he can go after Kelly (Texas, for example, could do this). 

 

I think Kelly is a better college coach. He clearly cannot manage an NFL roster or an NFL locker room. With the egos and the money in an NFL locker room, it's a hard thing to be able to get those players to listen, play together, stay hungry. But we'll see. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Titans make a run at him, as right now they have an interim coach.

[DrSpaceman73]

There has been some speculation that he might end up coaching the Titans.

Oh please let that happen!!

One team to continue to ignore as a legitimate AFC South contender.

Former head of officiating Mike Perreira is accusing the league office of calling in a penalty for the Facemask penalty called after a play was over in this game.  That was never allowed by the rules, but hey, #integrity.

They quite obviously saw the replay and then called the penalty, realizing they missed it. Which they aren't supposed to do. The NEXT snap was about to occur when they called the penalty. Could not have been more obvious.

So the KC Chiefs are the " hottest" team in the NFL, though I suppose that's tempered come playoff time by the fact that they are helmed by ALex Smith.

Having said that, it would amuse me no end if he proved the NINERS and every sports pundit of the past 8 years wrong.

Alex Smith is likely to be the second most experienced playoff QB in the AFC playoffs this year, assuming Pitt misses out.

[nowandlater]

Why, 'cause of Mariotta? He'll go back to college, where he'll have total control.

 

I've heard he hates college. The boosters. The recruiting. All that good stuff.

 

 

OK, here's a tangential rant: The NFL Network recently began showing an intriguing new documentary series called The Timeline.

 

The annoying thing is that they'd premiere these episodes -- the most recent one tying the Iran hostage crisis to the NFL, narrated by George Clooney -- after the Thursday Night Football and Thursday Night Football on Saturday postgame shows.

 

Since those shows could come on at any time, I choose instead to wait for the repeats. Problem is they only repeat it a couple times.

 

168 hours to fill, and they could only repeat their newest signature program a few times.

 

And one of those few times was scheduled for tonight, shortly after the Chip Kelly news broke. So of course ,NFL Network is going to postpone The Timeline for breaking NFL news....I just hope the 2nd time they air this show, there won't be more breaking news.

[ganesh]

He cheated in college on exams. His father also took money where some found its way to Newton, but he never got busted or dinged for it.

 

Stop the presses. 

 

[benteen]

I didn't think the Eagles owner would fire Kelly yet.  I think Kelly is a better college coach too and how he does his thing works better there.  But I think he hates recruiting and he wants to be an NFL coach.  I say he'll end up with the Titans where he'll be reunited with Mariotta and have a Top 5 draft picture after this season.

 

I think Cam is a lot better leader and teammate than Aaron Rodgers is.

Edited December 30, 2015 by benteen

[Fukui San]

It's safe to say Chip the GM got Chip the coach fired.

If I'm the Titans I want Sean Peyton. If he's unavailable I'd talk to Kelly and Josh McDaniel, leaning toward McDaniel.

Edit: Add Seattle's O-Coordinator to the interview list. They got a lot out of not-marquee talent.

Edited December 30, 2015 by Fukui San

[xaxat]

OK, here's a tangential rant: The NFL Network recently began showing an intriguing new documentary series called The Timeline.

 

The annoying thing is that they'd premiere these episodes -- the most recent one tying the Iran hostage crisis to the NFL, narrated by George Clooney -- after the Thursday Night Football and Thursday Night Football on Saturday postgame shows.

 

Since those shows could come on at any time, I choose instead to wait for the repeats. Problem is they only repeat it a couple times.

 

168 hours to fill, and they could only repeat their newest signature program a few times.

 

They do that with a lot of their original programming. The show about the UFAs and the team in Alaska were also aired after TNF.

 

I'm not going to stay up that late and I'm not going to hunt down the reruns, so I'm not sure what their strategy is.

 

 

I've heard he hates college. The boosters. The recruiting. All that good stuff.

 

So Kelly can't deal with pro players and he hates to deal with boosters. One way or another, he's going to have to get better at working with adults.

 

I wonder kind of college program he might be interested in. With the possible exception of Texas, there are no coaches in the hot seat from schools that can generate the kind of money Uncle Phil gave him at Oregon.

[SuburbanHangSuite]

BYE, SUCKA!

Christmas has come late for me but I'll take it. I can't believe how unwatchable the Birds were this year. Respect to Lurie for pulling the trigger.

[merylinkid]

 

The annoying thing is that they'd premiere these episodes -- the most recent one tying the Iran hostage crisis to the NFL, narrated by George Clooney -- after the Thursday Night Football and Thursday Night Football on Saturday postgame shows.

 

My pet peeve too.    Why don't they show this stuff in the offseason when we are desperate (okay I'm desperate) for anything football related?   They should have all their original programming in the offseason just to have people used to watching the channel all year long.   

 

As for Chip Kelly, PFT is reporting that Lurie tried to get him to give up personnel control and he refused.   Dude, it's your JOB on the line.   You had a choice -- give up a little control and keep your damn job or lost both control over the roster and the headcoach position.   This is not a hard choice and you fucked it up because of ego.    Here I thought the only person who wanted to hang on to the GM job and think they are awesome when they really suck was Jerry Jones.

[AimingforYoko]

Pride is a dangerous thing.

Edited December 30, 2015 by AimingforYoko

[merylinkid]

So is cancelling Taco Tuesdays apparently.

[ganesh]

So Kelly can't deal with pro players and he hates to deal with boosters. One way or another, he's going to have to get better at working with adults.

 

You have to do things in your job that you don't want to do in order to do the things you like to do in your job that is the job you actually like to do. Like I do, and I'm sure most of you all do too. Grow up "Chip". If you don't want to deal with all that, then win more games. I don't like wasting my time in meetings when I can be writing code or preparing for my awesome class. When I get funding, I don't have to, and no one is going to complain. Do better and you can call the shots. 

[benteen]

Yeah, his desire to have everything (which he hadn't earned in the NFL) was his downfall.

 

Some coaches just want to coach and not deal with all the other stuff that goes on in college.  That's one of the reasons Bill O'Brien left PSU (although he really wanted to be an NFL coach too).

 

Kelly is not going back to college unless nobody wants him in the NFL.  I think his system works better in college but he has it in his head that he wants to be an NFL guy.

[topanga]

I think Kelly is a better college coach. He clearly cannot manage an NFL roster or an NFL locker room. With the egos and the money in an NFL locker room, it's a hard thing to be able to get those players to listen, play together, stay hungry. But we'll see. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Titans make a run at him, as right now they have an interim coach.

I agree that Kelly was a better college coach. But I don't think his coaching problems in the NFL were all because of the players' egos and the players' money. Chip Kelly has plenty of ego, but in college football, he gets away with it. The athletes are still called kids--and are mostly treated as such. It's much easier to control the lives of college student-athletes both on and off the field than it is to control grown men in the NFL. Maybe Chip was wrong for trying to dictate how his players ate and slept. It's fine to give advice. It would even be great to give seminars or other education on the benefits of proper nutrition and the need for sleep. But you can't treat professional athletes like children. Especially when Chip felt that if you weren't down with his program, you shouldn't be a Philadelphia Eagle. 

 

--And maybe, just maybe, the fast-paced offense doesn't work as well in the NFL when almost every player on the defense is as fast, as strong, and as conditioned as your offensive players. Defenses seemed to adapt pretty well to the Eagles' offensive scheme this year. 

 

 

I think Cam is a lot better leader and teammate than Aaron Rodgers is.

I haven't heard anything about Discount Double-Check Rodgers in the locker room. Are there problems?

 

But, yeah, the Panthers seem to be smiling all the time, just like Cam. (Except after their loss, I guess). And even when the Panthers weren't so great (Cam's second year, for example), his teammates always said good things about him, and there never seemed to be significant tension on the team.*

 

*No news is good news, I guess. When you hear about locker rooms where players carry guns or get into physical altercations, that suggests trouble. I'm talking to you, Terrell Owns. You got into fights when you were an Eagle. You almost came to blows with Jason Witten. Jason Witten. One of the nicest guys in the NFL. Yes, you had physical talent, but you were a terrible teammate. 

 

ETA: Because there is no "h" in Witten.

Edited December 30, 2015 by topanga

[mojoween]

Dez Bryant is going on IR and is going to have surgery on his broken foot. Wonder why he waited so long?

And seriously, I know I am a broken record about this, and believe me saying anything positive about the Cowboys physically hurts, but I really need to stop hearing about the Patriots injuries especially when compared to a team like the fricking Cowboys.

With Brady in the lineup, the Pats are fucking FINE. And why is the media even whining about their injuries anyways? Because they lost three whole games? That doesn't even matter, they're still in the damn playoffs, and still have the shot at the #1 seed. God. It's partially the media's fault that I hate that entire organization so vehemently. Also, Gronk is a dipshit.

[Minneapple]

But I don't think his coaching problems in the NFL were all because of the players' egos and the players' money. Chip Kelly has plenty of ego, but in college football, he gets away with it. The athletes are still called kids--and are mostly treated as such. It's much easier to control the lives of college student-athletes both on and off the field than it is to control grown men in the NFL. Maybe Chip was wrong for trying to dictate how his players ate and slept. It's fine to give advice. It would even be great to give seminars or other education on the benefits of proper nutrition and the need for sleep. But you can't treat professional athletes like children. Especially when Chip felt that if you weren't down with his program, you shouldn't be a Philadelphia Eagle.

 

Well, the biggest difference between the college players and the pro players is that the pro players are paid, which gives them power. I mean what other difference is there between a 22-year-old college senior and a 22-year-old NFL rookie? Kelly does not appreciate when players have the power to stand up to him -- but when a player has a $40 million contract, he has that kind of power. I mean I don't think he cares if they get paid. I think he cares when they demonstrate to him that they don't care what he says, and he has no idea how to go about getting them to listen. 

 

I think Kelly is similar to Nick Saban -- neither one has a sense of humor, they both like to dictate the terms of everything, both want absolute and total control. Deadspin excerpted a book about Nick Saban earlier this year. Here's a bit about his time with the Dolphins:

 

In “organized team activities” (OTAs) that spring, Saban had the entire team line up for sprints. He blew his whistle, and everyone took off ... except for Keith Traylor, a nose tackle who weighed at least 350 pounds. According to some of his teammates, Traylor—then a 14-year NFL veteran and winner of three Super Bowls—had a clause in his contract that relieved him of conditioning duties. So, instead of sprinting with the rest of the team, Traylor set off on a leisurely jog. When he realized that Saban was eyeing him, Traylor began to taunt him, yelling, “Hey, Nick! Hey, Nick!” Traylor knew, as the rest of his teammates did, that Saban hated being called “Nick” by his players. He wanted them to address him as “Coach” or “Coach Saban,” just as his college players always had.

 

 

http://deadspin.com/im-a-grown-ass-man-how-miami-trolled-the-hell-out-o-1723879297

 

I think Kelly's situation in Philly was very similar, and I think that's why he demanded those GM duties. And when he got them he proceeded to cut everyone who he didn't think was staying in line. He wanted to control players' contracts so they couldn't step out of line like Traylor did in the situation with Saban. He wanted them to behave like college players, who have no contracts and no money and no power and thus no choice but to heed what the head coach says. (See what happens the minute college players get a minute bit of power, like when graduate players can transfer and play right away? You get a long list of players who want to transfer.)

[FuriousStyles]

More heads could roll in the NFC East. I cant believe Jay Gruden has the most job security in this division.

I think the Eagles did the right thing by getting rid of him...but lol @ not even waiting til after the last game. Smh. If its true Kelly didnt want to give up GM control then good riddance. He must not have wanted his head coaching job that bad.

If he doesnt want to deal with grown adults with opinions and free will, or college boosters then he should go coach high school or pee wee.

[topanga]

 

If he doesnt want to deal with grown adults with opinions and free will, or college boosters then he should go coach high school or pee wee.

But then he'd have to deal with parents, another group I'm sure Chip doesn't like.  But parents of child athletes CAN be assholes, I'll freely admit. 

[benteen]

Nothing from the locker room but Rodgers just seems like an aloof player who just frowns whenever things don't go his way on the field.  Cam to me is a leader who has elevated the team around him.  I think his teammates love him.

 

Yeah, when I heard that Kelly was trying to control his players nutrition and sleeping habits, that set off red flags.  Grown men don't appreciate being treated like children (although a number of NFL players act like children) and if they're not discipline cases or divas, they shouldn't be.

 

Chip's not going to take a year off as a coach if he can help it.  He's not wired that way.

But then he'd have to deal with parents, another group I'm sure Chip doesn't like.  But parents of child athletes CAN be assholes, I'll freely admit. 

 

Yep.  And boosters and alumni can be bigger assholes.

[Mountainair]

Yea, I don't think there are problems in the Green Bay locker room but I don't think Rodgers is outgoing and friendly with the rest of his team as Cam is which goes a long way towards making a great team both on and off the field. And I'm not going to hold his college days against him now. He's obviously got the talent to make up for whatever it is his daddy did to keep him playing.

And because I could really care less about the Eagles...... I saw via Instagram today that Steve Smith is in fact trying to go back to the Ravens next year after previously stating that this was his last year playing ball. I know the Achilles injury has everything to do with his trying to make a comeback but maybe that's his body's way of saying it's time to hang it up.

[topanga]

And because I could really care less about the Eagles...... I saw via Instagram today that Steve Smith is in fact trying to go back to the Ravens next year after previously stating that this was his last year playing ball. I know the Achilles injury has everything to do with his trying to make a comeback but maybe that's his body's way of saying it's time to hang it up.

Yes, NFL players have said time and again that retiring is one of the hardest things to do, especially when you still want to play and your mind tells you that you can play. Even if your body is screaming the exact opposite. 

 

I think Peyton Manning's body might be telling him it's time to retire, but he certainly isn't ready to leave the game yet. I don't think the NFL is ready for its golden boy/endorsement baby to retire either. I know I'll be sad when Peyton finally does retire.

 

Speaking of Peyton being the NFL's golden boy, I wonder why Tom Brady (the other golden boy) doesn't do more endorsements. Perhaps he doesn't like being in that kind of spotlight? Belichick told him not to? He doesn't have time? 

Edited December 30, 2015 by topanga

[mojoween]

As far as I've seen, Tom does a lot of highbrow print ads.

[topanga]

Yeah, that's true. I guess he's going the "male model" route. He's certainly got the face for it. 

[xaxat]

Gisele's brand is far more valuable than his. Having Tom run around promoting things that the unwashed masses would be interested in might not be the best business strategy for her.

Edited December 30, 2015 by xaxat

[Rick Kitchen]

Hall of Famer Doug Atkins has died at the age of 85.

[merylinkid]

I was not surprised by Steve Smith saying he was coming back.   IF he had played the full season, this would have been it.   He just didn't want to go out in IR.   Don't blame him.   And he proved he can still get it done.    Resting up from the torn ACL will let the rest of his body recover too.   I do believe this will be it though.   It's just a matter of going out the right way rather than a case of hanging in there too long (Peyton I love you but you are getting there).

[nowandlater]

I've been following Rodgers' career for 13 seasons now, and I can assure you he's a great teammate guy, from driving a rookie linebacker to the University of Wisconsin for an event to raise awareness in the Congo to hanging out with his o-lineman and TE at the PGA Championships to performing on guitar at an open mic night with the longsnapper

 

Perhaps you won't believe me..I could offer a lot of proof...but, really, the proof is that the Packers have made it to the playoffs for the 7th year in a row (of his 8 years starting), even though teammates change.

 

Also, he won a Super Bowl with a team decimated by injuries.

 

But a couple things:

 

1) Who cares about his sideline demeanor? It could mean a lot of things. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have terrible sideline demeanor.

 

 

2) Rodgers is still close to his Cal teammates. He attends their weddings. He retweeets them. (yeah, that sounds corny, but in Rodgers' world that's a lot).

 

3) Rodgers also keeps in touch with his Butte Community College teammates, who included "adults" who were truckers and former prison inmates.

 

The WAshington Post recently ran a really great article on Rodgers and the most important year of his life. It's really good.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/for-aaron-rodgers-road-to-the-nfl-started-at-an-apparent-dead-end/2015/12/15/8fe12800-a359-11e5-ad3f-991ce3374e23_story.html

 

4. During the 4 seasons that Rodgers had his own radio show, he went overboard in his praise of his teammates. Of course, all QBs are expected to do that. But it was the way he did it. (He would also praise the defense -- and he'd refer to Ha-Ha Clinton Dix by his real name.) He would also talk about his motivational techniques.

 

 

I think Cam is awesome, but Rodgers has been awesome, too.

 

One "bad" season, which many QBs and teams would kill for, doesn't mean he's a bad leader or teammate.

 

(I also woudn't blame Olivia Munn, since Rodgers had his 2nd best season and went undefeated at home last year while dating her.)

[Mountainair]

I should have clarified that it's not necessarily what I think of Rodgers, I don't have much of an opinion either way but amongst the "talking heads" his sideline and locker room demeanor has been mentioned several times as being sub par.

And in other news http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14469896/cam-newton-carolina-panthers-tweets-announcement-son-birthCam Newton is a father!

[Snowprince]

Hall of Famer Doug Atkins has died at the age of 85.

Another 1 of the all time greats I was privileged to see play. It's the Doug Atkins's, Deacon Jones's and Merlin Olsen's/Bob Lilly's of yesteryear on who's shoulders Demarcus Ware, Jason Pierre-Paul and J.J. Watt stand on today....and I believe today's greats would be the first to tell you that.   

Edited December 31, 2015 by Snowprince

[ganesh]

I think a lot of talk about 'locker room demeanor' etc., are largely garbage. Even Shaq has said that chemistry is overrated. 

 

Obviously being a QB is a little different than being an OL, DE, or even a big name TE because you're going to get more of the media spotlight. 

 

Don't throw your teammates under the bus. Spread the credit when you're successful. Take more of the blame when you're not. Prepare diligently during the week for the next game. Clearly, the qb shouldn't openly be pouting or anything, but you're allowed to be like, "could you not talk to me right now? I need to think about how we should be playing better." Don't yell at people on the sidelines.

It's called being professional. 

Good for Rodgers for doing all those things. It seems like he's a nice person, and that's cool. Obviously, he is because he went to Cal. But if he wasn't, and showed up on time, worked hard, and got the team into the playoffs every year, *and* won a superbowl, then who cares? 

i just can't stand that there seems to be only a singular model for "good teammate" in sports. Not everyone is going to speechify. Show up on time, be prepared, and work 100%. I'll play for that person any time. 

[mojoween]

but you're allowed to be like, "could you not talk to me right now? I need to think about how we should be playing better."

Caveat - Jay Cutler can't say that.

[topanga]

I think Cam is a lot better leader and teammate than Aaron Rodgers is.

benteen, you've made me curious about Rodgers, and I've done some hard research (i.e. a Google search) on this issue. 

 

According to two of his ex-receivers, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, Rodgers reads his own press clippings and believes he's one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Even if that's true, Drivers and Jennings said Rodgers is always willing to place blame on other teammates when things go wrong but rarely takes that responsibility upon himself.

--I haven't many post-game interviews with Rodgers, so I don't know for sure what he says when the team loses. Besides R-E-L-A-X, of course. 

 

According to current teammates, Aaron has a strange sense of humor, and not everyone gets his jokes. But he's well-liked in the locker room, and players say that his calm demeanor keeps them from panicking, even when the season isn't going well.