The NFL Thread

[bane]

It was the third game of the season. Green Bay acted like it was a play off loss. I think everyone agrees that the replacement refs made bad calls more so than the normal officials. BUT every fan here has probably called BS on the normal refs too.

But Green Bay has a coach that tells them to walk off the field. They talk about striking or taking a knee on every down at the next game.

For the record I don't hate the Packers. But I'm sure as we speak someone is penciling in the Packers vs Seattle at Lambeau field for next year.

I take it you're a Seahawks fan? All that talk from the a packers after the game was just sour grapes. It was internal stuff from a bunch of pissed off players is all. With the real refs coming back I guess we'll never know for sure, but I seriously doubt any of that protest stuff would have happened. I don't know if a rematch has much appeal either. Seattle didn't cheat to win that game. The refs just fucked up.

[NeverSurrender]

You're not biased at all.

I'm completely biased. But when the NFL canned the refs after that 2002 game, I didn't have anything to do with it. The fact is, they get calls. Lots of them. Fuck 'em.

That is all..

[Machado]

I think it was Real Sports on HBO that profiled McMahon about 2 months ago.
How many dozens and dozens more cases like this will come to light
in the next 2-20 years

In my family, the members of the 1985 Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears team ranked just slightly behind the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. In fact, as a 6-year-old I was taught the "Super Bowl Shuffle" by a Franciscan nun, so that ranking could be muddled at times. Walter Payton was at the top of the list, but I couldn't help but be crazy about the rebellious, mouthy, "Punky QB known as McMahon."
The way he would play football made me misunderstand the quarterback's role as a child. Aren't all quarterbacks supposed to jump over the top of the pile? Don't they all take punishing hits then pop back up for more? Why would a quarterback slide for a first down when he could get an extra half-yard by taking the big hit?
During his career with the Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and other teams, McMahon never started a full season. His tough and sometimes reckless style of play meant he suffered many, many injuries. Now, 16 years after he retired, he is experiencing an injury that can't be fixed by a surgery or therapy.
At 53, McMahon is in the early stages of dementia. He is part of the group suing the NFL that says they hid the effects of concussions. Though his career resulted in a Super Bowl ring and a Pro Bowl appearance, he still says he would have played baseball if he knew what concussions would do to him.
"Being injured, if you don't play, you don't get paid. If I was able to walk out on that field, I was gonna play," he said in an interview with Chicago's WFLD-TV at his Arizona home. "Had I known about that stuff early on in my career, I probably would have chosen a different career. I always wanted to be a baseball player anyway."
McMahon played football while at Brigham Young University, but said he would have stuck with baseball had he received a scholarship for that sport.
He is a group of more than 2,000 players who need help from the NFL after concussions have filled their retirement with dementia, memory loss, and in some cases, a bitter end. McMahon's teammate, Dave Duerson, committed suicide and asked for his brain to be studied. He was found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the same disease found in other players who have died under tragic circumstances.
The NFL has made strides in improving how concussions and head injuries are treated. Though problems still exist, like Colt McCoy being sent back in the game last season when he was not healthy, the culture around head traumas is changing.
But the retired players who sacrificed their bodies to create the exciting game we all know and love today should not be forgotten. When one of them says he wishes he didn't even play the game that won him fame, it's a cry for help that should not go unheeded.

[johnk5150]

I don't think the Lions or Bears deserve that. Both those teams are in my division. The Packers getting called for holding or pass interference is like Michael Jordan getting called for travelling. These scab refs sucked for everybody and played no favorites.

They can practice what they preach, and deal with it.

You're not biased at all.

I don't mind biased fans. At least NS is honest about his teams.

I'll fully admit the NFL is the only league where I'll actively root against the other three teams in the North. It's such a short season that every single game matters come January.

That said, Monday's GB loss was just wrong. My sense of fair play has to trump my love for the Bears.

[johnk5150]

I think the Vikes steal one in Detroit this week.

Can the Jets steal one at home against SF? Arizona blew the west coast team playing the early east coast game theory out of the water two weeks ago.

[Crazy Levi]

I think the Vikes steal one in Detroit this week.

Can the Jets steal one at home against SF?

No.

the Jets are D-O-N-E.

[NeverSurrender]

I don't think the Lions or Bears deserve that. Both those teams are in my division. The Packers getting called for holding or pass interference is like Michael Jordan getting called for travelling. These scab refs sucked for everybody and played no favorites.

They can practice what they preach, and deal with it.

You're not biased at all.

I don't mind biased fans. At least NS is honest about his teams.

I'll fully admit the NFL is the only league where I'll actively root against the other three teams in the North. It's such a short season that every single game matters come January.

That said, Monday's GB loss was just wrong. My sense of fair play has to trump my love for the Bears.

Yep, I'm not biased when I'm talking about if my team is good or not. I'm a realist.

I'm also not going to lie and say I feel bad for Green Bay, when it's anything but that. I was happy as hell, and still am. It was great.

[johnk5150]

I don't feel bad for them, but that poor DB that had the pass interference call for running down the field to keep the drive going and then was shoved to the ground before that 'catch' was totally jobbed.

[NeverSurrender]

I don't feel bad for them, but that poor DB that had the pass interference call for running down the field to keep the drive going and then was shoved to the ground before that 'catch' was totally jobbed.

So was the DB who got flagged for PI on Green bay's go ahead TD drive.

Bad calls happen all the time. Now we can go back to no holding calls on the packers o-lineman. See how they block when they can't hold? No you didn't, because they couldn't block Monday Night.

[johnk5150]

Ponder has completed 70% of his passes without a pick.

Kolb is top five in QB rating.

Only five teams are averaging less yards per game than Chicago.

Dallas will pound the Bears Monday.

[Machado]

Dallas will pound the Bears Monday.

I was about to ask you what your expectations were for the game in
3 days.
I guess your sentence above says it all.

[Crazy Levi]

John has been hit or miss this season. Ask his bookie.

I like the bears in this one.

[sin]

The Vikings do have a good chance to beat the Lions. I'm starting to wonder if Calvin Johnsons and Staffords injurys are worse than the Lions let on. If the Vikings were in any other division I would be rooting for them.

[NeverSurrender]

The problem with Vikes is that secondary is their weak link or at the very least inexperienced. They are going to struggle against pure passing teams, imo.

[Crazy Levi]

The problem with Vikes is that secondary is their weak link or at the very least inexperienced. They are going to struggle against pure passing teams, imo.

RG3 will eat em alive.

If he's still walking by then.

[Machado]

To NFL Fans:
The National Football League is at its best when the focus is on the players and the action on the field, not on labor negotiations.
All of us who love the sport appreciate the skills and dedication of the players and coaches. That is why we are focused not just on what happens on the field but what our game will be like in another decade or two. The NFL has always tried to look ahead, to innovate, and to constantly improve in all we do.
We recognize that some decisions may be difficult to accept in the passion of the moment, but my most important responsibility is to improve the game for this generation and the next.
I believe in accountability, not excuses. And I regret we were not able to secure an agreement sooner in the process and avoid the unfortunate distractions to the game. You deserve better.
As a lifelong fan, this wasn't an easy process for anyone involved. I particularly want to commend the replacement officials for taking on an unenviable task and doing it with focus and dedication in the most adverse of circumstances.
Our new agreement gives long-term stability to an important aspect of our game, officiating. More important, with this agreement, officiating will be better in the long run. While the financial issues received the most attention, these negotiations were much more about long-term reforms. For example, beginning with the 2013 season, the NFL will have the option of hiring a number of officials on a full-time basis to work year-round, including on the field. In addition, the NFL will have the option to retain additional officials for training and development purposes, and may assign those additional officials to work NFL games.
We are moving forward with the finest officials in sports back on the field. It's time to put the focus where it belongs -- on the clubs and players and our magnificent game, with a special thanks to our fans for their passion.

-- Roger Goodel

[Crazy Levi]

Fuck you roger, useless weasel.

1. He never directly says what he is talking about.

2. His "most important responsibility is to improve the game for this generation and the next." So locking out the refs was in the best interest of the league...up until tuesday morning, when giving in to the refs was in the best interest of the league.

3. And, is this an apology? Because he never says he's sorry. 

4. Could it be any more patronizing? "We recognize that some decisions may be difficult to accept in the passion of the moment..." because all fans are dim-witted, sugar-and-beer-addled, overgrown toddlers demanding instant gratification, who couldn't possibly comprehend the complexity of the issues at stake.
Boo. Why send this at all? So out of touch.

[poizond13]

Looks like Goodell's letter confirms what I've been saying all along: this was about improving the game in the long run, even if it meant some problems in the short term. I'm glad the NFL got this done, and that the regular refs are back on the field as well.

[NeverSurrender]

Fuck you roger, useless weasel.

1. He never directly says what he is talking about.

2. His "most important responsibility is to improve the game for this generation and the next." So locking out the refs was in the best interest of the league...up until tuesday morning, when giving in to the refs was in the best interest of the league.

3. And, is this an apology? Because he never says he's sorry. 

4. Could it be any more patronizing? "We recognize that some decisions may be difficult to accept in the passion of the moment..." because all fans are dim-witted, sugar-and-beer-addled, overgrown toddlers demanding instant gratification, who couldn't possibly comprehend the complexity of the issues at stake.
Boo. Why send this at all? So out of touch.

he's basically the CEO of one of the America's biggest businesses. He's a fucking weasel. Like most of them.

[bigbuttskinner]

Looks like Goodell's letter confirms what I've been saying all along: this was about improving the game in the long run, even if it meant some problems in the short term. I'm glad the NFL got this done, and that the regular refs are back on the field as well.

Is your dad a ref or something?

[sin]

Looks like Goodell's letter confirms what I've been saying all along: this was about improving the game in the long run, even if it meant some problems in the short term. I'm glad the NFL got this done, and that the regular refs are back on the field as well.

He may have the best of intentions, but he is appointed his job and his popularity keeps getting lower. If one more bad thing happens in the next year or so he will be fired quicker than a contestant on the Apprentice.

[poizond13]

Looks like Goodell's letter confirms what I've been saying all along: this was about improving the game in the long run, even if it meant some problems in the short term. I'm glad the NFL got this done, and that the regular refs are back on the field as well.

He may have the best of intentions, but he is appointed his job and his popularity keeps getting lower. If one more bad thing happens in the next year or so he will be fired quicker than a contestant on the Apprentice.

You can't blame Gooddell. He works for the owners. He can only make a deal that the owners want to make. The owners are the ones who didn't want to give in to the refs' financial demands. Gooddell's main goal as a commissioner was to make a deal that would improve officiating in the league over the next 5-10 years, and I think he did that.

He is not a popular guy right now, but I don't think anyone in his position would be. He's the face of the owners who locked out the players and refs within one year. But if you look at the end result of those two things, it's a huge positive for the league over the next ten years. Labor peace with the players/refs, and everyone will be pulling in the same direction for a long time to come. The game will continue to grow.

[Heenan Snuka]

The game will continue to grow.

and the Colts will continue to suck

[poizond13]

The game will continue to grow.

and the Colts will continue to suck

Wrong. Did you see who we have at QB? A future MVP and Hall of Famer.

[bigbuttskinner]

The game will continue to grow.

and the Colts will continue to suck

Wrong. Did you see who we have at QB? A future MVP and Hall of Famer.

After three games, no one can be even thought of as a future MVP, let alone a Hall of Famer. You're living in fantasy land. Let's let him get several seasons under his belt and revisit this.

[Facedown]

A future MVP and Hall of Famer.

Awww, troll13 has found a new dick to suck.
The "Mark My Words" thread approves of this message.

[bane]

Wow. Luck is a future hall of famer already? Based on what? I think the guy is going to be a very good QB eventually, but hall of fame? That's a gigantic reach at this point.

I had a 6 hour drive home tonight and listening to tbe AM dial I picked up some sports show out of God knows where where the host said, "You could make an argument that the Texans are the best team in the AFC right now." Argument? Who's been better? Who else is even in the conversation? The NFC has 3 teams that might be better, but the AFC? Who? Things can change real quick in the NFL, so I'm not crowning anybody anything, but right now, nobody in the AFC can touch Houston.

[johnk5150]

It's unfair how many offensive weapons Houston has.

[johnk5150]

Announcer in the Vikings/Lions game.

"If I could have one player to start a team in this league, I'm not sure I wouldn't choose Harvin".

[johnk5150]

The Lions stink.