Topic: The NFL Thread

[ALPH1217]

NY Giants identity is in NJ

I don't necessarily agree. The Stadium itself  may very well be located in NJ but they are still the New York Football Giants. They played in Yankee Stadium in NY for donkey's years and have always had a fan base with a NY core much the same way the NY Yankees have to this day. To me the Jets are essentially a Long Island team after being based at Shea Stadium all those years with a huge following from that particular section of New York. None of this is really important I suppose.

[daddymac]

I think that our division is pretty weak so I wouldn't say that the playoffs is groundbreaking territory for Da Bears or is unexpected. We won the division last season and I hope the same happens again. How far we progress is largely dependent on whether Grossman can stay fit and keep throwing like he is. Our defence is incredible so with the right QB and, as a result, better reception from the WRs who knows how far we'll go?

What I meant was that the Bears would not just be like last year and get mauled by the first decent team in the playoffs (Where's Steve Smith?) but could go DEEP and even play for the conference. Oh well. Tis good to dream. Viqueens we should 'do' but then Seattle could bring me down to earth with a bump..

[Hierro]

We were in the game until my fellow countryman and Jets punter Ben Graham shanked a punt for a 10 yard total punt return. Wasn't an easy game for you guys by any stretch.....and you struggled against the Jills last week. Fair to say you are almost already in the playoffs after victory against divisional rivals in successive weeks, but you'll need Porter to step up as a target for Brady if you are gonna go anywhere in them....

Porter?  Pardon?

And I think last night showed why the Pats can win the SB without a 'star' receiver - because they've got a certain number 12 throwing the ball.  It doesn't matter who he's throwing at, if you're open he'll hit you, and he'll hit you time and time and time again.  Brady likes to use TE's as much as wideouts anyway, which is why Watson and Graham are probably the go-to guys right now when the ball does go in the air.  High hopes for Chad Jackson too, he showed some moves off last night that Fred Astaire would have been proud of.

Plus there's the small matter of a very bright and powerful run game emerging, Dillon may be 30 now but he's still doing his thing, and with Maroney bursting onto the stage, we could be set for a few years of having a great all-round game.

If we can stay clear of injuries, the one thing that has killed us in recent years, we'll win the division and hopefully make the Championship game.

[Lush is the best medicine...]

Apparently the NFL are thinking of hosting a few friendlies at Wembley stadium - you heard it here first!

[۩ Imperator ۩]

Apparently the NFL are thinking of hosting a few friendlies at Wembley stadium - you heard it here first!

No I didn't. Incidentally, the games they're talking about holding there aren't friendlies - they are bona fide NFL games.

[NY-AmericanRed]

A right balls up by Philly.

Exactly right, it helped the Giants win the game...

But Kareem McKenzie might not be feeling so good.

Wait a minute, wasn't McKenzie a Jet at one point...too cheap to re-sign him...

[Lush is the best medicine...]

No I didn't. Incidentally, the games they're talking about holding there aren't friendlies - they are bona fide NFL games.

really? i heard they were friendlies - although i've heard that the nba are thinking of playing some league games in china in the coming years

[۩ Imperator ۩]

really? i heard they were friendlies - although i've heard that the nba are thinking of playing some league games in china in the coming years

Ever since they arranged the first game outside the USA (in Mexico City last year), they've been desperate to expand the international appeal of NFL. There are enough fans in the UK to guarantee a sell out many times over (even at £100 a ticket), so I guess it will come off.

[Dread Breath]

Porter?  Pardon?

And I think last night showed why the Pats can win the SB without a 'star' receiver - because they've got a certain number 12 throwing the ball.  It doesn't matter who he's throwing at, if you're open he'll hit you, and he'll hit you time and time and time again.  Brady likes to use TE's as much as wideouts anyway, which is why Watson and Graham are probably the go-to guys right now when the ball does go in the air.  High hopes for Chad Jackson too, he showed some moves off last night that Fred Astaire would have been proud of.

Plus there's the small matter of a very bright and powerful run game emerging, Dillon may be 30 now but he's still doing his thing, and with Maroney bursting onto the stage, we could be set for a few years of having a great all-round game.

If we can stay clear of injuries, the one thing that has killed us in recent years, we'll win the division and hopefully make the Championship game.

Jerry Porter to the Patriots from the Raiders looks like a done deal now that Deion Branch has left: Brady hasn't been playing well without a go to reciever this year.

[NY-AmericanRed]

Jacksonville beats Pittsburgh 9-0

Total physical domination by the Jaguars; Pittsburgh had 153 yards total and did not advance past the JAX 46 yard line.  Roethlisberger didn't look ready to play tonight (he'll probably be fine next week).

[Dread Breath]

Jacksonville beats Pittsburgh 9-0

Total physical domination by the Jaguars; Pittsburgh had 153 yards total and did not advance past the JAX 46 yard line.  Roethlisberger didn't look ready to play tonight (he'll probably be fine next week).

Strange decision to go with a half fit QB when the back up did the job the week before: possibly the marquee Rothlisberger had a big say on whether he should play or not.

Had money on Jacksonville: they were the outsiders, but the Steelers were playing away with a half fit QB and aren't the same as they were compared to their run late last season.

[elrojoyoda]

Jacksonville beats Pittsburgh 9-0

Had money on under 37 points in the game

[baboons]

Ever since they arranged the first game outside the USA (in Mexico City last year), they've been desperate to expand the international appeal of NFL. There are enough fans in the UK to guarantee a sell out many times over (even at £100 a ticket), so I guess it will come off.

Was all set for the middle of October.  It would have been a road game for both teams, so each would have kept 8 home games.  Apparently it was only the protracted negotiations around the wage cap that prevented this going ahead - thank god it did, as they'd never have comeback with Wembley being completely screwed for another six months.

[Hierro]

Jerry Porter to the Patriots from the Raiders looks like a done deal now that Deion Branch has left: Brady hasn't been playing well without a go to reciever this year.

'Looks a done deal' - so he's not a Pats player then?  No offence mate, but until he is then he doesn't come into the equation.  I would like to see an experienced wideout come in, but we've just gotten rid of one potential rotten apple - why sign another?  I'm not that fussed right now anyway, I think Jackson is going to have a very encouraging year, and Gabriel and Brown can do a good enough job, not to mention Graham and Watson, TB's favourite targets, currently.

Also Brady seemed something like interested on Sunday, granted he made a few dubious calls and was intercepted, but I wouldn't put his less than brilliant performances down to the team not having a 'main man'.

[Dread Breath]

'Looks a done deal' - so he's not a Pats player then?  No offence mate, but until he is then he doesn't come into the equation.  I would like to see an experienced wideout come in, but we've just gotten rid of one potential rotten apple - why sign another?  I'm not that fussed right now anyway, I think Jackson is going to have a very encouraging year, and Gabriel and Brown can do a good enough job, not to mention Graham and Watson, TB's favourite targets, currently.

Also Brady seemed something like interested on Sunday, granted he made a few dubious calls and was intercepted, but I wouldn't put his less than brilliant performances down to the team not having a 'main man'.

Bad apple? Branch won the MVP in the Pats last Super Bowl victory.

[daddymac]

No I didn't. Incidentally, the games they're talking about holding there aren't friendlies - they are bona fide NFL games.

Yeah - first mooted by the NFL during the regular season last year. If Wembley had been sorted, an AFC game was planned for this year. Having seen the success of the game in Mexico last year coupled with the enthusiasm for NFL Europe in Holland and Germany,  they are looking at having a game per year outside the US on a rota which all clubs will sign up to.

[۩ Imperator ۩]

Yeah - first mooted by the NFL during the regular season last year. If Wembley had been sorted, an AFC game was planned for this year. Having seen the success of the game in Mexico last year coupled with the enthusiasm for NFL Europe in Holland and Germany,  they are looking at having a game per year outside the US on a rota which all clubs will sign up to.

Good use of the word "moot", fella.

[JP!]

Let's Go Niners...

Enough said...

[bryanod]

if they get round to it next year the first round is on me

lets just hope its not the bills vs titans

[Kardiffuk]

This week's First Down just dropped on the door mat and front page headline news is:

Sky Sports, NFL in multi-million pound deal to show football 365 days a year

Apparently a new 4 year deal for the 2007-2010 seasons is about to be announced. There's talk of doubling the number of live Sunday night games currently shown, possability of more games available vis Sky red button interactive service, and finally a selection of programmes from the NFL Network (which is likely to be the 365 daily programming).

The article goes on to state:

The deal makes Britain the largest commercial market in Europe - in fact if confirmed as expected this week, the UK NFL TV rights will outstrip the rest of Europe combined and will make it one of the biggest markets in the world outside the US.

So you've gotta assume that it strengthens the likely chances for the UK to be the prime location for the regular season fixtures the NFL has been craving to host regularly outside the US.

[Hierro]

Daft idea maybe - but what's the chances of the NFL actually awarding a franchise outside of the States?  I know the interest in Latin America is huge, especially Mexico, but Europe could be the sporting equivalent of a Gold rush to the game if tapped correctly.  Both with regards to the whole financial picture (investors/fans buying merchandise etc) and also with regards to actual playing talent.

Maybe that would take us too much towards a proposed world league or something stupid like that, plus it could, only could mind, sound a death knell to the BAFL (or whatever it's called).  On the other hand though it could bring even more interest into the game, and garner more interest in the game over here.

[Tom_B]

Daft idea maybe - but what's the chances of the NFL actually awarding a franchise outside of the States?  I know the interest in Latin America is huge, especially Mexico, but Europe could be the sporting equivalent of a Gold rush to the game if tapped correctly.  Both with regards to the whole financial picture (investors/fans buying merchandise etc) and also with regards to actual playing talent.

Maybe that would take us too much towards a proposed world league or something stupid like that, plus it could, only could mind, sound a death knell to the BAFL (or whatever it's called).  On the other hand though it could bring even more interest into the game, and garner more interest in the game over here.

NFL Europe?

Pats have the Bronco's comin' this weekend, should be a solid win with no slip ups.

I had outside bets on the Cardinals and the Jaguars to make the playoffs so could do with them keepin' up their ok starts. Can't see Jags takin' anything at the Colts though.

[daddymac]

Daft idea maybe - but what's the chances of the NFL actually awarding a franchise outside of the States?  I know the interest in Latin America is huge, especially Mexico, but Europe could be the sporting equivalent of a Gold rush to the game if tapped correctly.  Both with regards to the whole financial picture (investors/fans buying merchandise etc) and also with regards to actual playing talent.

Can't see how that would work for several reasons off the top of my head, namely:

The college draft system
Flights, jet lag eating into preparation time

[bryanod]

i'm just surprised mroe rookies arent sent over to europe and some preseason games arent set up against european teams, would make sense if euorpean teams were at end of their season and would be money spinning for the european cities.

really hope a regular season game does come over next year or two though.

[NewHampshire_Exile]

I think some 65% of the players in the Euro league are Americans. works as a rookie training area and a second chance for some.

[daddymac]

There are NFL Europe rules stating they must have 'International' players on each team otherwise it would probably be 90-95% americans...

[daddymac]

Next year there will be an NFL game in China...

[۩ Imperator ۩]

Seahawks fans making a hell of a racket.

[flamingapeshead]

the giants are getting absolutely shat on!

35 nil at half time. ouch!

i have to laugh at other teams misfortune seeing as my bills are likely to do bugger all again this year

[flamingapeshead]

sorry i lied. they've made a field goal

well done them. their fans must be proud

[Dread Breath]

J    E     T     S! JETS JETS JETS!

[daddymac]

DA BEARS 3-0

[NewHampshire_Exile]

lets go pats - great win yesterday....  oh fuck......... maybe not.

not sure what happened there - offense not firing and no forced turnovers - not like the pats at all.

I wasn;t worried - just sat waiting for the 4th quarter comeback... still waiting..

[NY-AmericanRed]

Tonight you will probably hear one of the largest renditions of "When the Saints Go Marching In" in the New Orleans Superdome.

[ALPH1217]

The fans of the New Orleans Saints are arguably the longest suffering fans in NFL history. They deserve better because that particular franchise is probably the most inept in the long history of the league.

[۩ Imperator ۩]

GO SAINTS!

3-0. A cracking start.

[nyujvary]

go ahead, say Brett Favre is too old, idiots....

[Fairytale of 2005]

The fans of the New Orleans Saints are arguably the longest suffering fans in NFL history. They deserve better because that particular franchise is probably the most inept in the long history of the league.

Not the Raiders?

[daddymac]

go ahead, say Brett Favre is too old and surrounded by idiots....

[SteeleRED]

Not the Raiders?

This is, I suppose, tongue-in-cheek? Because the Raiders have one of the most storied histories in the NFL. Just not in the last few years.

Of course their fans aren't "long suffering". "Insufferable" is more like it. Universally acclaimed as the most despicable in American sports. Well, them and Eagle fan.