NFL 2009

Sander said:
The price gets me premium seats (in the bottom rows), free drinks starting three hours before the match, a free three-course meal, a champagne reception (heh), seperate entrance, and access to all the amenities in the separate VIP section of the stadium. Probably worth the price..
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Damn. The only thing that could make that sweeter would be getting felatio from one of the cheerleaders.

Sander said:
UniversalWolf said:
It was a mistake to pull the plug on NFL Europe. Supposedly it was losing 10 million every year, but they were getting some priceless information in return for that money. As a testbed for rules changes and as a training league for players, coaches, and player-announcers, it can't be replaced.
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Isn't that what Arena Football is for, now?
Too bad I only got into football after the NFL Europe stopped.
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I really don't see anything coming out of Arena (and it too has now folded I think). Kurt Warner came out of there (?), but I don't see much talent or innovation coming from there. Seems like more of a circus sideshow.

NFL Europe, to be honest I thought it was still called World League - they really pushed it at it's inception, but then it's like they gave up, I didn't really even know it still existed, it had a lower profile than World Poker or Bull Riding or tons of other sports. 10M loss isn't really that much to the NFL too. If it exposes only one overblown college QB (remember that douchebag from Miami that won the Heisman that year umm...... Gino Toretta!) If it exposes one fraud like that and prevents him from "earning" a $10M salary then it's kind of a wash in a very basic sense.

The NFL does need a farm system. College is great and prepares many for the bigs, but there is tons of talent that needs more development, or needs a stage to prove how good they are. The C

I really hope something comes out of the UFL, if nothing else than it players and innovative rules/play style get absorbed into the league like the AFL and USFL did.



I missed that Vick interview last night, but he was saying all the right things. Says he was lazy and got by on talent alone, still went to 3 pro-bowls, what if the dude actually put down the bong and tried what he could do.

Is Philly really thinking he's going to be the heir apparent to McNabb? When McNabb has a multiple INT game will the Philly faithfull be clamoring for Vick?
And how sad were those protestors with their impromptu signs and magic markered newspapers and tshirts and shit. That was some bush league protesting mang.
 
Cimmerian Nights said:
I really don't see anything coming out of Arena (and it too has now folded I think). Kurt Warner came out of there (?), but I don't see much talent or innovation coming from there. Seems like more of a circus sideshow.
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Kurt Warner actually went from college, to Arena Football, to NFL Europe (played for the Amsterdam Admirals as starting QB, Jake Delhomme was first reserve then), to the Rams.

According to wikipedia, the AFL suspended league operations but commented that the league isn't folding, how does that work?
Some of the teams want to continue to play, perhaps under the flag of af2.

Cimmerian Nights said:
NFL Europe, to be honest I thought it was still called World League - they really pushed it at it's inception, but then it's like they gave up, I didn't really even know it still existed, it had a lower profile than World Poker or Bull Riding or tons of other sports.
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Same here, basically. Very occasionally you'd hear a small comment on the Amsterdam Admirals winning something, or ruining the pitch for Ajax (hah!), but I can't recall any big advertising push (might've happened before I was even actively watching sports, though).

Cimmerian Nights said:
The NFL does need a farm system. College is great and prepares many for the bigs, but there is tons of talent that needs more development, or needs a stage to prove how good they are. The C

I really hope something comes out of the UFL, if nothing else than it players and innovative rules/play style get absorbed into the league like the AFL and USFL did.
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Is there actually any kind of semi-pro league for people out of college?


Cimmerian Nights said:
I missed that Vick interview last night, but he was saying all the right things. Says he was lazy and got by on talent alone, still went to 3 pro-bowls, what if the dude actually put down the bong and tried what he could do.

Is Philly really thinking he's going to be the heir apparent to McNabb? When McNabb has a multiple INT game will the Philly faithfull be clamoring for Vick?
And how sad were those protestors with their impromptu signs and magic markered newspapers and tshirts and shit. That was some bush league protesting mang.
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I'd suspect they're going to be using Vick as a free quarterback (no guaranteed money, so no or very small drain on the salary cap, right?) and extra option. He just gives them additional offensive options, making it harder for opposing defenses to properly prepare against them.
 
Sander said:
Is there actually any kind of semi-pro league for people out of college?
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The CFL would be the closest thing to it sinbce the NCAA isn't technically professional (at least not since the OU and MIami glory days) :drunk: . There are some local rinky dink semi-pro leagues around here, but mostly they are for old guys who still want to play, not any kind of developmental deal at all.

Looking at how say baseball and hockey do it, they have vast networks of junior leagues all across North America, for all ages and all kinds of skill levels AA, AAA etc. European leagues, Japanese or other Asian leagues, it's amazing really the pool pf talent out there. Football, with a few very, very rare examples, if you don't play college ball you are probably never going to get noticed by the NFL. If you don't get drafted you have a long road to hoe. You basically have to claw and scrape to get signed to a practice squad. NCAA basically is the farm system for the NFL, and some of the powerhouse programs (USC, LSU, Alabama, Penn State, Michigan, Texas, Florida, FSU, Miami) are probably a better testing grounds than any farm system could ever hope to be. But talented guys will fall between the cracks, or never be given a shot. There has to be a B-league to scoop these guys up, see who rises to the top and push them on to the next level though. But with the way NCAA football is so huge, any pro farm system would always take a backseat to that.

I'm interested to see what happens to a guy like Tim Tebow when he finishes school. Probably the best college athlete in college ball for the past few years and he might not get drafted becasue he's too short etc. etc. Same thing happened to Doug Flutie, he became like the Payton Manning of the CFL and folks finally, reluctanlty, begrudgingly let him play in the NFL, and the guy was ultimately pretty succesfull. Sometimes the scouts are wrong on these guys.

Plus there's something about Tebow I can't stand. He's one of these perfect, boy scout, ultra-christians that lives and breathes to win championships, and win he does. He's fun to watch play for sure, but he's just so perfect and goody-two-shoes you just want to see him get planted by some semi-illiterate, felonious, NCAA rule violating beastly LSU tackle.
There's something to be said for NCAA football, they bring so much passion and intensity to the game.

Sander said:
I'd suspect they're going to be using Vick as a free quarterback (no guaranteed money, so no or very small drain on the salary cap, right?) and extra option. He just gives them additional offensive options, making it harder for opposing defenses to properly prepare against them.
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Sure, the 1M or whatever they are paying him isn't much at all. But they already have a great backup in Feely, and why would you ever take McNabb off the field in favor of an inferior (if more athletic) QB? McNabb has his flaws, and I won't say he's delicate, the guy is tough, but he gets hit, and hurt a lot. We know McNabb's career is winding down.
Vick, I would like to see succeed. I was overseas during the first couple years of his pro career, so I know only of his college days and highlights, but if he can matriculate the ball down the field, he should be given the oportunity.
He's probably better than a lot of QBs many teams haver already. Look at the Broncos now even, Vick could outplay the scrubs there.


edit:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9922912/The-vibe-at-Vikings-camp:-Favre-could-come-back
Just when you thought it was safe.
Glazers breaking insider stuff is usually untouchable, but his other stuff is usually useless wankery, not sure what to make of this.
 
BRETT FAAAARRRRVVVEEE
The drama won't stop till the season has begun.

As for Vick, ESPN is reporting that they might put him and McNabb on the field at the same time in some formations. That would definitely open up some interesting options, as both of them are athletic and versatile enough to be used in different ways.
 
NFL Europe ended up being very helpful for the NFL. In the last couple of years they were testing rules changes like letting the clock keep running on incomplete passes except during the final two minutes of the first half, or the final five minutes of the second half. They also let current NFL players (like McNabb, for example) call the games to prep them for broadcasting after their retirement. There were many, many reasons they should've let it continue.

College football is a joke, really. It's the minor league for the pros with a thin patina of amateur cover-up.

The latest attempt at a sub-NFL pro league is the UFL:

http://www.ufl-football.com/

There was talk Vick might sign there for a year so he could be a starter. They've already got some NFL washouts.
 
Heh heh, hell hath no fury like a narcissistic, sociopathic QB scorned. It's going to be fun watching him turn someone's else's divsion into chaos this year. Vikes will fuck this up, Packers will look bad and watch Chicago walk away with the division anyway. I'd be suprised if Brett can survive the whole season, this may all be academic.
 
After he outduels Rodgers and beats them like a rented mule. That's Favre's raison d'etre, for this entire charade over the past 2 years. All this shit for two games. It's just bad all around, I'm going to enjoy the shitstorm from afar.
 
Cimmerian Nights said:
After he outduels Rodgers and beats them like a rented mule. That's Favre's raison d'etre, for this entire charade over the past 2 years. All this shit for two games. It's just bad all around, I'm going to enjoy the shitstorm from afar.
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yeah, yeah. we'll see.
 
Yes we will, and that's the best part. I have no stake in the Favre/Vikes/Packers soap opera and it's effect on the NFC North. I just want to see the grief that this selfish asshole causes in you all - because honestly I see this blowing up in the Vikes face too and likely the end of Childress' career - if they don't at least make the NFC championship game then this whole fiasco has to be judged as a disaster the Childress allowed to drag on and on and on. The negative implications to all of this is huge and far reaching.

After the season I had to endure as a Pats fan last year, I'm going to revel in the schadenfreude that is caused by Brett Favre's return. Nobody's coming out of this smelling like roses, it's going to be a travesty all around.

If I was Tavares Jackson I'd put some strychnine in Brett's geritol.
 
I think the Lions and the Packers are the least likely teams in the NFC North to "implode" this year. Detroit has nothing to lose, and the worst that could happen to the Packers is the new defense sucking and Rodgers getting hurt. If Rodgers gets seriously hurt the season's probably over for Green Bay, since Flynn/Brohm aren't ready to handle being the starter. I don't think Favre will be much of a factor in any implosion unless he singlehandedly demolishes the Packers.

The Bears on the other hand...what happens if Cutler is only average? I've already seen a fair amount of Doomsdayism just based on that sad first game he had. The Vikings require no explanation.

In any case, the division looks to be WAY more interesting this year than last year.
 
UniversalWolf said:
In any case, the division looks to be WAY more interesting this year than last year.
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This is true.

I love how the media, who've been made to look like fools for tha past 2 years on this Favre thing are turning against him. Wanker prognosticators making themsleves look stupid time after time. Brett lied blah, blah. How about cutting him down for being a marginal QB the past 5 years instead of acting like spurned little girlfriends.
 
Cimmerian Nights said:
I love how the media, who've been made to look like fools for tha past 2 years on this Favre thing are turning against him. Wanker prognosticators making themsleves look stupid time after time. Brett lied blah, blah. How about cutting him down for being a marginal QB the past 5 years instead of acting like spurned little girlfriends.
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He does seem to have a talent for making them look silly. This Viking comeback was something of a masterpiece. He waited until everyone was convinced it wasn't going to happen, then dropped the bomb. I'm impressed that I have no idea to what extent he planned it that way.

You should see how the Viking fans are going nuts for Favre, too. They're more excited than I've ever seen them.
 
He did play them like a fiddle, double swerved them.

Vikes fans ought to temper their enthusiasm. Favre 2009 will be quite pedestrian. He did lead the league in INTs last year. Better than TJ and Rosenfeld? Slightly, but those guys have potential given proper time to mature and develop. It's obvious they are gambling it all on one shot this year. Not sure why they inked him to 2 years? Masochists?

I do think Favre will do better under Childress and this system that he's worked with his whole life than he was under a tight-ass control freak like Mangini. The indoor conditions won't hurt him either. Remains to be seen if he'll last the whole year. If I were a DE I would love to tee off on an old legend like that, retire that muthafucka with extreme prejudice, end the longest streak in football. That's the greatest feeling a defender can ever have, raining on the golden boy's parade.

I still can't believe all this press over a guy that's really an just average QB now.

Tavares is some damaged goods now man, his psyche and ego must be crushed, and for a young guy whose career never really took off or got a chance to mature, it probably never will now. I never really saw the potential there anyway.
 
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I wish it were regular season and not preseason, but the Packers ran circles around the Bills last night. 24-0 at halftime. I'm starting to get some enthusiasm for this team.

There's a rumor the Packers might trade AJ Hawk. Depending on the deal, I'd support that move, since Bishop would probably get playing time.
 
UniversalWolf said:
I wish it were regular season and not preseason, but the Packers ran circles around the Bills last night. 24-0 at halftime. I'm starting to get some enthusiasm for this team.

There's a rumor the Packers might trade AJ Hawk. Depending on the deal, I'd support that move, since Bishop would probably get playing time.
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agreed on both counts. without wanking off too much or being too naive and saying "it's only the preseason, mwyah, mwyah, mwyah" i'm going to say that we're miles ahead of where we were with energy, aggressiveness, accuracy and power in a long, long time. preseason or no...i'm excited as well.

and Hawk's been kinda of a disappointment for a long time. to see Bishop step in and replace him would be brilliant. that guy is a fucking machine this year!!
 
TwinkieStabllis said:
and Hawk's been kinda of a disappointment for a long time. to see Bishop step in and replace him would be brilliant. that guy is a fucking machine this year!!
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This is Bishop's third year, and he's looked like a complete destroyer every single time I've seen him play. He even played OLB in a preseason game last year and still looked great.
 
i have a feeling he'll either beat Hawk out of a job or be competing with Barnett's job. he keeps playing like he is now and i bet the two of them share the starting position.
 
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