f13.net

So I figured since the NFL 2018 season has officially begun, I can start our annual thread wherein we shit talk the teams, owners and the league.

Man, was it just me or did both of those teams look like the most boring, unimaginative offenses on the planet? They were dogshit through 3 quarters of really boring football. Philadelphia looked like they were tutoring Nick Foles in the Sam Bradford Art of the 3 Yard Out Checkdown and he wasn't really getting it, so they'd switch to the Jet Sweeps Are the Greatest Invention Ever curriculum, but only Jay Ajayi was able to do anything with that. Atlanta, OTOH, were playing the Forget There's Anyone Else Playing Besides Matt Ryan and Julio Jones playbook, which worked great between the 20's. Neither Kyle Shanahan or Frank Reich may not be great offensive coordinators, they both seem to have been sharper shed tools than Steve "I'm Not Think as You Drunk I Am" Sarkasian and whoever the fuck Doug Pederson gave the meaningless OC title to.

Also, the Green Zone? What the fuck, NBC? THIS IS NOT A THING. STOP IT.

Amazingly enough, I didn't think the refs did all that bad a job despite having to throw more flags on the field than are flapping outside the United Nations.

The Falcons are fucked until they realize they've hired the most unqualified person in the NFL to OC their offense, and the fact that Julio Jones isn't Superman and does actually have to show up and practice to get on the same page as the QB.

Hey guys, did you know that Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are REALLY GOOD QUARTERBACKS? I mention the first because obviously, I watched the Texans/Pats game to see a rematch of the shootout from last season and I heard all about the magic of Tom Brady. Even though their offense mostly consisted of running the ball down Houston's throat and scoring off of Houston fuckups, and one pass to Gronk that should have been batted down if the corner had been paying attention to the ball. Also, Houston's offensive line is utter dogshit. It's hard to judge Watson's comeback from a knee injury when he's unable to scramble because his tackles can't block and his guards are fucking turnstiles. I swear, Bill O'Brien is just the least imaginative playcaller I've ever seen. His runs all come from a fucking coin flip of down the middle or pull off tackle and Watson's inaccuracy is either down to rust or the inability to set himself to throw with linebackers all up in his grill. And yet Houston still almost tied it up because their defense is pretty damn good.

I also watched the Green Bay game and yes, the announcers were similarly effusive in their praise of Rodgers, but at least in this case, it was deserved. After watching his dogshit offensive line allowing him to get harried until finally twisting his knee like a fucking wishbone, I then got the treat of watching Deshone Kizer (who we traded our best corner from last year for) bumblefuck his way to a strip sack and an INT on a screen, mostly because he can't read the pass rush, our numbnuts head coach won't give any help to our giant grain sack of a right tackle who is getting skullfucked by a future hall of fame pass rusher and our wideouts can't get separation in less than 5 seconds without running scramble drills. By the way, fuck scramble drill offense - I swear that is Mike McCarthy's only fucking contribution, he doesn't even have a playbook anymore, Rodgers just runs around like he's the last Jew in Poland 1939 and waits until someone comes open by accident. And yet, at halftime, they actually made an adjustment and started throwing quick routes instead of trying to keep Rodgers protected for more than 3 seconds. Our defense still overpursues the run, can't set the edge and is apparently now in the hands of a coach who thinks running no less than 6 DB's on every fucking play is GENIUS. Luckily, it was the Bears so Mitchell I LIKE TITTIES Trubisky missed on a 1-yard pass on 4th down and we win.

Rodgers is going to be in six pieces by the end of this season.

The Cowboys are run by a Muppet and a Puppet so at this point I'm basically focusing on College Football until we win a damn game.

My team tied the Browns.

My team refuses to win.  :oh_i_see:

If you are talking about Cleveland, at least they won't go 0-16 this year! PROGRESS.

You are not helping.  :why_so_serious:

They lost that game - well, the offense lost that game. I liked the defensive side of the ball. Defense gift wrapped that game and Hue still found a way not to win.

Running the ball on first down with the score tied and less than 2 minutes left in the game seemed... well, it seemed like the Cincy thing to do.  :why_so_serious:

That's 1-0 Cincy to you fucker

Funny that, no one in the AFC North has a loss yet.

Early returns on Sam Darnold looked good, despite the first play pick 6 he tossed on what was the rookiest of rookie mistakes. The rest of the night he looked decent, and I don't think I've ever seen a guy throw the ball so goddamn hard. It's not that he was throwing faster than someone else (like Favre could probably knuckle one in there harder) but it seemed like every time he reached back to throw it, he was trying to throw the dick out of the ball. The Lions, OTOH, were fucking awful at every level after that first pick 6. Their O line couldn't protect Stafford from a stiff breeze and as a result, the team still can't fucking run the ball. In addition to a lack of running game, Stafford played like shit when he wasn't picking up his clavicle. If I was him, rather than buying his O line dinner, I'd be sending them scorpions in boxes or some shit just to get someone else in there.

All hail the return of Chucky to Oakland. AND well that went off like a wet fart. Fuck ESPN for continually choking on Raider Nation cock, talking up the "tradition and heritage" of this team that is set to abandon the fucking city either next year or the year after. The piece of shit retard son of the piece of shit original owner had no qualms about telling Oakland to go fuck itself when Vegas waved $700 million at him, so he can eat shit and burn in hell with his father. I look forward to this Raiders team putting up Art Shell-era wins for the next two seasons as Gruden is exposed for the lucky bastard he's always been.

Best thing about the NFL so far this year:  despite all the fair and balanced reporting that might have made it seem in doubt, it turns out that America actually agrees with Colin Kaepernick, and Nike stocks are at an all time high or something.

Somebody should organize a national Take A Knee day.  I wonder just how shocked people would be to see how many actually agree with these guys when they see everything grind to a halt for 5 minutes.

Edit:  feel free to move if this is a bit too much political?

I don't get all angsty about players and stuff like you folks do, but I want to personally kick Tony Romo out of the airlock.

The old lady has such a love of the Patriots that I had to get Game Pass so she could watch their games (since they're mostly shut out of our NY market). We were subjected to Tony Romo's rambling, often incoherent stream-of-consciousness blathering to the point of distraction. Highlight was him literally yelling "take the time out" over and over again, as if he's sitting on his couch in East Redneck, Murca with his drunken fratbros.

While he does every now and again have some decent insightful commentary, it's like finding a peanut in a truckload of shit. And his cheerleading teams on how to beat the Patriots EVERY TIME is straight up unprofessional. I also love how he makes up little voices for the players, regressing directly to elementary school playground level.

Still better than Phil Simms.

Looks like Josh Gordon is going to the Patriots.  50/50 lethal or a huge waste of time.

It's like other teams go out of their way to help out the Patriots rather then their own teams  :uhrr:

Jesus. It's definitely like the rest of the league just doesn't want to win a fucking Super Bowl if it means giving a black man who smokes marijuana a job. FUCK ME, it's a goddamn 5th round pick for a guy they get to control at rookie rates for the next two fucking seasons, and if he isn't active for 10 games, the Pats will give up a meaningless 7th rounder.

I like Romo. Yes, he's an utter goober and extremely into the game but I actually find that refreshing over all the Tom Brady knob slobbering that most of the other broadcasters do.

I watched the Houston/Tennesse game  and holy shit, Houston DESERVES to lose for eternity for just how badly they've fucked up their offensive line. Deshaun Watson could be a great, highlight reel type QB with some seasoning, but the Texans seem determined to get him fucking killed and RGIII'ed out of the league as quickly as possible. When he makes big plays, it's often in spite of the shitty playcalling and the lack of blocking. They refuse to play with a fullback whose only job is picking up blitzes. And yet they still almost beat the Titans because the Titans had Blaine Gabbert starting instead of the soon-to-also-be-RGIII'ed Marcus Mariotta. Gabbert was their 3rd best rated passer yesterday behind a fucking cornerback and Derrick Henry. Also, fuck Derrick Henry for being fantasy points cancer.

I also watched the Jags beat the piss out of New England and the Gordon trade makes sense for the Pats. Without Edelman, they have no wideouts. That Jags front line was able to stifle the run game and get to Brady without doing much blitzing. Their corners are mouthy and legit. ALSO BLAKE BORTLES IS GOING TO CARRY MY FANTASY TEAM ALONG WITH TODD GURLEY, YA'LL. And they did all that without Leonard Fournette which should scare some people because Yeldon and Grant were actually really dangerous in the passing game as well as the running game.

5th rounder...but still. I mean it's my Browns. They could have given them a 2nd rounder and the Browns would still not draft anyone who would help them. And I'm not broken up about Gordon. Cleveland gave him more chances than he should have received and missed more games than he has played. Now yeah, when he is on, he is a HoF worthy player putting up Madden numbers. But when he is off more than on and has been flaky this year? Best to cut bait now... I hope he works out and gets himself right, but chances aren't very likely.

It's only a 5th rounder if Gordon plays.

5th rounder regardless. If he doesn't play, then the Browns send a 7th rounder to the Pats.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1041784583048650753

Did anyone see the penalty on Clay Matthews that basically cost Green Bay a win? Because it was some super duper utter bullshit type of call. I don't know what the fuck the NFL expects pass rushers to be able to do now.

Apparently the NFL is doubling down and using it as a teaching tool:

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nfl-reportedly-use-clay-matthews-controversial-penalty-example-illegal-qb-hit-203822011.html (https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nfl-reportedly-use-clay-matthews-controversial-penalty-example-illegal-qb-hit-203822011.html)

I don't have words.  I am not even going to read the rationalization of why that might be a foul. 

Perspective of someone who knows fuck all on that : Hang on, a shoulder tackle to the Abdomen is a foul now??? What the hell is he supposed to do otherwise, tickle the guy? That's a well executed rugby tackle.

Yeah, the NFL tackling rules on QBs has pretty much jumped the shark.

That said, I hear the Favre is making calls.  :why_so_serious:

Fuck Clay Matthews. Any foul by him is a good call.

Oh they can fuck right the fuck off. That tackle was goddam textbook perfect. From the earliest days of playing football, coaches drilled it into me how to tackle and if I could visualize it as an actual play, that was it from start to finish.

When I first saw it I thought to myself "actually, he could have done a better job wrapping his arms".  Other than Fantasy Football, I think this shit has really helped me get over my NFL obsession.


Oh, and this.  If a BS call is going to happen to anyone, I am fine with it being Clay Matthews.

You two can shut your dirty whore mouths. Clay can do no wrong.

Actually, he can because the pass interference call against him during the Bears game was completely correct and deserved, and almost cost us big time. The call in the Vikings game was complete horseshit though.

The NFL has clarified what is an acceptable tackle technique.

This is verging on the third season in a row where I want to watch the NFL, yet I find myself basically doing other things. Because life changes and the NFL has made itself less appointment-level viewing than before.

NOTE: This has absolutely not happened with college football, if anything I'm watching more now.

Russell Wilson is competing with Toro on who can chew the most grass. Hawks are done this year.

I did a search on my guide for the NFL games I'd have available to watch this week. Holy fuck, this is shit matchup weekend.

Browns v Jets
Saints v Falcons
Cowboys v Seahawks
Patriots v Lions
Steelers vs Tampa Bay

The fuck? Not one of those games interests me in the slightest. They are either shit teams masquerading as good or competitive teams (Bucs, Falcons) or they are going to be one-sided laffers like Pats/Lions or they have the BROWS AND THE JETS. What retarded cockhead thought this was an acceptable slate of televised games?

Thought you'd relish a chance to root for the Bucs over the Steelers

I hate the Bucs, mainly because of Jameis Winston and if he were starting instead of being suspended for groping an Uber driver, we could call that game the Rapist Bowl. However, I think it will end up being the game where the real Ryan Fitzmagic shows up and the Bucs get found out as the shitty team they really are.

Part of me would really like to see the Steelers dominate the game, but another part is tired of the off-the-field drama and just wants them to go away for the rest of the year.  At least I live near enough the Redskins to bandwagon.... no, never mind.

Go Ravens?

Baker Mayfield, man.

Bonus that he cleaned up Tyrod's mess, my Bills fan buddy is going to be hearing this one for a while.

If there is one thing you can count on with Fitzmagic, it is that you cannot count on Fitzmagic.  There is no scenario where he doesn't fall back down to earth eventually, so it goes to reason that it will happen this week when I would so love to see him beat the Steelers.  Football has these weird karma forces at work, would be a good weak to bet on Pittsburgh.

Speaking of QB knob polishing, people never learn the real simple lessons with young QBs.  I think its cool guys like Mahomes come in and do really well.  Mayfield comes on in relief and gives Cleveland it's first .500 record since 1824.  But stop treating these guys like the second coming of Christ.  I think I said the same thing about Dak Prescott two years ago:  there is absolutely no reason to believe these guys will not crash and burn.  If not next week or next month, then maybe next year.  It happens all the time and it is no great mystery.  They come in with a certain rookie confidence due to not knowing any better, and more importantly...there is no tape on these guys.  They succeed beyond all expectations, and we all fall for it.  Let's see how things are when there is a bit more history in the rearview mirror upon which to judge them.  It doesn't mean they won't eventually live up to the hype, but it is waaaaaaay to fucking early to suggest such things.

It is rather telling when your head coach has no idea which QB to start, but then we get to see a comparison of both and it's pretty evident from the flow and timing. Baker might not be great over the long haul, but he looked like an NFL QB... offense looked like it started to click when he came on. Bizarro world has come... because the Browns look like they have a functional, good QB.

You're doing it again.

Yeah, well... being a Browns fan, we are allowed to wax poetic after a single win in two years. Gotta cheer before the house inevitably burns down.

I think there actually is some reason for optimism with or without Mayfield.  Just don't assume this guy is your instant savior.  One of the arguments to keeping him on the bench is so that when the inevitable beatdown comes, it doesn't ruin him utterly.

I was impressed with his ability to read the D (albeit the Jets D) quickly and execute. Don't listen to the stupid talking heads that want to deify a good performance.

Baker put on a clinic on how to be a solid QB, he only had one poorly chosen throw, because the safety was obscured by a knot of linemen. Of course time will tell, and he plays for the Browns, so it's not like they'll be in the playoffs ever or anything. Hopefully NE can pick him up to replace Brady next year  :grin:

I see Clay Matthews got another flag for "tackling while being Clay Matthews" lol.

I am of two minds about this.  On the one hand, this is clearly should not be a foul.  It is a foul according to the new rules, but it should not be.

On the other hand, there is a reason Clay Matthews is an unlikable douche.  I have seen enough of that guy in action to know that when he makes a tackle like that, he is the exact kind of alpha male among alpha males dickhead that is trying to hurt you every time he touches you.  Within the rules, sure, but that doesn't make him less of a dick.  He puts all of his weight into a tackle like that not because it is the best way to bring someone to the ground, but because it might happily smash a few of your ribs.

But yeah, they need to undo this rule for all the non-assholes who just want to tackle a dude.

The Aaron-Rodgers-Anti-Smash-The-QBs-Shoulder-Rule should only be in force when the QB would land/lands sideways on their shoulder. But try to enforce it like that... Football gets harder and harder to watch, especially to newbies. It was hard enough to explain the basics of 4 downs etc to the average European. Now, every time there's a flag you have to explain those special 'if-then-else' cases.

The better approach, in my opinion, is to take the longer, strategic view in all of this.  The reason the QB needs so much protecting these days is because of the ridiculous offensive focus the NFL themselves are putting onto the game.  They want QBs dropping back 50 times a game to turn every contest into a high scoring product, and have been changing all of the rules to make it happen.  The QB gets put even more at risk, they tighten up the rules even more, the scores go even higher, and around and around we fucking go.

The answer is to stop all that bullshit.  The fans increasingly dislike this product, and it isn't because the darker skinned players are kneeling during the song before the game.  Reverse some of this crap, de-emphasizing the offensive scoring, de-emphasize the role of the QB, put things back in balance.  It wasn't fucking broken before.  It is broken now.  Protect the QB by making them less of a focus.  It will magically protect wide receivers at the same time.  And your ratings.

The blows to the head/helmet rules are okay, for the record.  Not sure I like how it gets enforced, but the principle is fine.

Part of that I guess is the Tebow/Brady effect, the Quarterback as a celebrity that the entire game revolves around. If he is the focus of the coverage then his importance in the game must be increased.

That's how sacks have been coached, it's the way the game was up until recently. So by extension, pass rushers are all dicks.

He cleaned up his tackles for the new rules, and those were good tackles. Taking out pile driving and other stuff like that makes sense, but you shouldn't be stopping pass rushers from making clean sacks like those.

Anyway, it is what it is, there's always something with officiating that affects scoring and drives people nuts. I'm more pissed that the 4pm games only had one channel, so I had no backup game to watch during commercials. I ended up going into the studio rather than sit and endure commercials for hours. I'd be perfectly fine just gamepassing the stuff I want to watch, but the old lady is completely unable to disconnect her phone from her eyeballs 24/7, ffs.

Time to change the thread title...

And now 4 of the 5 QB first rounders are named starters.   :why_so_serious:

That Clay Matthews roughing the passer penalty was utter bullshit, again. What in the fuck do refs expect defenders to do?

Best comment I head was 'gently remove the QB's flag and hand it to the ref'.

Dude that 2nd roughing the passer call (approx 7min 2nd Q) in the Steelers game. Holy shit.

Dude brushes Big Ben's helmet and he goes down like a soccer player.

I hope that gets replayed all week to define what a complete joke this is.

Guess NFL players watched a bunch of world cup this year and picked up a few things.

I don't know one football fan that likes these sissy rules, yet the NFL front office claims it is to protect the players that people want to watch.

If they really wanted to protect the QB, they'd just make a "sack" be defined as "any contact on the QB by any defensive player, no matter how soft or incidental." Make it touch football just on the QB. Otherwise, they are just shitting up the game for no good reason.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1044398302786146305

Miami DE out for year  (https://www.sbnation.com/2018/9/24/17896466/william-hayes-acl-tear-miami-dolphins-nfl-roughing-passer-rule) for trying to follow this Aaron Rodgers rule.  They really should just put flags on QB's and tell them they are not allowed to cross the line of scrimmage if they are gonna be overly-protected like this.  4 roughing the passer calls so far on this Monday night game and it's really ruining what should be an entertaining game.

The fiancee left before it was over and I fast-forwarded through most of it. They've finally found the thing to ruin it for me.

These asshats are making Mark Cuban's prediction come true. At this rate, might as well use flags - or since we are in modern times, sensors!

I sincerely hope none of you saw a moment of the Seattle @ Arizona game. It may have set back football several decades. Good fucking god.

I thoroughly enjoyed where our disgruntled Free Safety who couldn't find himself able to practice the last two weeks for fear of injury..

was driven off the field with an air-cast around his broken leg.

And proceed to flip the bird to his coaches (presumedly) on the far sideline.


That made for fun dinner conversation at least...

Earl Thomas is right to be pissed as hell. Looks like he should have gone the Leveon Bell route.

I watched the Bengals/Falcons game more out of obligation to watch football on a Sunday than any desire to see either team. Defense seems to be an afterthought for both teams, though both did get better in the 2nd half - at least until the game was on the line. Atlanta is a team I can see frustrating the fuck out of its fans because it has the tools to win but not the temperament apparently. Stupid penalties were the reason they lost, and both teams looked like special teams nightmares.

I understand why Earl Thomas is upset, but this is EXACTLY why the Seahawks didn't sign him to a 3rd contract. Don't blame the team; blame the shitty CBA and the NFLPA that doesn't take care of its players.

I'd be quite happy to blame all 3.  :why_so_serious:

In the year that every team decided not to bring a defense, the Bills and Cardinals decided to also not bring an offense. Honorable mention to the Steelers who really may as well put a JUGS machine back there.

Yesterday was a tale of two rookie QB's for me. I made the decision to start Trubisky instead of Wentz in fantasy, so I figured I'd watch the Bears game. And while his points totals were really good, this kid is... not. I'm not saying there isn't some raw talent there, because he runs well and does have a strong arm. He doesn't, however, have any fucking ability to 1) get down when he's about to get his clock cleaned, 2) read defenses, and 3) make good decisions. His choices of when to pass are just all over the place. He threw two picks that should never have left his hand, and worst was they came when he could have just thrown the ball away. There were a few other plays that should have been picked that weren't because again, bad fucking decisions. He doesn't know when his receiver is covered. The good news is that he almost managed to beat the Pats despite all that (partly because the Pats had two fumbles in bad spots, but those were counterbalanced by a kickoff TD and a blocked punt TD). Even with all that, the Bears are good again, which is unfortunate for my Packers.

I watched the night game with Cincy v. KC. Everyone was talking about how this was two contenders going at it. There's only one contender in this game and it was KC. Do not believe in these Bengals, at all. They are a team with talent but they are not a good team. KC's defense is fucking awful, but luckily they have Mahomes, who is everything Trubisky wants to be but isn't. He makes good decisions, has a cannon for an arm, can run and has an OC that believes in doing whacked out shit that works mostly because they have talent at all the skill positions. Kareem Hunt, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill make Mahomes that much better (whereas Trubisky only really has Tarik Cohen). Since KC got ahead so quickly, the Bengals were forced to pass a lot, which meant the Chiefs good edge rushers can pin their ears back and go after the QB. This is a team that may loose shootouts simply because they can't defend the run and their entire team is bad except for Chris Jones and a couple of edge rushing linebackers.

Also, Blake Bortles finally got benched because he's terrible. I still don't understand why they didn't just back the Brinks truck up and sign Kirk Cousins.

You forgot this gem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF82jZ4VJfc  Helmet rules? Nah, they are the Browns... who cares.

They had a no-call or pickup during the Pats game, too. Clear helmet-to-helmet.

And twice I was really frustrated because pass rushers pulled up before the sack. Once the guy just stood in front of Trubisky for a beat. Seems like it was coached to avoid the glut of passer roughing calls, but it's an unfunny joke currently (and I support most of the helmet-based stuff, concussions aren't a joke).

I hate Jerry Jones so much right now.

Is it against the rules to type that I want to see someone get assassinated, raped by wolves and then eaten alive, or catch the plague? Because I don't want to break the rules.

Far be it from me to quell the hating on Jerrah, but what did he do this time?

He traded a 1st round pick for a receiver (Amari Cooper) who can't even play right now (in concussion protocol) :awesome_for_real:

Holy shit, I saw that the Cowboys were considering that, but I really didn't think they'd actually do it. If this was 2016, I'd say it was a good deal. I had Cooper on my fantasy team last year and he has become the anti-receiver. He made Crabtree look good last year and he hasn't been much better this season. He is a drop machine.

He can trade for all the receivers he wants, but until his QB can actually complete passes to them, it is largely academic. In other shitty QB news, agreed wholeheartedly about Trubisky. He is wildly inaccurate- he misses 10 throws a game that even an average QB hits. I can't believe the Bears traded UP to get him. What a joke. Their offense  is bad overall- not sure why they insist on running Cohen between the tackles when Jordan Howard is so much better at it (and probably 30 pounds heavier).  Between that and Trubisky sailing balls all over creation, they are killing themselves. An average QB with that defense wins the NFC North going away.

I actually don't think their offense is that bad (except for their wideouts who are broken and butt). Cohen is a game changer if you can get him the ball like a Darren Sproles type. Every run you make him do up the middle though is one less play he'll have at the end of his career, which matters not to the Bears because they'll refuse to pay him and ditch him when he's 27 or at the first hint of injury. I think Trubisky CAN be good, as even Favre was crazy wild a lot of times. Whether he will be good remains to be seen but he's certainly better than that wobbly giraffe Mike Glennon.

Running Cohen would make more sense if they didn't have Howard. He is criminally underused (and not just because he is on my fantasy team!).

Just like the receiver whose shoes he's trying to fill. Jerry must have a type.

Not like that division is murderer's row - so picking up Cooper is not completely terrible. Giving up a 1st is, but the Eagles were rumored to have a 2nd on the table. Kid is only 24 and showed some skill. Probably blow up in Jerry's face, which I am fine with... as a Browns fan, we all float down here.  :why_so_serious:

Compared to what the Cowboys were trotting out there at wideout, it's a huge upgrade to get Cooper. However, just based on his last season and a half, I'd bet money it will end up not being worth the first round pick.

And based on Gruden's history, what he gets with the pick will be shit.

Watching Gruden fail is the cherry on this season. Although listening to Jason Witten speak like he is unfamiliar with both football and English is almost making me miss Chuckie in the booth. Add in Booger fucking McFarland and I am starting to wonder if we got swindled in this trade.

I have never heard Witten speak, but I could tell from his playing days by just looking at his stupid face that he was a redneck idiot.  So you confirm he is an idiot, is he also a redneck?

Chuckie getting steamed in the booth by a bad call was great tv. Witten and his media drone buddy are vanilla, but still better than the verbal diarrhea that is Romo.

I for one like Boog and the Boogmobile, he's not much but he's the star of that presentation.

Witten is inoffensive but also really bad at making calls. Boog and the Boogmobile are annoying as a flaming hot shit. Both are completely unnecessary and the guy they got as the actual commentator tries too hard to be "cultured" and just comes off pretentious. His play-by-play is fine for all that, though. I much prefer Romo even when he goes all QB-knob-slobbering and full-on goober.

Yesterday was the first Sunday this season that I actually wanted to watch more than 1 NFL game, so I GORGED myself on football yesterday.

It started with the Eagles and the Jags in London. Two things: 1) neither of these teams is as good as they should be based on their performance last season and 2) Blake Bortles is really bad at this quarterbacking thing. Now #1 is probably not that surprising, though for the Eagles it should be. They won a Super Bowl with Nick GODDAMN Foles somehow but their offensive line is balls and their injuries are probably going to keep them from going far in the playoffs. The Jags' problems are understandable - they have had significant injuries (the main one being Leonard Fournette because he literally carried their offense at times) and they decided to pay Blake Bortles instead of making a run at either Kirk Cousins or Case Keenum, or sign Colin Kaepernick, or trade for Alex Smith, any of which would have been an improvement on Blake Bortles. #2 is well known but it's funny what last year showed us. Bortles can be a competent QB but you cannot count on him to be that QB consistently, not even from quarter to quarter. Their defense being as weak as it has been though, that was the real surprise.

The Packers and Rams was a helluva lot better game than I expected. I thought the Rams would level us, but instead, the Packers defense actually showed up. In fact, we may even have what could be considered a functional defensive backfield (which I'm sure we'll blow up next year by letting Clinton-Dix go and signing some aging, mediocre corner like Orlando Scandrick or something). What's not showing up is a consistent offense, one that gets in rhythm and stays that way all game. I can only attribute that to McCarthy's playcalling which is at times baffling if for no other reason that he seems to switch successful playcalling philosophies in mid-game in some kind of "they'd never expect me to start making shitty playcalls" kind of outsmarting oneself. However, the Packers really pissed it away apparently because Ty Montgomery got pissed off at being pulled from an offensive series and ignored all his coaches telling him to take a touchback on a kickoff with 2 minutes and 1 timeout left when the Packers only needed a field goal. It's not like the Packers have a first-ballot hall of fame QB who specializes in 2 minute miracle comebacks or anything. Given how shitty Montgomery has played as a running back this year, I don't expect he'll be on the roster by the end of the week and if he is, I don't expect he'll see the field against the Pats Sunday night.

Best game of the day though was watching the Saints manhandle the Vikings, because FUCK THE VIKINGS. Besides my homerism against the Vikes, I will say that signing Cousins was a great move, Thielen and Diggs are scary good and if their defense was as good this year as it was last year, this team would be a shoe-in for the NFC Championship game. They probably still are though I'm not discounting a Rams/Saints championship either.

So the Browns... in standard fashion... decided to get rid of Hue AND Haley because reasons. Nothing like getting rid of the heads of offensive coaching to do great things to your rookie QB. Getting rid of Hue I can see... guy is a terrible HC, proof is everywhere on that. But getting rid of Haley too is a little much - yeah guy is abrasive but he was doing better with the offense than anything Hue did in his first 2 years.

And add to that they put Gregg "$2k" Williams as interim HC... and well, Browns.

Ah well, in Dorsey we trust I guess.

The Packers traded Ty Montgomery for a 7th rounder in 2020 - which is pretty much a "we don't give a shit what we get for you, get the fuck out" kind of trade. Good. Then they trade away Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix to Wasthington for a 4th rounder in 2019 - which to me says "We ain't winning shit and will be lucky to make the playoffs" trade. Clinton-Dix was going to be a free agent next year and given the Packers' reluctance to actually sign DB's to long-term contracts, I guess they figured they wouldn't even bother keeping him.

So, they seem real intent on pissing away Rodgers next few years.

Also, Demarius Thomas goes to Houston to take Will Fuller's place (Fuller tore an ACL). That's a real good trade for Houston. Denver is also giving up this season I see.

Jesus Christ that Steelers/Panties game was ugly.

I didn't watch it, just popping my head into the coverage every once in a while. That was an ass-whoopping.

I'm coming around on the Cooper thing. I'd rather we'd given up a second round + but he's definitely made an impact. He'd have better numbers if Dak was a better qb. Hopefully with more time together Dak will get better throwing to him deep (Dak seems to have better rapport with some receivers than others. Or maybe he just sucks.  :why_so_serious: )

#1 pick is a king's ransom for his still. Especially if The Clapper leads you to a top 10 pick.

First off it warms my heart that non Dallas fans are referring to him as The Clapper.  :grin:

I don't think the Cowboys are going to the playoffs but I hope the pick is at least outside the top 10, hopefully outside top 15. In any event from what I understand next year isn't great for qbs, so the only position I'd want would be DE (maybe LT if it looks like Tyron Smith will retire early).

Who wants Le'Veon Bell next year?  Anyone?

Someone will overpay for him... just hope it doesn't turn into a Dez Bryant signing.

Someone may overpay for him, but is he going to get that long-term 15M/year deal he was angling for in the past?

They did an info popup last week that he's left almost 9M on the table. Not sure that's being effective if the goal is to get paid.

I'd like to see him on the tail for the Pats, but I doubt he'd work there for long (or get the paycheck he wants). I had hopes for Patterson for a bigger back, but he needs some development. They're missing a Blount imo, even though White is stellar at his thing and Michel is coming along nicely.

JFC, Mike McCarthy has got to be the most predictable playcaller on the fucking planet right now. The entire second half, Green Bay continually gets fucked on 3rd down because they can't block or can't block long enough because our route tree is just so simple that it's easy to cover. Fuck McCarthy, that giant bobbleheaded fuck.

Bell forfeited $14.54 million by not showing up this year.  If it works out that someone guarantees him $15m for 5 years, then it's worth it.  Otherwise, he's going to play 1-2 more years at elite salary before being sunset for being over 28.  No way the Pats pay him for more than a year at a time, that wouldn't be their style at all.

Le'Veon Bell will not sign with the Pats, as I'm pretty sure Belichek would never sign him. Bell isn't quite Randy Moss levels of "locker room disruptive" (in the sense of wanting to cash in), but it's close enough that I think Crabby Hoodie Man would not sign him these days. It's not like they really need him. I'm more inclined to think the Jets will back up a Brinks truck to get him.

Don't underestimate how desperate the Pats are going to get over the next couple years. The end is nigh.

Also, his legendary mis-use of second half timeouts cost him AGAIN. If he had more left, he definitely challenges the long pass to Lockett that seemed to touch the ground. I appreciate his ineptness when it benefits the Seahawks, but I hate him for wasting a decade+ of probably the best QB to ever play in the NFL. An decent coach wins 3 SB with Rodgers, minimum.

I think all the talking heads need to step back a second on the challenge flag thing. What is or isn't a completed catch is still as clear as mud and ruling on the field was a catch and that would need a small miracle to be overturned.

What? The announcers called it live that the ball had moved. Either that on the first replay.

And the announcers are always right?

I don't have any problem with him not challenging that call. With one timeout left, there's no way I'd have challenged that myself. With two timeouts, I'd still have had to think about it. There's plenty of blame to be placed on McCarthy and his coaching staff for having to take the two timeouts in the 2nd half, but in that situation, I don't see the problem with no challenge. I've seen the replay 5 or 6 times and I'm still not sure the refs would have overturned it because the catch rules are still shitty.

HAHAHA Cleveland.

Cleveland Browns 'want to interview Condoleezza Rice for head coach role' (https://www.bbc.com/sport/american-football/46255625)

 :rofl: :roffle: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Meanwhile, Mark Sanchez is working out for the Redskins because Alex Smith's leg broke in two separate places today.  Redskins fandom feels pretty Brownsy this year.

I hate that that happened to Alex Smith but fuck the Racial Slurs. They deserve to have Colt McCoy as their starter with Sanchize as their backup simply for being such morons about the Kirk Cousins situation.

I watched the Saints barbecue the Eagles. Not only are the Saints really fucking good this year, the Eagles are just completely off. I realize their entire secondary is hurt right now but their defense might as well not even have taken the field. And as bad as their defense looked, their offense looked worse. I get that their top running back is out, but they have Alshon Jeffrey and Golden Tate to throw to in addition to Zach Ertz and a potential MVP candidate at QB (last year's MVP). There is no excuse for how bad that offense is.

As for the Bears/Vikings game, I really like the offensive scheme that Matt Nagy is running in Chicago, but I have a feeling they are going to be their own worst enemy. Trubisky is a good QB who is going to make some tremendously dumb fucking throws that will get picked. With the dominance their defense showed against a really good Minnesota team, they should have been done and dusted by the 3rd quarter but their offense kept tripping over their own dicks with turnovers. Minnesota, meanwhile, really needs to be get better run blocking and pass protection, because everything else about their offense is really good. Diggs and Thielen are two of the best wideouts in the game, Cousins is a decent QB and Cook/Murray are a good running back tandem. And yet, they can't block for shit, so the run game got stuffed by a really good Bears front 7 which let the Bears pass rush like crazy, something they also excel at.

Tonight's game may be one of the most exciting games of the season, or at least since the Saints/Rams game a few weeks ago. I'm glad it's not being played on that fucked up turf in Mexico.

Watching Mack rush the passer is like watching replays of me playing Madden. Dude's sporting a 99 OVR irl (though I play Browns in franchise, Myles Garrett ftw at 99 99 96 in season 3 lol).

Perfect storm to hire Kaep. Imagine that gasoline fire... wonder if he'd protest the name?

I wouldn't want him anywhere near that dumpster fire of an organization, but it would be fucking HILARIOUS to see the headsplosions if he did.

But I think we should all resign ourselves to the idea that Kaep's NFL career is over.

Or he politely declines to play for the Generals due to differences in the racial overtones of the team name and the twitterverse melts down. Of course the NFL might be able to use that to their advantage... if the blackballed player were to turn down any team's offer.

My point is that by mismanaging timeouts, he doesn't have the luxury of challenging there. With 3 timeouts, he can challenge and be wrong, but still have a chance to get the ball back at the end of the game. It was a significant play, and well worth gambling the first of 3 timeouts. I think it is about 60/40 that it gets upheld. TBH I am really enjoying the new catch rules. Makes for more excitement and less tedium.

How 'bout that Rams D? It's a shame that it seemed like everyone immediately jumped on the 'new NFL, high scoring offense' bandwagon, with a couple retired D commentators trying to point out that almost half of the Rams' score was defensive. Epic game, only tarnished a bit by some dumb calling on both sides in the last minutes. Chiefs' game to lose with those penalties and giving up 6 by not tossing the red flag (imo that no-call was when things got sloppy).

That may have been one of the best games I've ever seen in my life. It totally lived up to my very high expectations.

As for those shitting on the defenses, fuck those haters. The defenses scored 3 fucking touchdowns and they weren't gimme TD's. KC's defense is overall not very good but their defensive line is pretty good and Chris Jones (Mississippi State alum) is a goddamn beast. There were WAY too many penalties and Sean McVey tried to Belichek himself by being too clever on that 3 and out series. Seriously, Sean, just run the fucking ball and make them use all their timeouts. That could have cost them the game but didn't. Both defensive lines are really insanely good and the Rams would normally have a better defensive backfield (KC's is really pretty bad) but they had enough injuries that I'd consider both defenses to be on equal footing for that game.

The only bad thing was that I needed Gurley to have a monster game and Hill/Woods/KC's kicker to have shitty games to win my fantasy matchup and the exact opposite happened. No idea why McVey didn't want to run Gurley most of the game.

I remember telling the fiancee as the 4th Q opened about how they'd beat up the tired KC D with Gurley and run down the clock, ehh nooope. I fully expected Mahomes to step up and march it down for a gamewinner but nooope. That 4th quarter got so weird.

But yeah, she had asked me which game I was looking forward to this weekend (remembering she's a Pats fan and they're on bye). I said this one and it totally lived up to it. We can talk about the NFL declining in some places, but there have been some really stellar games this year between games like this one and the big Baker Mayfield debut.

The entertainment value of the NFL has gotten a LOT better this season, especially the last few weeks. I think part of it is getting rid of some of the shitty shit coaches that have hung around for so long, as well as getting some new blood like McVey and Nagy to allow these young QB's to play more free like they did in college as opposed to trying to hammer them into the "pocket passer" role. Watching teams like KC, the Rams, New Orleans and holy shit, CHICAGO is actually entertaining.

More historic this season is the Browns actually look like they have some functioning pieces to get lost in the middle of the pack.

Man, I got Goffed pretty hard in one of my fantasy leagues yesterday.  Great real football game, though.

That was the weird part of both teams massive scores. It makes it look like the defenses were ass but both defenses either scored a bunch of set their offense up to score after a turnover.  There were some hilariously bad blown coverages/people falling on their face to let some deep passes happen but it was pretty solid game on both sides of the ball otherwise.

I forget which talking head made a little aside that was basically 'how dare Jeff Fisher make us believe Goff was a mediocre QB, when McVay comes along and does a good job coaching and shows Goff has some skills'. Buuuurn!

As someone who is supposed to be (geographically speaking) a Bills fan, that organization needs to be gutted from top to bottom. New ownership, coaching, everything. They've had so many elements on the field and can never make it work.

I used to think Jeff Fisher was a good coach but he was not. Steve "Air" McNair came out of college touted a very skilled passing QB. He never was that under Fisher despite the duo's success. I wonder what he'd have been like with a coach who didn't make his QB's suck.

Alive?

I've really enjoyed this season so far. There's been a lot of non-boring football being played, and I'm actually interested in the games instead of just putting off housework and being lazy.

All this high powered offense and Seattle is stuck with Pete and his run first mentality. It works for now, but it won't work in the playoffs unless the defense gets significantly better. Slowing the game down and limiting possessions works against big offenses, but only if you can A) slow them down when they do have to ball, and B) score enough yourself to keep pace.

It was depressing watching the little bit of the game I got to catch- virtually every play was far more intricately designed and run than anything Brian Schottenheimer can muster.

It's more intricate than the stuff that 90% of the OC's in the league run.

A few more games like Thursday I'm going to believe Jerry actually got the better of the deal for once.

Amari Cooper has a lot of talent, and for some reason, he's just not consistent with it. He was absolutely terrible in Oakland last year, and Gruden's disaster there now wasn't going to do him any favors. Even a bad Amari Cooper is better than anyone Dallas was running out there this year. He'll open up slot positions for Beasley. Dallas won't go far in the playoffs if they do make it, however. They miss Jason Witten at TE more than they miss Dez Bryant. I think they may actually win the East though, because Washington has to rely on Colt McCoy or Mark Sanchez and their offensive line is just a walking MASH unit again.

When Dallas doesn't have a first round pick next year though, I think the deal is going to hurt them long-term. The team wasn't 1 good player away from a Super Bowl, they were 1 good player from possible playoff contention. And their coach is still Jason Garrett who has almost achieved Mike McCarthy levels of safety from even less success.

Jerry can't find a better coach who is willing to do whatever Jerry wants him to do so they are stuck with each other.

We're hoping he snaps in a murder/suicide that gets us a new coach and owner in Dallas.

I have no idea why this is in green.

Ideally I'd want to see new people in positions from the GM on down but that's not going to happen. I think it used to be, in Jerry's mind, to prove himself right (that he's a good GM) he had to win a SB. Now it's win a SB with Garrett and Dak. I don't like that but short of 2nd amendment relief there's not much fans can do about it. So my fall back position is to get rid of OC and qb coach (honestly who the hell hires a rookie qb coach for a regressing qb, who as a player got beat out of a job by said regressing qb?).

Having said all that, I think for the first time in years we have a good defense. We'll see how good tonight (I think Brees will expose the safeties yet again but hey maybe the Saint's OL can't stand up to the DL). Since it doesn't look like the Cowboys are drafting a qb any time soon, they need to go all in and get a great TE and at least one receiver (I think Gallup will eventually develop as a solid  no. 2, but I'm wondering how Cooper would do in the slot if there were two good wideouts and a Witten or Kelce at TE).

Any chance Rodgers wants out at GB and wants to hand the ball off 30 times a game? Asking for a friend.  :why_so_serious:

Jerruh's son is the GM now, so don't expect there to be a new GM hire any time soon. Lil' Jerry may not be as much of a dick as his father but I'm guessing the ego apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Rodgers wouldn't go near Dallas.

I've never said it in over 20 years. I'm not going to say it now, but I'm sure as hell thinking it.  :drill: :drill:

How the fuck do you lose to the goddamn COWBOYS?

Well, the refs certainly did their best to help the Saints. We spent most of the game bitching about the combination of shitty flags and shittier no-flags. It was so bad the talking heads were trying to smooth it over at one point talking about the experience of the officiating crew. Yeah, sometimes too much experience just means it's time to retire. The no-call in the endzone is the only TD the Saints scored. I mean, if I can see that shit at home (and often in real-time, though the big tv helps), and Mike Pereira can see it from the media booth, why the fuck can't the guys getting paid to see it, see it? Bah.

Vander Esch was fun to watch, anyway.

Twitter is all about how the refs were paid off by Jerry.  :why_so_serious:

Anyway I haven't really watched the Saints all year, but their OL looked weak af and they don't have a wr who can beat Chido Awuzie? LOL he got worked by the Seahawks (granted he was always in good position but still he's been the cb targeted all year).

KC Chiefs release Kareem Hunt after video surfaces of him shoving and kicking a woman (https://deadspin.com/kansas-city-chiefs-release-kareem-hunt-after-video-show-1830786083).

Spencer Ware will become KC's feature back, while I assume Hunt will sign with Washington any day now.

This occurred in Feb and they are just now releasing him. Wonder how long they had the video.

Per an article I read yesterday, the NFL tried and was unable to obtain the video.  The hotel only released it to the police.

And yet, once again, TMZ was able to obtain a video the NFL couldn't (or wouldn't).

Yes, apparently both the hotel AND the police had been asked by the NFL for the video and didn't get it. Yet somehow TMZ did. So either they didn't try very hard or they didn't grease the right palms.

Or, you know, just didn't give a shit.

Wow I didn't know you could fire your head coach for being a shitty coach.  :oh_i_see:

FUCKING FINALLY. That took about 4 years too long but it's about goddamn time. You cannot lose to the fucking Cardinals at home. You just can't.

Only half a decade too late. Pity Rodgers is almost played out.

It's great that my home town team is now the base case for ineptitude.  :awesome_for_real:

Support group meets every Thursday at 7p in the gym. I'll hold a seat for you.

I'm hoping a good, young offensive coach like a McVey or Nagy can come in and revitalize his play. Rodgers has not been playing well even aside from the shitty gameplan that he's been asked to execute. Just please God do not hire Josh McDaniels or any shithead from the Belichek tree.

 :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:

My company's IT Director is a huge GB fan, never seen him as happy as he was this morning.

As a huge Seahawk homer, I shudder to think what Aaron Rodgers could do with a coach like McVay, or someone as creative....

Actually, I do hope he gets an opportunity to play for someone like that, would be great for the league.

:cthulu: :cthulu: :roflcopter: :cthulu: :cthulu:

Amari is worth 10 billion 1st round picks.  :drill:

The Dallas defense is exceptionally good and it's showing weekly now. Right now it's second only to Baltimore, another team with a blah offense that's being carried by the defensive numbers.

After beating the Eagles, the Cowboys are effectively one win away from clinching the division. They have head to head over Philly, and they have the divisional record tiebreaker over Washington.

 :why_so_serious:

Also, let's take a moment and remember how I keep telling people the Atlanta Falcons are a fluky greasefire?

Ever since Shanahan ran off, they've had zero offensive identity. They took a huge step back in 2017 and barely made the playoffs, only to get washed out by the Eagles because their offense couldn't score.

What's hilarious is the Falcons have fallen from 33.8 points a game, to 22.1 points per game, and now 24.3 points per game. They are almost a full 10 points per game worse off than when Shanny was here, still.

And yet nobody seems to want to have the discussion that Sark is an idiot that can't run this offense. In the past 5 losses, they've averaged around 18 points a game. They will win you exactly jack and shit in the new NFL. Good teams are putting up 28+ a game now with regularity.

And the offensive line that was so lovingly crafted by spiky haired Moron in Chief isn't looking so hot now. Their left tackle is an overpaid average guy with a good family name. Their center is a gun for hire that's nearing 33 years old. Everybody else is a replaceable piece even Tampa Bay wouldn't draft.

Atlanta is dogshit right now. Their defense is terrible despite Dan Quinn being a "defensive guy" that was going to fix the problems they had when he came in. They still have those problems. That they couldn't score 20 against Green Bay's improved but still iffy defense is a pretty big indictment of how bad their offense is. I never understood the hiring of Sark in the first place as OC - you know for sure he's got substance abuse problems bad enough he got fired for them, and he'd done nothing as a redemption tour before Atlanta hired him.  Naturally, he's fucking terrible and he's probably going to be one of the reasons Quinn gets shitcanned at the end of the season.

Green Bay meanwhile scores 30+ for one of the few times this season, the game after they get right of the potatohead that had been calling their plays. I'm not Philbin fan, but the results are pretty clear to me. We'll see how they do against a really good defense like the Bears on Sunday.

Speaking of the Bears, holy shit, that one game with the Rams last night ended my fantasy season. Trubisky's shoulder is CLEARLY bothering him because at least 2 of the picks he threw last night were just horrible overthrows. Gurley being unable to run (and almost unused) against the Bears and Goff throwing 3 picks as well means the Rams suddenly look vulnerable against a team with a great defense.

Also, fuck you unto death, New England. Serves you right getting beat on a gadget play. Also also, great to see Pittsburgh shitting the bed against a Raiders team too stupid to keep tanking.

I think we may have finally seen the last of the Joe Flacco days in Baltimore.

Did the Cowboys travel forward in time and win a playoff game or something?

(https://i.imgur.com/yrJEtZk.png)

It's been so long that I forgot what the playoff bubble brackets looked like.  :drill:

Hot garbage is what it looks like.  :why_so_serious:

I'm not sure I can take any of those AFC teams seriously for a playoff run. The Ravens might actually win their division if Pittsburgh keeps shitting the bed, but I don't see any of those teams capable of making a run to push either Baltimore or Pittsburgh out of the playoffs altogether. The Titans and Colts are inconsistent as hell and Denver hasn't convinced me either. Miami is Miami.

In the NFC, the only team I take somewhat seriously is Carolina and they are inconsistent as well. The Eagles just keep losing winnable ball games. The Skins are relying on MARK FUCKING SANCHIZE.

What depresses me is that I didn't realize how close to the Packers the Giants have gotten. Holy shit, we are a garbage scow on a trainwreck.

I'm not even mad, that was a legit great play. NE should've had that game a few times over, but meh.

I take that back, I'm a bit mad. I've been trying to explain to the old lady why running down the clock is a good thing. She kept pestering me about it last night, I kept explaining over and over. Finally, Miami is put right where Belichick wants them and only win because of a miracle play. She bellows I TOLD YOU SO and now I'll never hear the end of it.

No matter how many times running the clock down sets up a win, she will always talk about that stupid lateral play by Miami.

Dallas with a chance to clinch and we toss out the bagel.  :oh_i_see:

So the Browns are no longer the saddest sack team in the NFL. Arizona and Oakland are vying for that title, since the Browns are still technically in the playoff hunt. Pittsburgh saved their season, maybe, by beating New England and in the process probably made the rest of the NFL's day by making sure that New England doesn't get home field through the whole playoffs. If the AFC East wasn't a dumpster fire on a trainwreck, it might even have imperiled the Pats playoff chances but nah... Miami sucks and won't challenge them. The fact that New England is having trouble winning on the road makes me happy.

Every great team seems to be in self-destruct mode right now. The Rams and Chiefs both lose squeakers, though at least KC was competitive the whole game. It's a shame that the Chiefs will get bounced in the playoffs because their defense as a whole is trash. They have a good pass rush but that's it. They better be ready to score 30+ because their D will give up a guaranteed 24 against a good team. It's too bad that either the Steelers or the Ravens will make the playoffs - I'd love to see both of them sitting at home. The Ravens winning with Lamar Jackson makes me laugh my ass off, proving once again, you don't need an elite QB if your defense is good and you can run the ball. These great teams better get consistent again, quickly, because if LA plays like they have the last three games in the playoffs, they will not make it to the Super Bowl.

You forgot Seattle deciding to try and set penalty records.

Guys, tell me what I am supposed to be doing right now? I'm used to checking out of the NFL season around game 8 or 9. Is it always this cold out during games?  :why_so_serious:

This whole Ravens QB thing should just drive the Kaep case full steam ahead.

You guys are talking about the Ravens QB thing when you've got the Redskins to compare them to?  A friend of mine had just bought his brand new Mark Sanchez, only to immediately have to turn around and get Josh Johnson's.

They had a lot of help from the guys in the striped shirts. Seattle played poorly, but the referees were even worse. 5 holding calls on Seattle (most after big plays), while Jarran Reed was being held literally every single play on the other side with nary a flag. Call it close, fine. Just call it both ways.

I get it. But 14? Holy sheet, man. Adjust.

The only thing worse than Romo's diarrhea mouth this season has been the garbage officiating. They're calling it 'tighter' (but it usually goes one way and is often deciding the outcomes of games).

https://weei.radio.com/blogs/ryan-hannable/patriots-try-explain-season-high-14-penalties-vs-steelers-referee-said-theyre

Well god damn, Marvin Lewis got fired... hell is starting to freeze.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bengals-fire-marvin-lewis-after-16-years-as-head-coach/

Either there was no buyout clause in his contract (and thus cheapass Mike Brown didn't have to pay anything to get rid of him) or they brought Hue Jackson back to replace him (for whatever idiotic reason). That team is never going to be good under the Brown family.

Tampa also let Koetter go, which should surprise no one, and the Jets fired Todd Bowles, which also should surprise no one. And the Packers are apparently erect about the idea of Josh McDaniels coaching Aaron Rodgers, because apparently they hate A-Aron and want to see him put up insane numbers before he is finally killed by a blocking scheme that could be generously described as "meh, whatever, he can still run around and improvise, right?"

EDIT: And in more non-shock news, Adam Gase (Dolphins), Vance Joseph (Broncos) and Steve Wilks (Cardinals) are also shitcanned. The only one that's moderately shocking is Wilks because they only gave him the one year but that team was fucking awful and whatever talent Josh Rosen may have was getting buried despite having a still-good Larry Fitzgerald and David Johnson on the team.

Yeah, today is been a bit crazy in terms of coaching changes. Last count has:
Denver
Miami
Arizona
NYJets
Green Bay
Cleveland
Tampa Bay
Cincinnati


That's 2 divisions right there. :ye_gods:

Two really shitty divisions.  :why_so_serious:

If Fitz and Winston weren't such TO machines Tampa Bay would have a great offense. I hope Jerry at least fires Linehan and gets Koetter (assuming no one hires him before Cowboys get bounced from the playoffs).

My friend posted an updated photo that exemplifies the sadness of being a Redskins fan.

(https://i.imgur.com/YW89s10.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/UUqWCyA.png)

 :awesome_for_real:

Dear God, why would you buy so many jerseys, especially of players like Beck or McCoy who will literally get a cup of coffee with a team before being sent on their way?

Collectors are just organized hoarders.

Damn, that's good.

Its like seeing the failures of your life laid out in a row.

LOL a Sanchez Redskins jersey?  Why would they even produce one, are they legally obligated to or something? 

OTOH, it is ironically awesome and I kind of want one.

You just order customized ones from unofficial sources in china.

Packers hire the OC from the goddamn Titans as their head coach. I'm not sure why, exactly. TBF, he was QB coach under Kyle Shanahan when Matt Ryan won the MVP, and he was a non-playcalling OC for Sean McVay and the Rams during the 2016 season (when Goff turned his career around and had a monster year) so the theory seems to be that he is a whiz at working with good QB's. So either Marcus Mariotta is just not a good QB (a theory I'm hoping is true and seems to be borne out by the facts) or this guy is overrated because of who he worked for and with prior to his time with the Titans.

Also, the Cardinals hired Kliff Kingsbury (someone who apparently misplaced the goddamn C on the way to spelling their name) as their coach. That's mostly notable because 1) Kingsbury had just been hired to be USC's OC and had not coached a single down for them and 2) Kingsbury's college coaching career consists of having a losing record but having coached Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum in college at Texas Tech. So... win? I don't even know.

Mariotta had nerve damage or whatever that was all year is probably why that didn't count against him no?

I certainly hope so. It could just be that Mariotta isn't very good.