NFL 2010

[Paelos]

The NFL game is light years ahead of the college game in terms of speed, size, reads, cuts, blockers, and mentality. Hell the only thing they really have it common is that they use a lot of the same setups, but the execution is just wildly different. It's the reason that a guy like Tim Tebow can be the unequivocal best of his decade as a QB in college with his elongated throwing motion and rushing between the tackles, whereas in the NFL he's a 3rd string prospect who would be dead if he tried to take off running.

It's almost like an RTS game gap between the mid-tier great players and the tournament professionals. Any cheesy exploit offense or scheme that covered your weaknesses effectively at the lower level will be totally exposed and destroyed in the pros.

[taolurker]

Goodell, owners support 18-game season; players concerned

ATLANTA -- NFL owners are eager to increase the regular season from 16 to 18 games.

The players aren't so sure.

During a five-hour meeting at a posh hotel in downtown Atlanta, the push to add two more games to the regular season picked up steam Wednesday -- at least among those who sign the checks.

"I think it's a win-win all around," said Bob Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots.

[HaemishM]

I'm not entirely sure on the 18-game season. I support anything that cuts out preseason games. But the Super Bowl is already too damn late into the next year, so however many games they want to have, they don't need to push the Super Bowl back any more than it already is. The players have a good point. The owners want more games, but they want to pay the players a smaller share of the pie. I wouldn't go for it either.

[Cyrrex]

I support it as a fan, though I'd like it to mean that the regular season starts earlier, not that the Super Bowl is played two weeks later...which of these are they actually proposing?

I can see why the players might not love this, however.  On the other hand, these are people who get paid millions to do something the rest of us would be thrilled to do for a fraction, so who gives a shit what they think.   

[WayAbvPar]

I hate it. Preseason is too long and grueling, but so is the regular season. At least by raping fans for full price preseason games you get some new blood in the seats (many season ticket holders give away the preseason games to people who would otherwise never go). 18 games just means more teams decimated by injuries come December. Maybe another bye week in the season, and start the season in early August?

[Nebu]

Solution is easy, but the owners will never have it.  16 games, 2 preseason.  They lose two games of revenue. 

18 game season has too many problems.

- injuries of marquis players

- each game becomes less meaningful

- longer season causes fans to become disinterested in the regular season

- pay issues.  Do players get paid for 2 additional games or not?  Owners say no, player's association says yes.

Etc.

[Azuredream]

I'm in favor of it as long as the players get compensated appropriately. All I see is more meaningful football = more entertainment for me.

[Paelos]

I am against it. The preseason is boring, but it serves a very important function for each of the teams. They are rusty as hell getting out on the field, and those 4 games really help them gel, figure out the (at this point extremely necessary) depth chart for the backups, and give the starters some real game experience without a lot of injury threat.

Also, even with 16 games, teams that are playoff bound are checking out with 2 or more to play. The Colts folding up their tent with 3 games to go, and they gift-wrapped a playoff spot for the Jets by laying down. There will be at least 3 teams this season who won't bother fielding their starters in the last game of the season, and possibly two teams that check out for 2 or 3 games. Toss in the fact that have teams that know they are spoilers by Week 8, and the regular season is long enough dammit.

I don't want teams sitting players for a month because they are locked for the top playoff slots.

[naum]

I'm not entirely sure on the 18-game season. I support anything that cuts out preseason games. But the Super Bowl is already too damn late into the next year, so however many games they want to have, they don't need to push the Super Bowl back any more than it already is. The players have a good point. The owners want more games, but they want to pay the players a smaller share of the pie. I wouldn't go for it either.

I'd be all for just killing 2 preseason games and starting the season earlier. Maybe toss in another bye week.

Charging full-price for preseason games is absolutely criminal.

Maybe one of the preseason games could just be a scrimmage, with fans bringing food donations to attend.

[WayAbvPar]

Maybe one of the preseason games could just be a scrimmage, with fans bringing food donations to attend.

That is a great idea. Of course, the money first assholes who run the NFL would never go for it.

[shiznitz]

I'm not entirely sure on the 18-game season. I support anything that cuts out preseason games. But the Super Bowl is already too damn late into the next year, so however many games they want to have, they don't need to push the Super Bowl back any more than it already is. The players have a good point. The owners want more games, but they want to pay the players a smaller share of the pie. I wouldn't go for it either.

I love the idea, but they should add a week off for the league after game 12 or 13.  Pushing the Super Bowl into the second week of Feb is nuts, too. 18 actual games in 19 weeks will shorten the career of every player except kickers by a significant margin.

[WayAbvPar]

Rumor has it that Derek Anderson is beating the shit out of Leinart for the number 1 spot in AZ. That has fail written all over it, which warms my cold black heart.

[Ingmar]

Rumor has it that Derek Anderson is beating the shit out of Leinart for the number 1 spot in AZ. That has fail written all over it, which warms my cold black heart.

Don't get too warm, I've heard rumblings that they're trying to work out a trade to Seattle so Leinart can be reunited with Pete Carroll. 

[Paelos]

As a Cowboys fan, I would approve such a move. 

[MuffinMan]

Two weeks.

[WayAbvPar]

Rumor has it that Derek Anderson is beating the shit out of Leinart for the number 1 spot in AZ. That has fail written all over it, which warms my cold black heart.

Don't get too warm, I've heard rumblings that they're trying to work out a trade to Seattle so Leinart can be reunited with Pete Carroll. 

I am praying that Carroll isn't that stupid.

[Triforcer]

Maybe the Browns can pick him up, after they cut McCoy 


Apparently McCoy really is on the chopping block.  Knowing Cleveland, if they cut him he'll turn out to be the next Tom Brady.  If they keep him, he'll be selling cigarettes at the Cleveland Greyhound station by Christmas. 

[Cyrrex]

If they keep him, he'll be selling cigarettes at the Cleveland Greyhound station by Christmas. 

Which, to be honest, is probably better than actually being a Cleveland Brown.

[Paelos]

Colt McCoy should never have been drafted. The fact he went that late said volumes about his actual talent translation to the NFL. He's undersized, doesn't have the optimal release point, and obviously prone to injury. If he can't withstand a petty WTF hit from Alabama, the NFL would kill him.

That said, I wouldn't recommend cutting him before he even gets the chance to prove himself in a playing scenario. I mean damn, unless he's a total slackass give the kid a year to learn before you toss him to the wolves.

[01101010]

Maybe the Browns can pick him up, after they cut McCoy 


Apparently McCoy really is on the chopping block.  Knowing Cleveland, if they cut him he'll turn out to be the next Tom Brady.  If they keep him, he'll be selling cigarettes at the Cleveland Greyhound station by Christmas. 

Or unless Delhomme gets decapitated and is done forever.

[Cyrrex]

Quite a douche play from Donkey Kong Suh.  He should probably get a big ole fine for that one.

[Nebu]

Quite a douche play from Donkey Kong Suh.  He should probably get a big ole fine for that one.

I liked it.  If I'm a coach, it shows me that my rookie has intensity.  I'll happily pay 15 yards to see that every game, especially if I coached for the Lions.  

Should they fine Suh?  Probably.  I still like to see that kind of intensity from a defensive rookie. Football is all about posturing and mental toughness.

[Cyrrex]

I can see it from that angle, I suppose, but I still think it was boneheaded from a "don't you know the rules, stupid?" standpoint.  Good intensity, and all, but in a real game situation you are putting yourself at risk of being ejected.  Not to mention needlessly putting another player at risk in what amounts to a meaningless game.

[Nebu]

Not to mention needlessly putting another player at risk in what amounts to a meaningless game.

Keep in mind that when you're on the field and your multi-million $$ salary depends on said "meaningless game", your perspective changes.  If you don't bring the heat every minute, there are millions of wanna-bees ready to take your job and livelihood.  For many players, there is nothing for them after football.  They have to make their mark while they can.

[Cyrrex]

Fine, but I'd like to think that the cognitive skills required to say to yourself "whoah, this is the QB I'm about to demolish here" is a more valuable trait than the more primitive ones we saw on display here.  I know he plays the defensive line and his job is to go after the QB...but if he can't show that he has two brain cells to rub together, then I'd argue that he's going to struggle.

This is probably just an anomoly anyway, so no reason to take it much deeper than that.

[Nebu]

I only played in college, but can tell you (from my personal perspective) that you just don't think rationally when you're in the middle of the heat.  When I played defensive back, I injured quite a few people.  Looking back on the experience, my rational mind had no intention of doing such physical damage to them.  It just happens in the intensity of the moment.  I don't know any other way to explain it.  Football is a brutal sport.  The brutality increases as the level of play increases.  That's why people will pay $$$ to watch it.  

I agree with what you're saying on a rational level.  I think that rational thought ends the moment you put on a helmet and hit the field... unless you're a QB.

[Segoris]

I'm with Nebu. On the field, it's usually not malicious or done in poor sportsmanship, but it's always done with high intensity which leads to people getting injured. I may have done the same thing in Suh's position given the chance.

[caladein]

I imagine most of us would.  Loads of experience would teach him how to get the maximum impact on the QB, both physically and psychologically, without getting himself ejected, fined, and giving up a chunk of net yardage.

I mean, it's a great play to laugh about on YouTube, but on his end, especially with Delhomme having gotten rid of the ball, not so much.  I'm not a huge fan of QBs getting mollycoddled, but if they don't throw the book at Suh it's just because he's the No. 2 draft pick and Delhomme isn't Tom Brady.

[Segoris]

I don't think he could have known that the ball was gone though given the angle which Suh attacked from (which was awful for making a clean tackle but enough to prevent Delhomme from making a pass) and the timing when Delhomme got rid of it. A lot of QBs would have tucked the ball in to prevent a fumble, not toss it sidearm/underarm while expecting to not get taken down as a result. Meanwhile Suh is guilty of doing his job of 'playing until the whistle blows' which in this case should result in nothing more than a penalty (which he got).

If I was his coach, the only thing I'd be pissed about is that he didn't appear to attack the ball at any point on someone who hadn't had it tucked in at initial contact. The rest of it I'd simply tell him to learn from experience while maintaining that focus, effort, and drive.

[caladein]

The intentional grabbing of Delhomme's facemask happened before the ball was gone.  By itself that carries the same penalty, 15 yards and a new set of downs, as the personal foul he was called for.  Nothing to write home about though.

Wrapping his arms around Delhomme's head, spinning Delhomme across his body, and slamming Delhomme on the ground were all after the ball was gone.

[JWIV]

Just came across this in a Seahawks thread about the Josh Wilson trade.  Seriously, I don't know what blackmail Ozzie busted out, but oh man.  When I called my cousin last night about it (he lives in Seattle), his head damn near exploded.

[Paelos]

I have no idea who this player is, but even without knowing that, it sounds like a shitty trade.

[Chimpy]

What the hell is that picture? 

[Nebu]

Josh Wilson

Three Seasons,
40 games,
24 starts,
130 tackles,
22 pass deflections,
6 INT's
Average of four tackles per start,
+1.04 WPA,
0.74 TF,
44.6% SR,
+ 37.9 EPA,
+3.16 EPA/G

Traded for a conditional 5th round pick.  Knowing none of the facts, my guess is that they either wanted to shed salary or the guy was a cancer in the locker room.  On paper, he looks a HELL of a lot better than a standard 5th round pick that ends up playing special teams or on the bench.

[JWIV]

Josh Wilson

Three Seasons,
40 games,
24 starts,
130 tackles,
22 pass deflections,
6 INT's
Average of four tackles per start,
+1.04 WPA,
0.74 TF,
44.6% SR,
+ 37.9 EPA,
+3.16 EPA/G

Traded for a conditional 5th round pick.  Knowing none of the facts, my guess is that they either wanted to shed salary or the guy was a cancer in the locker room.  On paper, he looks a HELL of a lot better than a standard 5th round pick that ends up playing special teams or on the bench.

Wilson was set to be a FA next year, and the Seahawks apparently wanted to go cheaper.