NFL 2015

[K9]

Chip Kelly is playing the NFL as if it's Fantasy Football.

[Phildo]

Tebow refused to be anything other than a QB in the past, so him being a hybrid anything seems unlikely.

My first thought was that Kelly watched Major League in the offseason and decided he wanted to get the team moved to Hawaii or Vegas.

Alternatively, QB tryouts will now be Thunderdome.

[01101010]

Tebow refused to be anything other than a QB in the past, so him being a hybrid anything seems unlikely.

My first thought was that Kelly watched Major League in the offseason and decided he wanted to get the team moved to Hawaii or Vegas.

Alternatively, QB tryouts will now be Thunderdome.

Very true. But he also talked about himself as a football player. Maybe his time off made him realize no one was going to hire him for it and he reconsidered his restrictions.

[sickrubik]

QBs are football players too, last I checked. So, I'm not really sure that indicates anything other than his desire to play in that professional field, and specifically in his chosen postion, QB.

Ever since he came into the league people have ruminated about this, but he always barks about wanting to only play QB. I don't see anything changing.

[01101010]

So the draft is going on... Do the Raiders ever draft defense? I mean really... 

[Mithas]

The ghost of Al Davis picks a wide receiver again...

[Paelos]

Cowboys pick another DB, which is fine because that area is awful.

[01101010]

The ghost of Al Davis picks a wide receiver again...

Really do not understand that football team. They have every top flight DL on the board and they pick a WR (although the best rated WR - not the speediest). I get that they want a weapon for Carr, but really? Really wonder if Del Rio was twisting in the wind when they took Cooper. Gotta believe Mack is pretty disappointed in having to do everything again this coming season.

Watched my Browns actually make some pretty smart safe picks. Still think they are fuckstupid not selecting a WR in the first round, but I can't argue with Shelton. Irving (sic) bolsters an already pretty good OL and with Mack in a contract year, it made sense in the long term but they are obviously not shooting for the moon this season. No QB and a cobbled together receiver core is not going to win much unless that run game takes off and the team starts stopping the run. Day 2 should be interesting.

[Shannow]

The Colts picked a WR. Yes because THAT's the problem with your team. Instead their rivals the Pats get the best run stopper left on the board. hahahahahah.
Oakland drafts another WR? Some teams will never learn.

The theory behind not drafting a WR in the first round  is that the position simply doesn't get enough touches to justify using such a high value pick. A good WR will have 8-10? catches in a game? Lineman play every down, even tight ends are more useful as they can block. If you don't have a line that can block and a QB that can throw the ball then a great WR is somewhat useless. Not that WR's are useful , they're just not that useful.

[HaemishM]

That was what, 3 WR's and 2 RB's in the first round? I was under the impression there weren't really that many good prospects at those positions.

Packers draft a safety and I'm not even sure why. That's not a position of glaring need where ILB is now that they let A.J. Hawk go. They said the kid was a cover safety so I'm guessing he'll be a nickel and dime package guy but you give up a first rounder for that? Could he have been had in the 2nd round and maybe you trade the pick for extra picks? I don't know, just seemed weird. It was kind of a boring draft - not really a lot of surprises or any big-time trades.

Winston and Mariotta better get used to fucking losing. I look forward to watching Lovie Smith's offense have no fucking idea how to utilize Winston's abilities in any meaningful way.

[Rasix]

Actually it was 6 WRs in the first round, including a couple massive reaches.  Granted I'm no talent scout, but I'd take Jalen Strong over Breshad Perriman or Dorsett.   Guy has all of the physical tools and he produced.

It's actually a loaded WR class, and GMS have fallen back in love with getting WRs early due to how well most of them did last year.

Cardinals got an OT.  Smart move.

[Ginaz]

Running backs and, to a lesser degree, wide receivers are a dime a dozen.  You can usually get a good one later on.  Why anyone would waste a 1st round pick on one that isn't OMFGWTF awesome is beyond me.

[Mithas]

Ted Wells report is out.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/06/ted-wells-more-probable-than-not-patriots-manipulated-balls/

TL;DR: Tom Brady cheated and lied about it.

I found the text message exchange between the equipment guys particularly funny:

McNally: Tom sucks...im going make that next ball a fuckin balloon

Jastremski: Talked to him last night. He actually brought you up and
said you must have a lot of stress trying to get them done...

Jastremski: I told him it was. He was right though...

Jastremski: I checked some of the balls this morn... The refs fucked
us...a few of then were at almost 16

Jastremski: They didnt recheck then after they put air in them

McNally: Fuck tom ...16 is nothing...wait till next sunday

Jastremski: Omg! Spaz

Full report here: https://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/investigative-and-expert-reports-re-footballs-used-during-afc-championsh.pdf

[Paelos]

Wow.

They actually have documented evidence that the guys were doing exactly what we thought, AND they reference conversations with Brady.

But of course, the Super Bowl champs will have nothing happen to them because they are the darling franchise of the NFL.

[HaemishM]

So Tom Wells spends how much time and money saying what everyone else knew, almost no one gave a shit about and which will likely lead to fuckall for real accountability.

[Mithas]

The reason an investigation like this takes place is because the NFL makes everyone so much money. They know (or think they know) that fans will demand a level playing field and rule violations are not looked upon kindly. They are protecting their cash cow, even if they are doing so in a small way.

I just find the whole thing hilarious. I guess the equipment guys weren't very happy about doing it and Brady was paying him off with signed jerseys and footballs. It also looks like Brady was getting nervous and trying to cover up because he suddenly started communicating with the equipment guy way more often than he did previously.

Brady also took the unprecedented step of inviting Jastremski to the QB room (essentially Brady‟s office) in Gillette Stadium on January 19 for the first and only time that Jastremski can recall during his twenty-year career with the Patriots, and Brady sent Jastremski text messages seemingly designed to calm Jastremski (“You good Jonny boy?”; “You doing good?”). For his part, Jastremski sent Brady text messages confirming that he was okay (“Still nervous; so far so good though”)

I just imagine Brady doing a mafia style shakedown on the guy.

[Malakili]

So Tom Wells spends how much time and money saying what everyone else knew, almost no one gave a shit about and which will likely lead to fuckall for real accountability.

Yep, pretty much.  No one gives a shit about the amount of air in footballs. The language they are using with this "more probable than not" thing is also going to make whatever case they have seem really weak too.  

But honestly, no one is going to be talking about this after tomorrow.

[HaemishM]

Well in principle, it's a pretty big fucking deal. Regardless of how trivial it sounds, it's a major MVP level star, one of the faces of the entire game of football, being caught blatantly and willfully cheating, paying off guys to help him cheat as well as cover up the cheating. So in principle, it ought to come close to approaching the level of seriousness of something like PED's, or Pete Rose betting on baseball. Not because it makes a huge material change in Brady's performance but because it's cheating.

But as I said, it's the MVP face of the sport dude. He won't miss a game. He won't get suspended. He might have to pay a trivial fine and the Pats won't lose any draft picks or suffer more than a slap on the wrist fine.

Also, fuck the owner for being a douche. He should actually apologize to Goddell for being such an arrogant toolbag back when the story first broke. That likely won't happen either.

If ANYTHING comes of this, I might actually have a heart attack and die, Fred Sanford style.

[Malakili]

Well in principle, it's a pretty big fucking deal. Regardless of how trivial it sounds, it's a major MVP level star, one of the faces of the entire game of football, being caught blatantly and willfully cheating, paying off guys to help him cheat as well as cover up the cheating. So in principle, it ought to come close to approaching the level of seriousness of something like PED's, or Pete Rose betting on baseball. Not because it makes a huge material change in Brady's performance but because it's cheating.

Except I don't care about PEDs, and only barely Pete Rose - and it's long enough ago that I think it's time to give Pete a break.

Maybe I'm just cynical, but I'm just assuming teams are bending or breaking rules whenever they can.   Is it really that much more cheating than say, a guy who figures out a way to hold on every play and not get called most of the time?  But then, I don't really care if there is harsh punishment either.  Suspend Brady, vacate the super bowl for all I care - the game was great to watch either way.  Something like this that is within the realm of football - a totally inconsequential form of escapism - bothers me SO MUCH less than say, the Ray Rice stuff.  That's an actual scandal that matters.

[WayAbvPar]

I think New England should have to play the last 30 seconds of the Super Bowl over again. 

[HaemishM]

You know Pete Carrol still wouldn't run the fucking ball, right? 

[Paelos]

The whole season of 2014 should be stricken from the books. It was awful on so many levels. Domestic violence, drugs, scandals, murder cases, people bitching about cheating, deflategate, the Patriots winning, Roger Goodell basically proving he's bulletproof.

Fuck it all. Just start over next year with less stupid.

Oh and I can't wait for the Seahawks to overpay their QB and break that team in half. I'm tired of them already.

[WayAbvPar]

You know Pete Carrol still wouldn't run the fucking ball, right? 

As beloved as he is by many of the idiot fans here, I don't think he would get out alive.

[Shannow]

Maybe I'm just cynical, but I'm just assuming teams are bending or breaking rules whenever they can.  

Haven't both Cleveland and Atlanta been dinged for some form of cheating since the Superbowl? Any other team and no one gives two shits. That being said, fucking delete your texts people. Duh.

2015 should be much more enjoyable. Without Revis and Browner the Pats defense is going to go back to being a repeat of 2009-2013.

[HaemishM]

2015 should be much more enjoyable.

No, I'm pretty sure 2015 is going to be the year of the rape, as #1 draft pick Jameis Winston finally finds a victim who will testify. 

[WayAbvPar]

2015 should be much more enjoyable.

No, I'm pretty sure 2015 is going to be the year of the rape, as #1 draft pick Jameis Winston finally finds a victim who will testify. 

Don't worry, the Seahawks picked a guy that will beat her up so she is afraid to testify. 

[K9]

First ACL of the year; Dante Fowler Jr is out for the season with a torn ACL, poor kid.

[Paelos]

The jags can't catcha break

[Zetleft]

And the second ACL of the year, Denver rookie TE Jeff Heuerman.  What are the chances this is the year when Peyton really falls apart. 

[K9]

Peyton's body couldn't hold up through 16 games plus post season last year, and he hasn't got any younger. The man is still nigh-incomparably talented at his position, but he's at the point where his body just can't keep up. With this ACL, the loss of his coaching staff, and a fairly underwhelming bunch of offseason moves I can't see how Denver can hope to improve, they'd be doing well to even match their last two years production. I think their only saving grace is that the rest of their division didn't exactly light it up this offseason either. Nonetheless, I could see SD or KC taking the division from them, and if they do I think Denver could struggle to even get a wild card slot given the potential from other teams in the AFC. Pats and Jets are both looking very strong, Ravens and Steelers too, and while the Colts should walk the AFCS, I could see Houston possibly contending for a wildcard.

[K9]

Four games for Tom Brady, the Pat's first round pick in 2016, and fourth round pick in 2017, and $1M.

Seems pretty overkill for something most commentators are viewing as dumb but not really a big deal.

I'm guessing it'll get appealed down somewhat.

[Mithas]

Brady will get knocked down to 2 games on appeal. Not sure about the rest.

It's really not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but don't break the rules and then lie about it.

[HaemishM]

I'm shocked he got more than 2 games. Yeah, it'll probably get knocked down to 2. It was a pretty stupid offense to get busted for but his attempts to cover it up and the unwillingness to go along with the investigation might mean he actually has to serve the full thing. A first round draft pick though? That might be a bit harsh, though again, the league could point to a pattern of cheat-y behavior dating back to Spygate or whatever the fuck they called that thing.

[Ingmar]

Seems awfully high for something they a) can't actually prove, b) probably didn't help, and c) nobody got hurt.

[Mithas]

The league said the penalties were for "violating league rules and not cooperating fully in the investigation". I think that the Patriots having a history with this made the penalty harsher. They also suspended the two equipment guys indefinitely without pay which is total bullshit. They were just following orders from Brady.