National Football League

[on3m@n@rmy]

You are right about friction between Harvin and other receivers. Recall around the end of last season he gave Tate a black eye. And before the final 2014 preseason game in Oakland he got into a scuffle with Baldwin. I would speculate that Baldwin's post game comment after the loss to Dallas that "we have too much talent on this team... and need to do better" was partly directed at Harvin.

For all Harvins talent, he is reputed as an imprecise route runner. Speed is no good if you can't get separation.

The trade is a net loss draft pick wise. But sometimes it pays to cut losses. Glad they pulled the trigger now rather than let it fester like a bad infection.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

On my phone and don't have links, but one new report said recently Harvin came close to blows with Wilson of all people. This reminds me of Charles Haley who was a bully and tried to pick a fight with Steve Young at one point. Haley was later diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I'm celling today too. .. from Forest Grove. You should know where that is.

 

[Amsterhammer]

NYJ @ NE - a lot closer than most expected.
ATL @ BAL - should be a home banker.
TEN @ WSH - I hate this team. This is a game they theoretically could, maybe even should win. Sadly, we know they will find a novel way to blow it in the final quarter. So, while I expect them to lose, I'm still gonna pick them because if I didn't pick them and they won, I'd probably feel obliged to hang myself.
SEA @ STL - despite last week's major upset in Seattle, this really should be one for the Hawks.
CLE @ JAX - Jags to stay winless.
CIN @ IND - pretty much a home banker.
MIN @ BUF - Bills to have the edge.
MIA @ CHI - Bears to edge it at home.
NO @ DET - looks all over a Lions win, I'm going for the Saints.
CAR @ GB - Packers with home advantage.
KC @ SD - it's a sad state of affairs when the Bolts look like a banker.
ARI @ OAK - Raiders suck too bad. (sorry Alpe)
NYG @ DAL - it's even more depressing when this looks a home banker.
SF @ DEN - not a banker, but Broncs should have the edge.
HOU @ PIT - Steelers at home should manage this.

 

[Merckx index]

You add in his large contract, pension to get hurt, and he was trade bait.

Well, I certainly hope he has a pension to get hurt. If I were playing in the NFL, I would want one. It’s sort of what the concussion settlement was all about.

Harvin may have been a no-win, damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t situation for the Seahawks:

Seahawks running back Marshawyn Lynch, a friend of Harvin’s, indicated on Twitter that he wasn’t happy about it, and according to one report, Lynch’s feelings go beyond just “unhappy.” Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that Lynch almost didn’t get on the team bus for the trip to the airport for Sunday’s game at St. Louis because he was so upset about Harvin getting traded.

Hey, that’s not fair! If Lynch decides not to play Sunday, my pick of the Rams for this week’s sure-loser doesn’t count. In fact, even if he does play, and he looks unhappy out there, I may call foul if the Rams win.

And Lynch isn’t the only player who seems upset about it. Cliff Avril and Bruce Irvin both also indicated on Twitter that they weren’t happy about Harvin leaving.

This makes Belichick look good. Remember when he signed another star WR from Minnesota (originally) with a lot of baggage, and that star came up huge for the Pats that year?

 

[The Hitch]

Speaking of lynch, does anyone know why he was so happy at the end of the loss on Sunday- beaming a smile on camera while the rest of the Seahawks held their heads in their hands.

 

[Eshnar]

Atl @ bal
ten @ wsh
sea @ stl
cle @ jax
cin @ ind
min @ buf
mia @ chi
no @ det
car @ gb
kc @ sd
ari @ oak
nyg @ dal
sf @ den
hou @ pit

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Well, I certainly hope he has a pension to get hurt. If I were playing in the NFL, I would want one. It’s sort of what the concussion settlement was all about.

The perils of trying to post via cell phone.

Speaking of lynch, does anyone know why he was so happy at the end of the loss on Sunday- beaming a smile on camera while the rest of the Seahawks held their heads in their hands.

Maybe because his friend Harvin had such a great game?

3 catches for 0 yards receiving.
3 carries for -1 yards rushing.
0 punt returns.

Lynch himself didn't have the best stats. He ran okay, but the team gave up on that. 10 carries, 61 yards. But for being a guy that catches the ball well, he only had 1 catch for 1 yard. He also is reportedly one of the better blocking backs in the NFL. I have no idea what the Seahawk play calls were, but the OL sure didn't block well for Wilson, and Lynch seemed invisible.

I'm celling today too. .. from Forest Grove. You should know where that is.

Worked a job at Pacific University out there once. I like the fact they have a Frisbee golf course right next to campus. So Oregon! Plus, FG is very close to the Coast Range and it's treasures.

Meanwhile, it looks like Jimmy Graham will play for NO, where he is badly needed. Jadeveon Clowny is game time decision for Houston, who could use him, or sit him. Calvin Johnson is still doubtful for Detroit, who badly needs him, and AJ Green is still out for Cincy, who could use him. Finally, Jake Locker, who the Titans badly need, is likely still out. So expect the Clipboard Jesus (Charlie Whitehurst) to get the start.

Finally, really good article on Kyle Shanahan and his success in Cleveland.

 

[Oldman]

After a horrible 2nd quarter Foxxy got to see his Game Manager play. A shame the officials didn't review the fumble recovery by Richard Sherman. Seattle should have ended up with the ball and 50 seconds. Yeah, Foxxy; shouldn't have gotten to that.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Yeah, but what a gutsy call by Fischer, to go for the fake punt, deep in their own territory. Had it failed they surely would have lost. I love to see coaches go for the win, instead of playing not to lose.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Argh! What an awful weekend of football. Fortunately did not get to watch SEA. But that was just the half of it.
Go Jets! JK OFC.

 

[leftover pie]

Yeah, but what a gutsy call by Fischer, to go for the fake punt, deep in their own territory. Had it failed they surely would have lost. I love to see coaches go for the win, instead of playing not to lose.

just watched that on the highlights, incredible call.

 

[Amsterhammer]

I stayed up to be able to say that I saw #509 live.

Congrats Peyton.

After seeing a Skins win today all my busted picks don't even bother me.

 

[leftover pie]

with #509 and #510 on the board, is it safe to say Peyton Manning is the greatest QB of all time?





*awaits foxxy tirade*

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Another sold win for Dallas. Really like the way they are playing in every way. The old Cowboys would have found a way to lose this game.

Green Bay also looked scary impressive, on both sides of the ball.

Baltimore, Indy, Arizona, KC, and Denver too. All sold wins. Tops in the NFL right now, along with Philly, and maybe NE and SD.

As to the StL win, I again can't say enough how great of a call that was. Very unlike Jeff Fisher. Just a backbreaker for Seattle, who really needs to find out who they are. And Austin Davis is playing great. Exactly how Foxxy predicted. He sees the field well, and as a decent arm too. Sam who?

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

with #509 and #510 on the board, is it safe to say Peyton Manning is the greatest QB of all time?

On that individual record it would be easy to put him there. Personally, I'm undecided just yet. I'm still pondering other factors. Take Joe Montana for example. He won 4 Super Bowls, and nearly a 5th, but PM has only one SB win. On the other hand, Terry Bradshaw also won 4 SBs, but I would not put him near the top of the 'best of all time list'.

The only other QB I would consider as 'best all time', besides PM, would be Montana.

Montana's achievements:
4 Super Bowl Wins: XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV (two prior to Jerry Rice)
Three Super Bowl MVPs
Two NFL MVPs

P Manning's achievements:
1 Super Bowl win: XLI
1 Super Bowl MVP
13 Pro Bowls

I deliberately left much of the stats out of this post, leaving plenty of room for discussion.

IF I had to pick one QB as 'best all time' right now I'd say Montana, but again, I am really not totally decided and could change my mind.

The thing that really sticks out in my mind about any QBs we can consider as 'best all time', whether it is Joe, Peyton, Brees, Brady, Favre, and some others, is the class that they carried and carry themselves with. To me that is more important than the records.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Elimination: SEA. I gues you guys waited too long for my next crazy pick. So here it is. Yes I chose them earlier than the NYG... b/c you never know when and if they hit another luck streak... The combination of the SL Cardinals & LA Kings... The perfect streak beast. And also, a more boring b/c expected pick; BUF.

Not so sure loser/survival anymore: SL (Wouldn´t it be awesome to lose twice with the Seahawks? Main reason i picked this game. I have a gut feeling Seahawks will drop this one too. )

LOLZ... and more LOLZ

Done, done, done... Oh yes, watta great NFL Sunday.

Foxxy; shouldn't have gotten to that.

Why not?

 

[The Hitch]

KC being so overlooked. I already said this last week on another forum where people had them as a bottom 10 team

Apart from the crazy week 1 loss which will go down in history as the weirdest match of the season, maybe the best team in football. Since then they've had imo the hardest schedule in football and gone 3-2. They had 4 away games vs 1 home game, blew out the Pats in unprescedented style on MFN, blew out the impressive Dolphins away, should have won in SF though got screwed by refs a bit, run the Broncos very very close in Mile High and now beat the team that yesterday everyone was ranking as the best team in the nfl - the Chargers in San Diego and were clearly the better team.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I have to agree Hitch. That's why I put them on my top list, and ahead of both SD and NE, who have better records (and they beat both). Coming up, they have the Rams, Jets, @Buffalo, but then it gets tough again. One could argue they only have four tough games left. And three of those: Seattle, Denver, and SD are at home. One tough one is @ Arizona. People who have NFL Rewind, or at least time to watch highlights on the NFL website should take a look. They are very efficient on both sides of the ball.

I watched some of the Denver-SF game. It's hard to imagine at this point SF will even make the playoffs, though they are 4-3. Kaepernick was off, and the defense looked slow and confused. Props to Den and PM though, a mistake free, workman like win.

Also props to Jacksonville beating Cleveland. A slowly improving defense, and Bortles ability to throw mid to deep passes has been a key.

Meanwhile, here's a look at the brilliant fake-out punt return St. Louis pulled on Seattle. And a video clip. Between this, the fake punt deep in their own territory, and the no-call on the fumble recover, Seattle has to be just seething. I wonder if they can channel that into positive energy? Next they go to Carolina, who was just whipped by Green Bay.

If the playoffs were today, Denver and Dallas would be the top seeds, with Indy and Arizona getting a bye as well. As good as Philly and Green Bay are playing, they'd play away wild card games. Seattle and SF would not be in the playoffs. Nor would KC. Cincy would squeak in as the last seed in the AFC.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Foxxy, you know I like you, right?

Yes I know. And I hope you don´t take my rants against the Seahawks too serious. It´s just like I said: Can´t stand "half-teams" winning SBs. But nothing against their fans. Last night some of them were watching with us the Cowboys-Giants game. You could imagine that I made a share of jokes about the Seahawks when the final Rams-SEA score was anounced. I celebrated that one quite a while, and then some more. They took it easy...

I was thinking the same...

Well, we all can only speculate about it. I personally think it was a simple cap move to make room for the coming monster contract for Wilson.

This makes Belichick look good. Remember when he signed another star WR from Minnesota (originally) with a lot of baggage, and that star came up huge for the Pats that year?

He is the master. Even in "rebuilding" years with having no WRs, his team is 5-2. Incredible. GOAT coach. No doubt about it, because unlike Walsh for example, he has to deal with cap and free agent issues. That makes it all so much harder to stay competitive.

*awaits foxxy tirade*

Wait a lit longer. There will be plenty of stuff after his playoff exit in January. Be patient.

Exactly how Foxxy predicted. He sees the field well, and as a decent arm too. Sam who?

Thanks. I always appreciate it when my quality posts get honoured. It´s not only tirades coming from me...

The thing that really sticks out in my mind about any QBs we can consider as 'best all time', whether it is Joe, Peyton, Brees, Brady, Favre, and some others, is the class that they carried and carry themselves with. To me that is more important than the records.

I stay with Marino. I would also consider Warner if he hadn´t fumbleitis. I like Leinart honest interview b/c it describes it the best (He said something like) "It was all Kurt Warner, Whisenhunt had nothing to do with the rise of the Cardinals".

Montana was a system QB, ... and PM... well, you know.

 

[The Hitch]

TBF a big reason for why Pats are 5-2 is their schedule. One of easiest in NFL up to this point.

With the KC schedule they'd be 1-5.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

We don´t know that (if they would be 1-5) ...
What we know is Belichick could win with Cassel at QB, times without much of an offense, times with a bad D, now with average at best WRs. A genius.

 

[Amsterhammer]

That has got to be one of the turnarounds of all time!? Stattos, grab your anoraks...24 unanswered points in 2'54" to go from 0-13 to 24-13. Amazing. I've seen enough. Time for bed.

 

[leftover pie]

That has got to be one of the turnarounds of all time!? Stattos, grab your anoraks...24 unanswered points in 2'54" to go from 0-13 to 24-13. Amazing. I've seen enough. Time for bed.

reminds me of the Bills Broncos match of 1990, the Bills scored 20 points against the Broncos in 1:33 to go from being 21-9 down to leading 21-29, eventually winning 29-28.

probably one of the best games I've ever "seen".

http://fs64sports.blogspot.com.au/2010/09/1990-bills-score-20-points-in-133-to.html

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Remember the buttfumble game from a couple years ago? During that game the Patriots scored 21 points even faster than Pittsburgh did last night. Three TD's within 53 seconds. Though some Jets fans may argue that Mark Sanchez scored 6 of those points for New England. Looking back, that may be the most embarrassing play in NFL history. Jets mascot Fireman Ed, a 9/11 hero, resigned after the game. The play itself even has it's own Wikipedia page. Congratulations, Mark Sanchez.

Props also to Steelers hee-man, Brett Keisel, for outplaying JJ Watt during last night's game. Rumor is Keisel may retire at season's end.

Meanwhile, Aldon Smith and Navarro Bowman can't come back soon enough for the 49ers. SF is on the verge of being written off. Despite being a knucklehead, Smith has always been popular in the locker room and a superb player. He may be back 1-2 games earlier than November 16, but Bowman likely won't be back until after Thanksgiving still. Either the 49ers will get healthy, gel and get hot in December, just in time for the playoffs, or the wheels will come off before then.

NFL.com has some of this year's biggest disappointments, and the two main ones are the two rookies that created the most hype. Jadeveon Clowny, who has hardly played, and Johnny Manzeil, who has not.

AP rankings out late today. Denver will sit at the top, with Dallas just behind. I would have to imagine the NFL would love to see those two in the Super Bowl. Denver is very popular right now, and a lot of fair weather fans would love to see PM get that second ring in a big game, and against "America's team", nothing would be nothing better. But there are plenty of Dallas fans who would love to see the opposite.

Finally, hush hush, it is very likely that St. Louis will be moving to Los Angeles at the end of this season, maybe next. Here's a great article explaining why. And there's a slim chance that Oakland will follow suit. What a turnaround that would be, if LA went back to having two teams. The Raiders however do seem to at least be talking about a stadium in Oakland, than St. Louis does, where the idea is on life support. The other possible team is the Chargers, but that seems less likely, as there's more cash in SD. Oakland could also move to San Antonio though. If the Rams do return to LA, they could play a year in the crumbling LA Coliseum, or Rose Bowl even, while they build a giant new stadium. Having a team finally back in LA, and close to downtown/center LA would have to be a giant cash cow for the team, city and league. I only hope if they do, they go back to either the yellow/blue or white/blue colors, not that current gold/dark blue.