NFL & College Football 2012/2013/2014 & beyond....

[sloopjohnc]

XFL IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, but. . . .

Players can't have any arrests, no cheerleaders and players have to stand during national anthem.

Sound like the "No Fun League" more than the NFL.

[sloopjohnc]

I was listening to an interview with former Packers' TE Jermichael Finley and he said his brain is working at 62% vs. 44% of a couple years ago. The interviewers asked him if the $10 million he made in football was worth it. He said that he's been able to set up his kids and their kids for life, so in his opinion it is.

He had four boys and they all play football.

[sloopjohnc]

Even though I watch lots of ESPN and follow lots of sports sites, I can't really get into the Super Bowl tomorrow. My ex brother-in-law usually does a Super Bowl party, but isn't this year.

Lots of people are saying Eagles, but I don't know how you can bet against Brady and Belichick.

[Diamond Dog]

I'm a Washington fan so I can't in all consciousness want a Philly win.... even if they are playing the Patriots. I backed New England back in early December when they were still 13/5 (an incredible price) and have laid off a bit of that to cover my bet. If the Eagles win, I draw level, if New England win I win £55.... so have a guess who I'm cheering for...

The Eahles can most certainly win. Their offence has been very solid since losing Wentz and Foles has grown every game. Their D is very strong up front and it's pretty much accepted the best way to get stop New England is sacking Brady - like the Broncos in the Championship game a couple of years back, and the Jags for the first half a fortnight ago. So they could very easily get in front. I'm not sure they have the collective maturity to hold on from that position though and I fear that the Pats will find a way to exploit Ajayi's fumbling and score points off of that.

I think it will be closer than most people think : 28-20 New England.

[sloopjohnc]

I thought the HoF inductees were interesting. They seem to shy away from nominating two players at the same position, but this year Moss/Owens and Lewis/Urlacher.

Urlacher played safety at Univ. of New Mexico. Can you imagine?

I think Owens was talented, but he threw two of his QBs under the bus: Garcia and McNabb and led the league a bunch of times in drops. Moss too - the way he slept his way during his Oakland season. But both have the stats to back up being included.

I was surprised Jerry Kramer wasn't already in. I'm too lazy now, but I'd like to see who has more offensive line in the HoF: Green Bay, Oakland or the Redskins' hogs?

I know Oakland has Otto, Shell, and Upshaw.

[sloopjohnc]

In some good news, Ryan Shazier was released from the hospital and is walking.

[sloopjohnc]

I thought John Lynch deserves to be inducted (9 pro bowls) but next year, Ed Reed is eligible, and I doubt they'd induct two safeties.

[Matt Wilson]

I don't have a horse in this race - but I'm thinking it's the Eagles. Anyone commenting on the white jersey theory? https://www.sbnation.com/2017/2/6/14522 ... eys-streak

Patriots are wearing them today.

[sloopjohnc]

I don't have a horse in this race - but I'm thinking it's the Eagles. Anyone commenting on the white jersey theory? https://www.sbnation.com/2017/2/6/14522 ... eys-streak

Patriots are wearing them today.

No theory. The Pats are never out of it (see last year vs. Falcons and game against Seahawks).

[Matt Wilson]

My thinking was correct!

[Diamond Dog]

Well I'm not sure what there is to say about that game!

Credit to The Eagles - particularly Doug Pederson (for the amazing 4th & 1 trick play call for the QB catch by Foles, and the 4th & 1 with five minutes to go) and Nick Foles for a pretty much faultless performance.

More detail later I think - but two thoughts :
a) Where does Foles go next year?!
b) I'm looking forward to the Eagles/Jags game at Wembley next year!

[Goat Boy]

I only managed to stay up for the first half but I enjoyed it this year. It helped that I’ve watched a few youtube videos to gain a better understanding of the game so it wasn’t totally alien to me this year.

I thought the eagles would win it. I know the Patriots are renowned for getting better as the game goes on but they look really rattled to me in the 2nd period. The Eagles defense were starting to get to Brady and Foles looked really on it from the beginning. Considering what I’d read before I was glad that he took his chance to shine. He looked comfortable out there from the off. Loved seeing Brady getting knocked on his back (that happened during the same play as the Cook fella getting hit I think). The Eagles offense looked really strong, especially down the middle where they really opened the Patriots up for the running backs. Nice to see a London lad in there too! I’m happy that the underdogs won.

You hear about this Patriots dynasty but that sorta dominance seems pretty rare in American football. I understand the draft picks enables the worst teams to get the “best” young players so that’s obviously designed to make things more competitive. Is it also harder for teams to dominate because certain positions have a shorter physical peak than others therefore it’s harder to maintain a really strong team for a sustained period of time. It looks like QBs can play well into their 30s because I guess that position is less physically demanding. I guess for running backs their careers are naturally shorter…is that right?

How the hell does the transfer system work?

[Diamond Dog]

You hear about this Patriots dynasty but that sorta dominance seems pretty rare in American football. I understand the draft picks enables the worst teams to get the “best” young players so that’s obviously designed to make things more competitive. Is it also harder for teams to dominate because certain positions have a shorter physical peak than others therefore it’s harder to maintain a really strong team for a sustained period of time. It looks like QBs can play well into their 30s because I guess that position is less physically demanding. I guess for running backs their careers are naturally shorter…is that right?

How the hell does the transfer system work?

There is no 'transfer system'.... there are trades.... where players are exchanged between clubs - or for future draft picks (much more often).

Three things in the NFL which should make a dynasty impossible:

a) The Draft process
b) Free Agency
c) Salary Cap.

a) As you say every season the best college players make themselves available for The Draft. All 32 teams have one pick each of the seven rounds of the draft, based (initially) entirely on their position the previous year (hence Cleveland will pick first in each round in April - having the worst record last season), the Patriots will pick 31st, Eagles 32nd). Of course, teams trade players and draft picks away, so that order is only the initial order - all trades of picks will alter those orders, for every round of the draft.

b) If you reach the end of your contract you are able to move to other teams and sign contracts with them, without cost to the signing team. It's like the Bosman ruling for the NFL. Teams can 'tag' a player with a 'franchise' tag, which means a one year deal ( where the player will then receive the average of the top ten contracts in that position as a one year salary) to hold onto a player. Technically this can be done indefinitely but mostly is used once or (exceptionally) twice, to give the player/team time to work out a deal.

c) The Salary Cap is a 'hard' limit on what a team is allowed to spend each season in terms of salary. They must always be below the limit (unlike some other sports where teams can go over as long as they finish the season under the limit - a 'soft' cap). It is determined (I think still) as a % of the league revenue in a chosen season (I think around 66% of total is returned as the cap limit). The other point often forgotten is that it has a floor as well as a ceiling - I think the NFL floor is that every team must spend about 88% of the upper limit as a minimum. This stops teams with the most financial muscle signing and paying all of the top players the most money and also stops them stockpiling players (to keep others from getting them), and the floor prevents teams 'cheapskating' their way through a season.

Once you realise all of that, it is absolutely remarkable that New England have dominated the way they have since 2001. Incredible - because virtually every year, they have some of the worst picks in the draft, have players who (as winners) have the 'right' to demand the most money and also, due to their success, players are highly coveted by other teams when they become free agents.

As regards players injuries - yes certain positions have more chance of longevity than others. That's statistically proven :

https://www.statista.com/statistics/240 ... ll-league/

Of course, there are other factors besides injuries in those numbers, but it's certainly a major determinant in how long players in certain positions will last in the NFL.

[Goat Boy]

It's interesting that it's designed to stop that sorta thing. I like that.

I'm stunned by those stats. They're so low! So obviously a significant amount of players retire after a few years due to the sheer physical toll of the game presumably. Plus because the skill set can be so specialist if somebody has injury problems they'll be some hot new draft pick to replace them anyway whereas in football somebody can lose that yard of pace but still have all those other qualities that make them great.

[Diamond Dog]

Another thing to consider about the NFL is that most salary is completely un-guaranteed. Only first round picks (generally) and the very best players get a 'guaranteed money' cause in their contracts - so if a player is 'cut' by the their team (i.e. contract cancelled) it is literally the end of the deal - no more money, no paying up the remainder of the contract. Gone. It is brutal in that sense. When you think the top salary in the NFL this season was Derek Carr (QB Raiders) at $25 million - Sanchez has just signed a deal at Man Utd of £400k per week.... £20.8 million per year.... $29.3 million per year... and that is guaranteed for (I think) five years? It puts it in perspective.

As I alluded to earlier in this thread - I honestly don;t believe most 'casual' NFL fans have a real understanding of the physical nature of an NFL game. It is absolutely staggering to me that there aren't far worse injuries, more often. A lineman will play in pain virtually throughout his career - read any biography and they will state it, almost casually. Like it's de rigeur. They have a brutal regime of harsh physical contact with incredibly quick and big opposition players - every down, every game. The absolute best running backs now are considered ready for the scrap heap at around age 28 (or six or so years in the game). It's one of the reasons why so many teams now operate 'running by committee' where three or four players fill different facets of what a single player used to do, back as recently as a decade or so ago. It's clubs just trying to extend a players shelf life by a season or two.

And yes teams constantly do not re-sign a great player and replace with a rookie because they can't afford to, or see the player may only have a season or two left and want to try and trade the player on whilst still desired by others. That particularly is where the Patriots have been exceptional - replacing players other clubs would consider irreplaceable, with cheaper alternatives, so they can retain their truly 'unique' players and pay them accordingly.

Another side that is so often forgottten is special teams players. Yes there a a few specialists but most special teams (besides the punters and kickers themselves) are normal players who double up as returners or just one of the special teams players. That's something else that New England has been exceptional at - Wes Welker, Julian Edelman & Danny Amendola were all fine wide receivers who were/are also great returners... the player stays employed because of his versatility, the club get a 'two for the price of one' almost..... the best clubs do that consistently and save cap room.

[Goat Boy]

My head hurts

[Diamond Dog]

We've just scratched the surface, my friend, trust me....

[BARON CORNY DOG]

Thank you, Internet:

[sloopjohnc]

Well I'm not sure what there is to say about that game!

As they said on ESPN this morning, "Would you have thought the Pats lost if Brady threw for over 500 yards, had three receivers over 100 each and a running game of over 120 yards?"

The Eagles controlled the clock on their drives, which is what won them the game. They didn't give it back.

Heck, there was only one punt in the game, by the Eagles, in the first half.

Great game.

[sloopjohnc]

Thank you, Internet:

Those ads took a lot of flack, I hear. I hated them and thought they were totally disrespectful - You don't use MLK, Jr. to sell burgers or dog food, etc.

This year's commercials, as my son and I said, was the year of the celebrity endorsement.