The official NFL Discussion Thread

[HCLcoasters]

How in the world did the Redskins lose to the Lions.

 

 

 

 

 

FAIL!

[themeparkman25]

Money (100 million dollars worth) doesn't buy happiness (a ring). Zorn and Snyder are still trying to recover from that hiccup, this one might be harder.

[bigstevet07]

The Lions are somewhat improved as well. They weren't going to go winless again this year. Plus Zorn doesn't trust Campbell at all. That offense is offensive.

[spaceace12]

I don't count any game the Colts play as a given, but the tough one coming up is the bye week, We never beat them. No one does, they are just that good.

 

In all seriousness, from the way the Colts have been playing to this point, things are looking great. This Sunday they play Seattle and the Bears beat Seattle, so that is a statement there. Then they got the Titans, who at this point hasn't won a game, but the Titans always play tough against the Colts so that is the wildcard there. Then the bye week and then the Rams, another non win team so far this season. Again, I don't like to give it to the Colts the win early, but looks like it could be a fun filled 3 games for Manning and my fantasy football team. I just picked up Pierre Garcon because of his playing during the last game. After that set, got the 49'ers, Texans and then the Patriots. I hope Bob Sanders is back soon, he may not make all the plays, but he is always there for plays to help.

[Hercules]

Let's gather around and let me tell you all a story about the Washington Redskins.

 

Now, going into the season, I didn't really have that high of hopes. Sure, there is this generalization about Redskins fans that we all think at the beginning of the season that the team is going to take it all. If the team starts 2-0, it is like they just went 16-0. Whatever. Anyway. After last season's fall off, I looked at the schedule, and figured "Hey, that is a pretty easy schedule". However, I would have been very happy with a say, 7-9 or 8-8 season this year. I figured, why fool myself, and I just got very realistic this year.

 

I went into last weeks game against the Lions expecting a loss. The Lions are slightly improved, and let's face it, the Redskins are exactly what they had shown in the last 8 games last year. They have a halfway mediocre defense (certainly not to the caliber of their #4 ranking that was last year) and an offense that fires up and stalls about as often as my '98 Lumina. They have all kinds of holes that need to be filled, a head coach that makes mistakes (along with the past 3, Joe Gibbs included), a bad owner and GM, and horrible team chemistry. If it weren't for the Browns, Rams and Chiefs, I would be calling them the worst team in the league right now.

 

Where do I begin? To tell you the truth, at the beginning of this season, I had a very short wish list. All I really wanted was a true number 1 receiver, and a couple of formidable offensive linemen that didn't get hurt. Now, my list is growing:

 

1. Offensive line. Offensive line. Offensive line. Sure I just mentioned it above, but now that Randy Thomas is out, and Chris Samuels might as well have his leg amputated at this point. When your back-ups have never played one snap in the league, there is a problem.

 

2. An explosive 3rd down back. Let's face it, Clinton Portis can only play for so long, and at this rate, the end of his career is going to be much sooner than later. Watching around the league I have seen the importance of having an explosive back-up/3rd down back. Dallas probably has 2 behind Barber. And then the Redskins have Ladell Betts. I really think a lot could be done with another running back in order to make 3rd down conversions early in the game to prevent the team from being down early and playing catch up.

 

3. I typically don't put a ton of blame on a head coach, but really, it just isn't good. Going to Sunday - I like that Zorn was gutsy enough to go for it on 4th and 1 on the first possession. However, the post game comments were a little unsettling to me. "I figured we would score from the 1. But then I figure if we didn't, our defense wasn't going to let them go 99 yards." Let's see - Portis got stuffed, and then the Lions went 99 yards. He clearly doesn't know his team that well. Then he accepted a penalty that kept the Lions drive alive rather than making it 4th down with a 50 yard field goal try. The Lions converted a 3rd and 14, and eventually scored the touchdown. How is a team supposed to get behind a coach that makes these kinds of decisions? Not to mention, can he go a game without calling a gadget play before establishing either a ground or standard passing attack first? I think Michael Silver said it correctly in his 32 Questions column - "Yo Daniel Snyder: Shanahan, Gruden, Cowher or Holmgren?"

 

4. I still would really like that number 1 receiver. Santana Moss is not a number 1 at all. He is a 2 guy, or an above average slot receiver.

 

5. Todd Collins in at quarterback. I really didn't think I was going to give up on Jason Campbell, but I'm starting to think that he is a part of the problem as well. Though, Zorn is probably the bigger problem here. However, I just really though Campbell was going to come out with lasers shooting out of his eyes after the offseason. He just has no fire.

 

6. Mr. Snyder - Please sell off the team and put all of your focus towards Six Flags.

 

I think that pretty much sums it all up for me.

 

- Now, going back to a few previous topics that were discussed pages back:

 

I don't think Tom Brady is the best quarterback ever. And Satchboogie, I have to agree with many that your comments about other players leaving the Patriots and falling off the face of the earth kill your argument. You are making a case for the system, not against it. Just look at Matt Cassell.

 

FeelTheForce - I understand what you are saying when you say you go to all the Steelers games in person. However, it just comes off as you saying you know more than others just because you go to the games. I was a student assistant on the football team in high school, coach Pop Warner, was a quarterbacks coach at a small college, and tried out for a small minor league football team a couple years back - that doesn't mean I know a ton more than anyone else.

 

Also remember, I am only 25

[Satchboogie3]

Let's gather around and let me tell you all a story about the Washington Redskins.

 

Now, going into the season, I didn't really have that high of hopes. Sure, there is this generalization about Redskins fans that we all think at the beginning of the season that the team is going to take it all. If the team starts 2-0, it is like they just went 16-0. Whatever. Anyway. After last season's fall off, I looked at the schedule, and figured "Hey, that is a pretty easy schedule". However, I would have been very happy with a say, 7-9 or 8-8 season this year. I figured, why fool myself, and I just got very realistic this year.

 

I went into last weeks game against the Lions expecting a loss. The Lions are slightly improved, and let's face it, the Redskins are exactly what they had shown in the last 8 games last year. They have a halfway mediocre defense (certainly not to the caliber of their #4 ranking that was last year) and an offense that fires up and stalls about as often as my '98 Lumina. They have all kinds of holes that need to be filled, a head coach that makes mistakes (along with the past 3, Joe Gibbs included), a bad owner and GM, and horrible team chemistry. If it weren't for the Browns, Rams and Chiefs, I would be calling them the worst team in the league right now.

 

Where do I begin? To tell you the truth, at the beginning of this season, I had a very short wish list. All I really wanted was a true number 1 receiver, and a couple of formidable offensive linemen that didn't get hurt. Now, my list is growing:

 

1. Offensive line. Offensive line. Offensive line. Sure I just mentioned it above, but now that Randy Thomas is out, and Chris Samuels might as well have his leg amputated at this point. When your back-ups have never played one snap in the league, there is a problem.

 

2. An explosive 3rd down back. Let's face it, Clinton Portis can only play for so long, and at this rate, the end of his career is going to be much sooner than later. Watching around the league I have seen the importance of having an explosive back-up/3rd down back. Dallas probably has 2 behind Barber. And then the Redskins have Ladell Betts. I really think a lot could be done with another running back in order to make 3rd down conversions early in the game to prevent the team from being down early and playing catch up.

 

3. I typically don't put a ton of blame on a head coach, but really, it just isn't good. Going to Sunday - I like that Zorn was gutsy enough to go for it on 4th and 1 on the first possession. However, the post game comments were a little unsettling to me. "I figured we would score from the 1. But then I figure if we didn't, our defense wasn't going to let them go 99 yards." Let's see - Portis got stuffed, and then the Lions went 99 yards. He clearly doesn't know his team that well. Then he accepted a penalty that kept the Lions drive alive rather than making it 4th down with a 50 yard field goal try. The Lions converted a 3rd and 14, and eventually scored the touchdown. How is a team supposed to get behind a coach that makes these kinds of decisions? Not to mention, can he go a game without calling a gadget play before establishing either a ground or standard passing attack first? I think Michael Silver said it correctly in his 32 Questions column - "Yo Daniel Snyder: Shanahan, Gruden, Cowher or Holmgren?"

 

4. I still would really like that number 1 receiver. Santana Moss is not a number 1 at all. He is a 2 guy, or an above average slot receiver.

 

5. Todd Collins in at quarterback. I really didn't think I was going to give up on Jason Campbell, but I'm starting to think that he is a part of the problem as well. Though, Zorn is probably the bigger problem here. However, I just really though Campbell was going to come out with lasers shooting out of his eyes after the offseason. He just has no fire.

 

6. Mr. Snyder - Please sell off the team and put all of your focus towards Six Flags.

 

I think that pretty much sums it all up for me.

 

- Now, going back to a few previous topics that were discussed pages back:

 

I don't think Tom Brady is the best quarterback ever. And Satchboogie, I have to agree with many that your comments about other players leaving the Patriots and falling off the face of the earth kill your argument. You are making a case for the system, not against it. Just look at Matt Cassell.

 

FeelTheForce - I understand what you are saying when you say you go to all the Steelers games in person. However, it just comes off as you saying you know more than others just because you go to the games. I was a student assistant on the football team in high school, coach Pop Warner, was a quarterbacks coach at a small college, and tried out for a small minor league football team a couple years back - that doesn't mean I know a ton more than anyone else.

 

Also remember, I am only 25

 

Matt Cassell has looked good so far, right?

 

So let me get this straight. If Manning had a season with below-average receivers, but made do, and they left and fell off the earth, all we would hear is about how Manning was so good given the lack of talent he had and that he made bad receivers look good. When it's Brady and the Patriots, its just the system.

 

I already broke down HOW Cassell managed to have a good season in 2008. His first 3 months were about game management. He had a 1:1 TD-INT ratio and didn't have a deep game. Once he had 10+ games under his belt and got comfortable, then he started having great success. The guy is smart.

 

The only thing that is a "system" about our offense is that it is SMART. Our passing game relies on smart receivers running accurate routes and making smart adjustments. Brady relies on his receivers to be able to read the field as he does and make the same adjustments. That is why it is hard to be a receiver for NE and why you see Galloway struggling right now.

 

Anyways, I think this year Brady will deserve even more credit, since it seems he is playing an even bigger role at calling/changing plays since we really don't have an offensive coordinator. I can't wait to see what this offense can do once Brady has shaken off all his rust.

[Hercules]

Matt Cassell has looked good so far, right?

 

Thank you for making my point

 

I didn't want to bring this back from the dead to have the thread locked again. I just wanted to give my perception on the conversation.

 

However, I do have to say, Brady is getting the life thrown out of him this year. I'm surprised he is still standing and his arm is still connected to his body. I have to give him a lot of credit for that.

[FeelTheFORCE]

Here we go again. That discussion was like two weeks ago, and this thread was already locked once, I doubt it's wise to start up that discussion again.

 

Also, please read ALL of my posts before jumping to conclusions, and accusing me of being things I'm not, nor I ever said I was (such as a "know it all," or any other similar title):

No, not at all. Please read my post again, especially the statement, "I felt as if that needed to be said for my opinion to actually mean something, based on previous comments." Nowhere at all did I say that I know more than anyone else. Like I said, it was simply to make my opinion valid, instead of automatically discarded because of some number below my username on the left. Besides, someone previously used the "you weren't there to watch greats like Montana, Marino, etc. in person, so you don't know what you're talking about" comeback against Boogie, so apparently being there DOES make a difference. I'm just making my posts based on what was previously said.

[Guest]

Al Davis and Dan Snyder are the worst owners in football and it reflects in their teams.

[Satchboogie3]

Matt Cassell has looked good so far, right?

 

Thank you for making my point

 

I didn't want to bring this back from the dead to have the thread locked again. I just wanted to give my perception on the conversation.

 

However, I do have to say, Brady is getting the life thrown out of him this year. I'm surprised he is still standing and his arm is still connected to his body. I have to give him a lot of credit for that.

 

Yeah, and the "throw the ball 50 times" strategy the first 2 games irritated me. The guy just came back from a year-long injury, ease him back in. He still needs to work on his mechanics and staying cool in the pocket, so let the running game help him out.

 

And about the Casell comments, he looked alright this past Sunday. He had an injury, so he'll need some time to get set. Anyways, I think the fact that they traded away Thigpen shows how much confidence they have in Casell.

 

On another Note, I almost feel bad for the Browns. As if they weren't going through enough, now they have to deal with Mangini completely destroying the team.

[spaceace12]

The shocker for me this year is the Titans. Last year looked like the team to beat. This year, Collins looks horrible. I almost thought they should put in Vince Young during this last game. How can a team that was 10-0 to start last year start 0-3.

 

I found this funny.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR_itx8LGGA

 

another interesting Colts tidbit.....Marvin wouldn't play for what the Colts offered him, they cut him. I bet his agent told him that any team would be willing to pick him up. To the date, he is sitting at home. Does he need the money, no. I imagine he wants to play, but greed got in his way. Colts have a nice young reciever corps right now anyway with some trusted talent. Garcon is going to be an awesome player for the Colts. Plus Clark and many others. Donald Brown is a driving running back, I would say better than Addai. Addai is good, but he is missing in some areas that Brown isn't.

[bigstevet07]

If Redskin fans think its bad this year, just wait until the uncapped year that is more than likely coming. Snyder's head will explode.

 

^ I think there maybe more to the Marvin Harrison thing other than people don't think he can play anymore. Everyone thought he was this calm, quiet, nothing but business guy on the field. He never caused any distractions, just went out and put up monster numbers. Then the accusations start flying in about him being involved in a shooting outside his car wash in Philadelphia. Reports come out about a somewhat darker side to Marvin off the field to where people don't mess with him. I think that really shocked a lot of teams and they became gun shy (no pun intended) because they found out they really didn't know the guy.

[Hercules]

Here we go again. That discussion was like two weeks ago, and this thread was already locked once, I doubt it's wise to start up that discussion again.

 

Also, please read ALL of my posts before jumping to conclusions, and accusing me of being things I'm not, nor I ever said I was (such as a "know it all," or any other similar title):

No, not at all. Please read my post again, especially the statement, "I felt as if that needed to be said for my opinion to actually mean something, based on previous comments." Nowhere at all did I say that I know more than anyone else. Like I said, it was simply to make my opinion valid, instead of automatically discarded because of some number below my username on the left. Besides, someone previously used the "you weren't there to watch greats like Montana, Marino, etc. in person, so you don't know what you're talking about" comeback against Boogie, so apparently being there DOES make a difference. I'm just making my posts based on what was previously said.

 

Oh no I wasn't attacking you. And I know it was 2 weeks ago. I was just trying to let you know how you were coming off just so you understood where everyone else was coming from.

 

In an uncapped year, Snyder will be giving Brett Favre a $30 million contract to come out of retirement.

 

And the Harrison saga keeps going on. The guy who made the accusations against Harrison was gunned down a few short days ago. Very interesting stuff going on here in the Philadelphia area with Marvin. Not exactly the kind of guy GM's, players and owners want on their team.

And the M

[Homeboy23]

The guy who made the accusations against Harrison was gunned down a few short days ago.

 

Crazy fan of Harrison?

[Hercules]

In Philadelphia it really could have been anyone. Based on the history of it, your first inclination would be that it was either Harrison or a member of his posse. However, in the North section of the city, it really could have been anyone if this guy was mixed with the wrong crowd of people, which is easy to do in that part of the city.

[Satchboogie3]

If Redskin fans think its bad this year, just wait until the uncapped year that is more than likely coming. Snyder's head will explode.

 

^ I think there maybe more to the Marvin Harrison thing other than people don't think he can play anymore. Everyone thought he was this calm, quiet, nothing but business guy on the field. He never caused any distractions, just went out and put up monster numbers. Then the accusations start flying in about him being involved in a shooting outside his car wash in Philadelphia. Reports come out about a somewhat darker side to Marvin off the field to where people don't mess with him. I think that really shocked a lot of teams and they became gun shy (no pun intended) because they found out they really didn't know the guy.

 

It's the quite one's you have to watch out for! Yeah, no doubt. They always made him out to be "quite" strength but now it turns out, it was just BS. The guy just acting "quite strength" to the media. I've heard that the guy wasn't a great teammate, he would make comments away from the camera, sit on a corner of the bench alone, wouldn't celebrate and hang out with other teammates.

 

If there is anything that would take credibility away from the press, this would be it. They portray Randy Moss and TO as "trouble makers" and "locker room cancers" when they are actually great teammates. Meanwhile, an actually team cancer they portray as a "quite strength" and "class citizen". It's all about selling papers.

 

EDIT: Ok, who is the wise guy! "Lo cker" is somehow being transformed into "bunny goo, blah blah blah"? WTF?

[BeemerBoy]

EDIT: Ok, who is the wise guy! "Lo cker" is somehow being transformed into "bunny goo, blah blah blah"? WTF?

 

Tom Brady did it. He has magical powers.

[ParkTrips]

^ Which power trumps all? Tom Brady, or a Terrible Towel?

[Hercules]

I think it was Tom Brady waiving a Terrible Towel.

[BeemerBoy]

^^ Hmm, interesting question. That's gonna need more research.

 

Also, satch, "quite" and "quiet" are two different things. And TO is EXACTLY what the media portrays him as. There are no two ways about that. If you come across as a dbag, then you ARE a dbag. There's no editing tricks involved.

 

Moss, on the other hand, I believe has turned himself around since his early years in the league. I wouldn't consider him perfect, but 1000x better teammate than TO.

[bigstevet07]

^Anybody who pays for a fine with "straight cash homie" is awesome in my book.

[Hercules]

Just because Owens doesn't wield a semi doesn't mean he is a good teammate. A more respectable citizen than Harrison, but still a d-bag.

 

[ParkTrips]

I love his reality show though. Though, I admit, the Eddie Griffin show is an awesome replacement in that time slot

[BeemerBoy]

Joe, I've done some quick number crunching, and this is my preliminary conclusion:

 

Tom Brady has single-handedly won 3 Super Bowls.

 

The Terrible Towel has singel-handedly won 6 Super Bowls.

 

The edge in magical powers goes to the Towel. However, I hear that Tom Brady is currently working on time travel in order to change that. Stay tuned.

 

 

Anybody who pays for a fine with "straight cash homie" is awesome in my book.

 

Good point.

[Satchboogie3]

^^ Hmm, interesting question. That's gonna need more research.

 

Also, satch, "quite" and "quiet" are two different things. And TO is EXACTLY what the media portrays him as. There are no two ways about that. If you come across as a dbag, then you ARE a dbag. There's no editing tricks involved.

 

Moss, on the other hand, I believe has turned himself around since his early years in the league. I wouldn't consider him perfect, but 1000x better teammate than TO.

 

Yeah, I didn't realize I was writing "quiet" as "Quite" . The TO example was a bit much. Yeah, the guy was a bit of a problem teammate... but still one of the best receivers in the game. As for Randy, I have never heard anything from anybody IN football that makes him out to be anything but a great teammate. Sure, he had his antics on the field (the moon, water bottle, etc) and off the field (Straight Cash, Homie; Parking meter cop, etc), but when it came to teammates, he was always a leader. The only "problems" he ever had was with Culpepper, but I think that had more to do with Culpepper having a problem with Randy and the fact that the coach actually sided (and stuck) with Culpepper over Moss.