American Football

[Martino Knockavelli]

Week 1 bad football tip: Notre Dame -3.5

 

[Renegade]

http://fantasy.nfl.com/league/4102577

Thanks. I can't seem to access the league through NFL.com, but can do it through the mobile app. Must be a bug.

Feel awful for Teddy Brigdewater, I think that effectively ruins any chance the Vikings had of contending for the Superbowl this season. With that defence and some decent weapons for Bridgewater (Peterson, Diggs, Treadwell, Rudolph), they had a shot. Don't think Shaun Hill will last the season, he has the arm strength of Matt Schaub at this point in his career.

One week until kick-off. I am hyped.

 

[kieran_vale]

Anyone else who bought the season tickets for the London games received the ones for Twickenham but not Wembley?

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Anyone else who bought the season tickets for the London games received the ones for Twickenham but not Wembley?

Yeah, it did explicitly say "Twickenham Season Ticket" on the delivery note though, so I don't think it's a fuck up, just processed separately I suspect.

 

[TomPNE94]

I have tickets for the first Wembley game (a month tomorrow) and haven't received anything yet. Ticketmaster says they are to be posted in the next few days

 

[RavenBish]

Feel awful for Teddy Brigdewater, I think that effectively ruins any chance the Vikings had of contending for the Superbowl this season. With that defence and some decent weapons for Bridgewater (Peterson, Diggs, Treadwell, Rudolph), they had a shot. Don't think Shaun Hill will last the season, he has the arm strength of Matt Schaub at this point in his career

They should trade a couple of first round picks for AJ McCarron imvho

 

[Kim Mitten]

They should get Sanchez, actively being shopped around and the Vikings remind me of the Jets sides he led deep into the playoffs, good D and run game and just need a game management type QB to get them through games. Think the NFC North will be a tough division, the Lions are a bit of an unknown and actually have decent recent division records, both Detroit and Chicago can be a bit of a spoiler here . The schedule is very kind but can see everyone beating everyone else in the division with the 1-2 between packers and vikings that might only see the division winner getting to the playoffs.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Vols trying reallllly hard to shit all over themselves here.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Watching an SEC Network stream and they just had an advert for this:

If anyone's struggling for what to get me for Xmas....

 

[Renegade]

Anyone else who bought the season tickets for the London games received the ones for Twickenham but not Wembley?

Yeah, it did explicitly say "Twickenham Season Ticket" on the delivery note though, so I don't think it's a fuck up, just processed separately I suspect.

I have tickets for the first Wembley game (a month tomorrow) and haven't received anything yet. Ticketmaster says they are to be posted in the next few days

I haven't received my Colts vs Jags tickets yet either...had them last year in July I think.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

I assume it's already been mentioned that Jon Dorenbos is not only the most awesome man in the NFL, but possibly the most awesome man on the planet as well. He's well worth an hour of Youtubing.

 

[kieran_vale]

I guess now the pre-season is out the way and just pending the final cut downs may as well try some predictions for the new season (hopefully not as awful as they were last year though they no doubt will be).

AFCE - Pats (11-5)
AFCS - Texans
AFCW - Chiefs
AFCN - Bengals

Wildcards - Steelers and Jets

NFCE - Giants
NFCS - Panthers
NFCW - Seahawks
NFCN - Packers

Wildcards - Cardinals and Vikings

Superbowl - Seahawks beat the Pats

#1 pick - Got to be the Browns

 

[Anon]

So roster cuts are upon us. Deadline for reducing to the 53 is tomorrow evening.

Packers reduced to 75 a few days ago. Only slight surprise so far is the punter situation. Brought in a rookie guy to compete with Mastay - who had a pretty bad last season - but ended up releasing both and instead picked up a punter on waivers from the Buccs. Walker and Crockett (who probably had RB3 nailed down) off the roster but gone to IR.

Biggest interest in roster cuts will be the WRs. Can't remember the last time we had 7x on the active 53, but are we really gonna keep all of Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Montgomery, Davis, Janis and Abbrederis? Any one of those that gets put on the practice squad will get immediately snapped up by another team. List doesn't include Allison who's apparently done rather well...

 

[Anon]

AFCE - Patriots
AFCS - Colts
AFCW - Raiders
AFCN - Steelers

Wildcards - Broncos and Jaguars

NFCE - Giants
NFCS - Panthers
NFCW - Seahawks
NFCN - Packers

Wildcards - Cardinals and Buccs

Superbowl - Packers beat the Patriots for the good of all men

#1 pick - Titans, just don't see how they're getting any better.

 

[kieran_vale]

I think the biggest issue right now with the Pats as with last season is the O-Line. I really fear the fact that the human turnstiles Josh Kline and Marcus Cannon are making this team through default and not even Dante Scarnecchia with all his greatness coaching this position can fix it. Just as well for the first time in a while we'll be carrying 3 QB's for the season (by the way Jacoby Brissett albeit against second and third stringers has shown me something this pre-season).

The defence pretty much picks itself though Ninkovich getting a 4 game suspension for a banned substance is shall we say unhelpful. I do think the Pats D next year is going to be our real strongest point.

PS Jimbob good call on the Buccs actually. Still would put the Saints just ahead of them just for the fact that after TFB Drew Brees is my next favourite QB in the league. Just love the way he plays and carries that team on his shoulders.

 

[Anon]

Yeah that was the most difficult call when doing that list (Buccs). That and the AFC South which a case could be made for any three of the teams to win the division.

 

[Renegade]

AFCE - Pats
AFCS - Colts
AFCW - Chiefs
AFCN - Steelers

Wildcards - Bengals and Broncos

NFCE - Redskins
NFCS - Panthers
NFCW - Cardinals
NFCN - Packers

Wildcards - Seahawks and Vikings

Superbowl - Panthers beat the Pats

#1 pick - 49ers - they are completely bereft of talent.

--------------

The Panthers were the best team in the NFL last season and I think their offence has gotten much stronger in the off-season. Benjamin is a big boost and Funchess appears to have improved. Their defence will miss Norman, but I expect Rivera to still do a great job with them. The Pats will walk through the AFC.

I think the Titans will surprise a few people and be like last year's Jags (so still a 6-10 sort of season but not woeful). Mariota is a great prospect in a weak division and I think the Henry/Murray combination will open the offence up for Mariota to use his legs more. Their defence will still be pants though.

 

[kieran_vale]

Agreed the Titans could surprise a few, in addition to the above Delanie Walker is also exceptional at the TE position. I think the team that gets over-rated in that division is the Colts. Their O-Line is actually worse than the Pats somehow and also that defence (mainly against the run) of theirs is constantly hopeless. Hope I'm wrong but it wouldn't shock me if Luck has to miss a few games as a result of that O-Line and that would cost them.

The one team I have gone backwards and forwards on is the Ravens. They were very unlucky last year with injuries. Get the likes of T-Sizzle, Steve Smith and hell even Flacco back. Couple that with Ozzie being armed with high draft picks that team could do damage. Always fear them as that team more than any other is capable of giving the Patriots fits, especially at Foxborough.

 

[Kim Mitten]

AFCE - Pats
AFCS - Jaguars
AFCW - Chiefs
AFCN - Steelers

Wildcards - Bengals and Jets

NFCE - Giants
NFCS - Panthers
NFCW - Cardinals
NFCN - Packers

Wildcards - Seahawks and Vikings

Superbowl - Cardinals 28-24 Chiefs in a thriller as Andy Reid is the nearly man yet again.

Really don't know about the #1 pick - can't see it being the Titans due to the division they are in, Browns look an easy pick but might be someone out of left-field like Saints.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

AFCE - Patriots
AFCS - Jaguars
AFCW - Chiefs
AFCN - Bengals

NFCE - Redskins
NFCS - Panthers
NFCW - Seahawks
NFCN - Packers

Wildcards: Colts, Steelers, Cardinals, Bucs

#1 pick: 49ers

Toughest pick by far is the NFC East, a lot will depend on Prescott. Think the Giants are heading in the right direction but probably still not quite got enough on defense, and I'm not entirely convinced that Cousins is the real deal but I've just edged for them because I'll probably go for them in my acca as the best value at 3/1 3rd favourite. You can make a good case for all 4 in the AFC South too, expect it to be a last day shootout between the Jags and the Colts but both to get 10+ wins.

 

[RavenBish]

AFCE - Patriots
AFCS - Jaguars (!)
AFCW - Raiders
AFCN - Steelers

Wildcard - Bengals/Chiefs, Colts

NFCE - Cowboys
NFCS - Panthers
NFCW - Seahawks
NFCN - Packers

Wildcard - Redskins, Cardinals

MVP - Russell Wilson
#1 Pick - 49ers
Superbowl - Steelers v Seahawks.

Bengals 9-7 - Eifert & Burfict will be big misses early. Pass rush worries me but that's more a depth thing as every team in the league would kill to have Atkins and Dunlap. Passing game should dip with the loss of Marvin Jones (I don't think Boyd and Lafell are adequate replacements) but again Green/Eifert + 2/3 contributors (Bernard, Lafell, Boyd, Kroft) is enough for Dalton to work with. I expect the run-game to be complete trash - Hill just doesn't look the same as he did as a rookie, Bodine is the worst center in the league and Ogbuehi looks a thoroughly underwhelming tackle.

 

[RavenBish]

Vikings have just made the worst trade in history.

1st & 4th for Sam Bradford. Have they never watched him play? Imagine what we could have got for McCarron.

 

[Anon]

Move for Bradford made sense, the price though is totally baffling.

 

[kieran_vale]

Missed the "and a fourth rounder". Not that I think a first on it's own is much better. Would have thought they would have been better off going for Sanchez (certainly much cheaper) but desperate times call for desperate measures I guess. Chase Daniel the starter for Philly as well then.

 

[Kim Mitten]

I am utterly baffled by the move the Vikings have just made. A team that I thought were quite sensible when going about trades and drafts etc...
But today, what on earth? As Kieran says, just go for Sanchez and give up what, a 6th rounder? This team made the playoffs last season with just 14 thrown touchdowns, it doesn't need a QB 'name' or a guy that has been utterly underwhelming when fit or just made of glass. Frankly I'd take Sanchez over Bradford right now.
Then you come to the giving up of a first round pick!?! what are you doing Minnesota, the Eagles must have been laughing hard after that phone call.
A 1st rounder for a guy that the Rams were so desperate to get rid of they literally threw themselves into a QB mess, a guy that the Eagles have done everything to get rid of after they saw his first few weeks of practice, actively shopping him, making a mind boggling decision to hand the Browns a load of draft picks to go #2 for Wentz! This for what is basically going to be 1 season of at best average QB play from the second worst #1 pick of the past 20 years.
For the rest of the NFC North, this move is quite frankly great news, Aaron Rodgers barely needs to hit 2nd gear this season.

 

[Anon]

For what it's worth and although it doesn't justify the cost, Bradford is better than Sanchez and probably any other QB available for trade.

 

[Renegade]

I don't even think he's better than Sanchez, they were pretty comparable in the same offence last year. I think Sanchez can move the chains better, but takes more stupid risks. This might be the second worst trade ever, behind that time the same team traded a fuck tonne of picks and players for Hershel Walker...

The Eagles must be laughing their arses off.

 

[Anon]

I thought he outplayed Sanchez last year, comfortably. Bradford is the safer player, but doesn't lose games as near as often as Sanchez loses them, and while it's often trumped that Sanchez can win and lose games I reckon that ratio is 1 to 10 or thereabouts, so I'd go with the safer option everytime.

Like I say though, clearly not worth what's been given up.

 

[Renegade]

You have to consider that Sanchez was thrust into the side after Bradford's injury last season, after the latter had taken all the first team reps in training until that point. Bradford was woeful last season, Sanchez was woeful in a smaller sample. The previous season Sanchez looked better deputising for Nick Foles. If there is a difference, it should be giving up a 5th for Bradford over a 6th for Sanchez, the Vikings are absolutely nuts.

 

[kieran_vale]

Well the aforementioned Mark Sanchez has just been cut. For what the Vikings would have used a QB for which is pretty much to hand off to AP and maybe the odd play-action pass thrown in too they could have got a lot better value for a QB who is of a similar level to Bradford.

Jimbob - I see your Packers have cut Josh Sitton, isn't he one of the mainstays of your O-Line? Assuming he's not crocked the Pats should be sticking in a waiver claim now for him.

Justin Forsett cut by the Ravens, did not see that one coming.