American Football

[kieran_vale]

Looks almost certain that the curtain raiser for the new season will be the Pats and Steelers. No real surprise there, maybe could have been Buffalo with Rex there now but can see why the NFL would prefer a matchup featuring two elite QB's.

 

[Anon]

Saw somewhere it's Bears Packers on Thanksgiving.

 

[Renegade]

No Le'Veon Bell, perfect scenario for the Pats.

 

[Aberstone]

And as I said on Twitter a couple of hours ago, that's us 0-1.

 

[Kim Mitten]

FOOTBALLL!!!

Lions have some prime time! Can see sky picking Lions@Chargers as the week 1 21:30 game. Week 3 Broncos@Lions is NBC game. Week 4 Lions@Seahawks is Monday night football. Week 8 got the London game against the Chiefs. Week 12 the usual Thanksgiving, this time against the Eagles. Week 13 the Thursday night game Packers@Lions.

The Lions schedule is a bit hellish to be honest, can easily see a 0-5 start. Optimist in me says 2nd place in NFC with a 10-6/11-5 record and playoff spot. Realist says Lions might be lucky to win 5 games this season. Think the NFC North will be a really tough division, Bears will be tougher to beat I think, although still might not be any good. If the Vikings have Peterson they will be better and the Packers are just going to keep on rolling, unless someone can take out Rodgers for the majority of the season.

Looking forward to the late nights already and especially the London game, just hope it's as exciting as the last one!

 

[kieran_vale]

Well Steelers confirmed for the opener, should be a great game. Have to fear what Brown may do against our corners which are significantly worse than last year but equally they are going to have a nightmare against our passing attack.

Week 5 @ Dallas, CBS will be loving that #ratings. Week 8 is TNF with the Phins and Week 11 MNF against Buffalo. Rex will be loving that. Got a trip to Denver in Week 12 for what may well be the last time Brady comes up against Manning. Glad that's later in the year when it's a bit colder.

Overall just can't wait for this to start now. Obviously have the draft to look forward to next week and I know this isn't usually the done thing but if the top Guards are all taken by our pick am comfortable with us taking a Running Back at #32 which is one of the other areas of need especially with Blounts suspension at the start of the year.

 

[Kim Mitten]

Forgot the draft is only 8 days away! The first night I am not working in 3 weeks and the ruddy draft starts, I could have watched it all! Lions usually like a surprise when drafting at spots in the 20's but it'll be an almighty cock up if the first two picks are anything other than OT and DT, doesn't matter in what order.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Sunday Night Football vs. Giants for the opener (shocker!) and Panthers on Turkey Day. Divisional games spread evenly throughout the year this time, with heavy backloading of recent years gone, so less likely to get another 4 weeks of doom, all possibilities in play stylee finale. Matching up against NFC South means it don't look too scary at the moment, for whatever that's worth.

Already booked work off for week 11 TNF Titans @ Jags.

 

[Anon]

Shame, as I much prefer the backloading of divisional games, makes for a far more intriguing end to the regular season.

Can see the Vikings being our biggest rivals this season if Peterson is playing and as good as he was, they're certainly on an upcurve since Zimmer arrived.

 

[Kim Mitten]

I'm not convinced by the Vikings, for a start they need to address their O-Line in a massive way, more than just draft help. Still not convinced by Bridgewater, he seems to have been cut some slack as he just got no protection last season, but even when he did he made some very very questionable decisions, he actually looked better when under pressure getting the ball out quick, reminds me a lot of Matt Stafford. If their O-line is as bad as last season and Peterson is still at his supreme level we will get to see just how good a back he is. Their D is also a bit of a mess personnel wise, but Zimmer is such a good coach he can cover some of the holes.
I do agree they should be better than last season but the Lions, Bears and Vikings schedule is frankly hideous, the Packers should be running away with the division this coming season and everyone else scrapping for anything.

oh and I want whatever Glover Quin is on: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-quin-has-the-lions-at-71-going-into-bye-week

 

[Renegade]

So much for that pass rusher Cowboys, Greg Hardy suspended for 10 games without pay.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

PC gone mad.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

 

[Kim Mitten]

why was the case dismissed in court? I understand he violated the personal conduct code but if a court of law doesn't bring charges surely his time out last season should suffice. He's now going to basically be banned 25 games, whereas Peterson, who admitted his charges and we can all categorically call a child abuser gets only 14 games out.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

He was found guilty on 2 charges, then appealed for a jury trial. When that was granted Holder (the victim, alleged victim, that is....) did not make herself to available to the court, so the charges were dismissed. He's now petitioned to have his arrest record expunged. It was reported at the time that they had "reached a settlement" (ie he had paid her off).

So I suppose (massive neon IANAL disclaimer) he can say with a straight face that he is not guilty, legally speaking. Morally speaking? Well...

As for the NFL, they can hardly win if they're to be criticised for lenient punishments, but then also for inconsistency when they finally do lower the boom. But the many thorny issues associated of a professional sports league operating its own parallel justice system remain. Particularly since agents of said justice system can't be relied upon to know whether they've received a video tape or not, take 4 months (and counting!) to figure out the PSI and chain of custody of some footballs, and are generally regarded as incompetent and/or liars by pretty much everyone everywhere.

For all that, I have to say, I don't know what the right thing is here, from an intellectual/lawyerly POV. I'm glad it's not up to me. But from a karmic POV I won't be shedding very many tears.

Will be interesting to see if there's an appeal now, or if he goes away and takes his medicine quietly. If it's the former then we'll have more fun and games to come!

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

"Join Kevin Cadle and Neil Reynolds in the studio as they analyse all the talking points and discuss the big moves in American Football's very own Transfer Deadline Day.

And who do you think of when Transfer Deadline Day comes around? Yes, Sky Sports News HQ's very own Duke of Deadline Day, Jim White, who will be in Chicago throughout the week with all the latest news and atmosphere from the so called “Windy City”."

 

[Craig]

Should make for a laugh though.

 

[Renegade]

I shall be watching Mayock spoil every pick a minute before it's announced.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Jim White interviewing Jameis Winston through a car window outside the Tallahassee city jail.

 

[Craig]

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12747814

I love him, and I'll never stop.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

I wonder how many hours of Gruden QB Camp greatness I could watch before I got bored.

IT'S 4.27AM. TIME TO GO TO WORK.

I CALL HUNDLEY THE MAYOR. THE MAYOR OF LA.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT 'C' ON YOUR JERSEY STANDS FOR? IT AIN'T CAPTAIN. IT'S CREDIBLE. /player eagerly notes down gem of purest distilled wisdom.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

MAN THOSE GUYS ON THOSE WEBSITES. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WRITE? Y BANANA. THAT'S ALL GRUDEN TALKS ABOUT. WE'LL IM TALKIN ABOUT IT THIIIISS WEEEK.

 

[Aberstone]

The annual NY Jets Draft blunders video:

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

/Takes Le'al Collins off draft board.

/Puts him back as 4th rounder

 

[.V.]

The annual NY Jets Draft blunders video:

Never gets boring.

 

[Kim Mitten]

certainly doesn't. They pick 6th I think this year, a bit of talk about them trying to get up to 2nd and trade with the Titans. Now any other team trades with Titans and you say Mariota - the Jets though?!? who knows what they are thinking, doesn't seem to matter what staff they have on draft day they like doing something just a touch left field.

 

[RavenBish]

Chip Kelly's fucking lost it.

'Two 1sts, future 2nd round, Cox, Kendricks, and Vinny Curry is the latest package to be in the deal.'

Mariota better be a Hall of Famer or...

 

[Anon]

Anyone staying up and watching it tonight? Have a half-day booked to see the usual Browns shenanigans...

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Chip Kelly's fucking lost it.

'Two 1sts, future 2nd round, Cox, Kendricks, and Vinny Curry is the latest package to be in the deal.'

Mariota better be a Hall of Famer or...

What the hell. Is Tim McManus trustworthy? I've never heard of him before.

 

[Aberstone]

Anyone staying up and watching it tonight? Have a half-day booked to see the usual Browns shenanigans...

I'll be watching it despite having to be in work at 9am tomorrow. Think the plan is to make any predictions before the draft gets underway and then take over the Shoutbox and drive the feral lot out of it.