American Football

[Kim Mitten]

Deflategate! utter nonsense. Colts players saying they didn't even notice, you'd think if they did they would have raised an issue in game.
Still the whole malarkey and 'Belicheat' is probably putting a massive chip on the Pats shoulder - I pick them to win the game without it, think they'll be even more fired up. Also no curse of Welker. They'll do as the Packers did on D (but hope to actually close the game out) and play on the O like they did in their easy win over the Lions, short game, time management. Even the greatest defences make mistakes if they have been on the field for an age.

I might go to all the Wembley games, obviously going to the Lions game, I go with a group who get season tickets and there is a ticket for whichever games I want. Don't know where in the stadium the seats are we have tended to move about all over the place over the years. All the games kicking off at 1:30pm GMT - so 4 game Sunday's on three occasions!

 

[kieran_vale]

I think as Carel mentioned above this whole Deflategate thing has shown the NFL media conglomerate to be particularly odious.

In amongst the mountains of shit surrounding it though I have to say I found this article written by Chris Kluwe to be one of the more intelligent things I've read on it.

http://time.com/3679079/patriots-under-inflated-balls-deflategate-nfl-scandal/

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Good news re: ESPN/BT:

http://sport.bt.com/sport-football/news/bt-sport-and-espn-extend-deal-S11363956012885

 

[Anon]

Deflategate! utter nonsense. Colts players saying they didn't even notice, you'd think if they did they would have raised an issue in game.

Teams provide and use their own set of balls apparently, so Colts wouldn't have been best placed to notice or think it's something to check anyway.

---

I dunno really. I've read somewhere that 11 of the 12 balls were under-inflated below the min acceptable amount, which is an unlikely chance happening. Sure I don't doubt the Patriots didn't needed the help, that it made mush difference etc, but that's besides the point; someone on that team gave the order to give an extra edge that was outside the rules. I feel the same about spygate, in the great scheme of things it probably made little to no difference, but cheating it was. Are they the only team that goes over the boundaries etc, of course not, but they've been caught at it (just like Bountygate with the Saints)... and that's twice under Bellichick...

 

[kieran_vale]

Belichick gave an impromptu press conference last night where he pretty much explained all of this and gave a huge fuck you to the entire media for bringing this up. Even smacked down some reporter for mentioning Spy Gate. There is no evidence that anyone gave orders to stretch the rules or anything like that.

One thing that has annoyed me with the Pats though is how Robert Kraft has seemingly gone M.I.A over this. He's always happy to get his face on TV when it's a nice headline to show how classy he is etc but when it comes to people piling on BB and Brady for the last week he's rather more conspicuous. Poor from him.

Hopefully now moving in to Super Bowl week it can focus on the game now and what should be an exciting matchup.

 

[Anon]

Belichick gave an impromptu press conference last night where he pretty much explained all of this and gave a huge fuck you to the entire media for bringing this up. Even smacked down some reporter for mentioning Spy Gate. There is no evidence that anyone gave orders to stretch the rules or anything like that.

One thing that has annoyed me with the Pats though is how Robert Kraft has seemingly gone M.I.A over this. He's always happy to get his face on TV when it's a nice headline to show how classy he is etc but when it comes to people piling on BB and Brady for the last week he's rather more conspicuous. Poor from him.

Reporters bringing up Spygate are fully entitled to do so, when a team - and that specific HC - has a history, it's entirely relevant. BB may routinely do his two fingers to the media schtick, but if the balls aren't deflated then there's no story to report - what does he think journalists supposed to do, not report on it? Rules weren't stretched, they were broken - no evidence yet on who did it or gave an order, but someone is responsible for it. I quite liked his press conference btw, thought he seemed sincere, and he explained everything he knew, but it still doesn't explain the balls.

Maybe Kraft doesn't want to get involved given BB's history with Spygate. Not sure there's much more to gain from him getting involved tbh.

 

[kieran_vale]

And what if someone isn't responsible? Saying there is no evidence but clearly someone's cheating is just ridiculous. It's not inconceivable maybe the officials didn't check and inflate them correctly when the footballs were delivered to them or the climatic conditions affected them. Just a couple of theories there and the truth is that is all people will ever be able to offer on it.

When it's the reputation of your franchise being dragged through the mud he should be. He was quick enough to tell the world how great Goodell was when he was under fire over the Ray Rice thing yet can't bring himself to do the same for the people responsible for giving him 3 rings.

 

[Anon]

And what if someone isn't responsible? Saying there is no evidence but clearly someone's cheating is just ridiculous. It's not inconceivable maybe the officials didn't check and inflate them correctly when the footballs were delivered to them or the climatic conditions affected them. Just a couple of theories there and the truth is that is all people will ever be able to offer on it.

When it's the reputation of your franchise being dragged through the mud he should be. He was quick enough to tell the world how great Goodell was when he was under fire over the Ray Rice thing yet can't bring himself to do the same for the people responsible for giving him 3 rings.

No evidence of who gave an or any order, not that they weren't tampered with. Though I'm not a scientist, from what I read the idea that these balls have deflated themselves because of the atmosphere at the time is pretty ludicrous. As such, it's almost certain that someone - whether they were told to or not by higher ups - cheated the rules.

On Kraft, what can he say to help the situation? Just because he supported Goodell when they were under fire doesn't mean he should automatically unequivocally support whoever when it's unlikely he's got info to back up his side.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

I hadn't thought about the Kraft thing. It's true though. That's another icky thing about the NFL: the worship of the owners, Nantz genuflecting in front of the Wealthmakers(TM) who get their stadia built on the public purse. Myra Kraft and William Clay Ford rate a patch on a jersey all season long, but Tom Brady and Barry Sanders won't. The trophies get presented to them, so Kraft was front and centre when the baubles were being handed out last week, giving it the "we" this and "we" that (when in fact "we" are going to Arizona mostly to nibble at a bunch of corporate shindigs, sit in a luxury box for 4 hours and try not to have a heart attack whilst getting boinked by we's ~30 year old soulmate), but now some shit has hit the fan he's nowhere to be seen.

Twats.

 

[Destruction]

Is the Pro Bowl worth watching or not?

And is it basically current NFL players from all over put into two sides as an end of season exhibition?

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Not really, and Yes. Watch Royal Rumble instead IMO.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Ye gods.

"Browns WR Josh Gordon flunked another drug test and now will be subject to a one-year banishment, per league sources. More on ESPN @ 6 pm."

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/559452358435160064

 

[kieran_vale]

Got to think with him now it's getting to the point where this is going to cost him his career. That's going to be the best part of 2 years he won't have seen the field aside from a few games at the end of this year. Think the Browns may end up cutting him.

 

[.V.]

What a fucking idiot

 

[Destruction]

Started watching the pro bowl last night but it was like a game of tag rugby.

Forget dat.

 

[TomPNE94]

Not really, and Yes. Watch Royal Rumble instead IMO.

Probably would have been better watching neither!

 

[Kim Mitten]

Josh Gordon, idiot. Been plenty like him over the years in the NFL, but I can't think of one with his level of talent that seems to just not give a stuff, or has the lack of brain capacity to think they can just get past the testing.
He's throwing his career down the pan, but seemingly isn't really bothered. I can still see him getting a contract somewhere after he is done in Cleveland.
To think the Lions nearly traded for him 2 seasons back!

haven't watched the ProBowl for years, thing needs scraping - Stafford won the MVP on the O side of the ball!

 

[Bobbin']

JJ Watt stole the show by all accounts

 

[TomPNE94]

JJ Watt stole the show by all accounts

Aye, apparently his dancing was spot on

 

[TomPNE94]

You all owe me for getting us our own sub-forum again.

I will accept likes as thanks.

 

[Stagat]

I like it. Ta.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Not used to rooting for a team with a head coach who actually recruits up to signing day instead of locking up his class at junior days and then heading to the golf course.

Lot of drama riding on the whims of 18 year olds.

 

[Anon]

Almost certainly rooting for the Seahawks on Sunday, but don't think they'll win.

 

[Kim Mitten]

Don't know if anyone has seen this, but pretty interesting piece:
http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/12179331/how-many-players-away-super-bowl-team

I'm with Jimbob sunday, rooting for Seattle, New England to win. Off to the usual party in Peckham, looking forward to it already.

 

[Anon]

Don't know if anyone has seen this, but pretty interesting piece:
http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/12179331/how-many-players-away-super-bowl-team

I'm with Jimbob sunday, rooting for Seattle, New England to win. Off to the usual party in Peckham, looking forward to it already.

Didn't realise you were so local fella, I've been in Forest Hill/Honor Oak/Dulwich way for a few years now.

Would have gone down to Whitstable to watch the SB with a Packers fan (the one who got me into it) if we'd gotten through, but think i'll just host instead with a couple of NFL newbies and a Rams fan instead.

 

[kieran_vale]

If we are to win this then I think the San Diego Chargers gave us the blueprint offensively this year, Rivers and his receivers were killing the LOB constantly with just intermediate crossing routes and then going for yards after the catch, right up Edelmans street. Probably see a lot of bunch formations which McDaniels favours. Gronk will create the obvious nightmare for them, have to laugh at that Seattle player who said he didn't think he was that good. Makes you wonder what is next, calling Megatron a JAG maybe? Need Blount to make a few yards on the ground though to keep them honest, that will be crucial to our success.

Defensively I expect we will find ourselves more in our base defense than the nickel one we've used more regularly. May well see Chung brought up as almost an additional LB with the idea of stopping Beast Mode and trust Revis and Browner/Arrington to do their job at corner.

 

[Kim Mitten]

Didn't realise you were so local fella, I've been in Forest Hill/Honor Oak/Dulwich way for a few years now.

Would have gone down to Whitstable to watch the SB with a Packers fan (the one who got me into it) if we'd gotten through, but think i'll just host instead with a couple of NFL newbies and a Rams fan instead.

I'm not anymore! Used to be in Whitechapel, left my friends in East and South East London behind when my son was born and got out of the ghetto and all that - now live out in the sticks west of Rochester in Kent. A few of my mates joined me in leaving London but a few are still there, now all round the Peckham/Deptford/New Cross area.
The annual Superbowl party has been going a good number of years now, mainly its the food that attracts the crowd! but there should be 2 Giants fans and Eagles, Cowboys, Falcons and Seahawks represented, oh and me with the Lions of course.

 

[Aberstone]

Mate of mine in Romford is hosting a Superbowl house party so I'll be there.

 

[RavenBish]

Deflategate now getting linked to the Pats unusually low fumble statistics since 2006. Great stuff. Fucking kill them Rog.

 

[Anon]

Deflategate now getting linked to the Pats unusually low fumble statistics since 2006. Great stuff. Fucking kill them Rog.

Benjavus Green-Ellis stats. Say no more.

Year - Team - Fumbles
2008 - NE - 0
2009 - NE - 0
2010 - NE - 0
2011 - NE - 0
2012 - CB - 3
2013 - CB - 2