OFFICIAL 2010-2011 NFL season & predictions thread:

[mikemarrs]

AFC South probably the best division in the league right now....

houston 4-2
indy 4-2
tenn 4-2
jax 3-3

tennessee gets an eagle team next week without mike vick and desean jackson.

[mikemarrs]

The Giants are quickly becoming the class of the NFC

Which is great news for the AFC. The entire NFC Conference looks less than impressive after 5 weeks of NFL football. In my opinion, the class of the NFL after 5 weeks (in no particular order) are Pittsburgh, New England, The Jets, and Baltimore. You can never rule the Colts out, due to Manning, but I've seen several of their games this season and am not remotely impressed with their team. Patriots haters better pay attention. It's too early to make any predictions, but if their defense comes together, it will be VERY bad news for the NFL. Their win yesterday was their biggest win I've seen in years for that team. I can't remember the last time they came back 10 points down in the 4th quarter, let alone coming back against a team who almost never gives up leads.

I agree word for word. It doesn't matter how bad or how mediocre a team could look, but when you take an organization like Pittsburgh or New England, you don't sleep on them. They are an incredibly well coached and well managed football teams from top to bottom, suites to the sidelines and each team goes into every season with a chance for an Lombardi because as long as Brady and Bellichick are maning the system and as long as Steelers play the kind of defense they are playing as well as Ben in the lineup, those two teams will be in it until week 17.

I don't think I've ever slept on New England this season. I know what their capable of, even though they are a cracked shell of their former selves. They aren't dominant, but people seem to just wait for them to lose, but yet, they are a quiet 4-1 football team in the AFC. Baltimore isn't the football team everyone makes them out to be. I expect at the end of the season for it to be Pittsburgh, New England and the Jets as the NFL's top leading threats, but who knows, things change after week 8 on. Long season but thus far, the teams you've mentioned above are the cream of the crop right now. It's them, and everybody else.

i agree.that hard hitting run the ball raven team seems to have gotten leaner on defense and they are trying to pass the ball more.in the end i do expect to see pittsburgh and the new york jets in the AFC championship.

[YoungJRNY]

So I guess the Rams beating the Chargers was that anticipated upset., and maybe the Seahawks over the Bears in it's own little silly way.

Week 7 Power Rankings:


1. Pittsburgh Steelers (3): With Ben back and shaking off early rust into a spectacular performance for not playing for an entire month, it looks like the Steelers are poised to be the NFL's team to beat.




2. N.Y Jets (1): The Jets were one call away from being upset by the Broncos. N.Y has been winning squeakers and have the NFL's best record at 5-1, but Sanchez looked like 2009 Sanchez and threw some pretty bad interceptions. If he gets into that groove, then teams will figure out the Jets. Until then, L.T's career is back on the elite track.




3. New England Patriots (9): The Patriots had a HUGE come from behind win against one of the toughest teams in the NFL. Everyone is saying that New England is knocked down a couple pegs, but their 4-1 record says otherwise. Are they beatable? Possible more-so than ever in the Bellichick years, but with Brady, anything is possible.




4. Philadelphia Eagles (8}: The Eagles are proving that having 2 GOOD QB's is a good thing, now it's vice versa. Weeks ago, the M.V.P chants were calling Vick's name. 3 games later, Kolb is playing the best ball of his early career and proving why he was #1 to begin with. Controversy is high, but a tough Eagles team keeps on winning.




5. Indianapolis Colts (7): The Colts went on the road and went into Washington in a matchup to where everyone thought they could be in trouble against a blitzing mentality defense. Instead, the offense exploded and put up hundreds of yards against a tough Redkins D. Manning had a field day, but even with all of that success on offense, they still turned the ball over too many times and only squeaked it out by 3 against a team that gave up a huge amounts of yardage.




6. Baltimore Ravens (2): Blowing leads isn't like the Ravens, but only scoring 20 points against a suspect N.E defense with the kind of weaponry Balty is supposed to have is a letdown. The offense produced a big lead, but couldn't finish the job like they did in Pitt 2 weeks ago. This offense should be putting up 30 points a game but instead, they have been under-performing as an offensive unit.




7. N.Y Giants (N/A): Welcome to 2010, G-Men. You're looking at possibly the class of the NFC at this point. Started off slow, but gaining momentum and steam. A tough team to beat, esp a team beating early adversity. Coughlin did a good job in getting these guys re-focused.





8. Atlanta Falcons (4): Atlanta was bound to slip up one of these weeks after playing the entire season as nail-biters, plus, going into Philly is no easy task. But they are struggling into getting things moving as far as being comfortable in games. This loss could wake them up, as well as New Orleans beat down on Tampa, so we'll see how they respond to their second loss of the season.




9. New Orleans Saints (10): We were all wondering when the champs would show up to the present day. The Saints took what was theirs and beat up on a pretending team that thought they had a shot. The champions did what champions do and that is beat on an un-worthy opponent.





10. Green Bay Packers (5): Every NFL team has it's fair share of injuries, but this just isn't right. The football Gods are looking down on GB and challenging them to over-come the impossible and that's to win the Super Bowl with their marquee guys on IR. With Rodgers still sporting a concussion and with GB losing back to back O.T games, you wonder if GB can win tight games against lesser opponents. The #1 factor in winning close football games is the running game, and Green Bay has NONE of that. Finger is creeping towards the panic button in Cheese land.



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Next 5: Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins

[lights1961]

So I guess the Rams beating the Chargers was that anticipated upset., and maybe the Seahawks over the Bears in it's own little silly way.

Week 7 Power Rankings:


1. Pittsburgh Steelers (3): With Ben back and shaking off early rust into a spectacular performance for not playing for an entire month, it looks like the Steelers are poised to be the NFL's team to beat.




2. N.Y Jets (1): The Jets were one call away from being upset by the Broncos. N.Y has been winning squeakers and have the NFL's best record at 5-1, but Sanchez looked like 2009 Sanchez and threw some pretty bad interceptions. If he gets into that groove, then teams will figure out the Jets. Until then, L.T's career is back on the elite track.




3. New England Patriots (9): The Patriots had a HUGE come from behind win against one of the toughest teams in the NFL. Everyone is saying that New England is knocked down a couple pegs, but their 4-1 record says otherwise. Are they beatable? Possible more-so than ever in the Bellichick years, but with Brady, anything is possible.




4. Philadelphia Eagles (8}: The Eagles are proving that having 2 GOOD QB's is a good thing, now it's vice versa. Weeks ago, the M.V.P chants were calling Vick's name. 3 games later, Kolb is playing the best ball of his early career and proving why he was #1 to begin with. Controversy is high, but a tough Eagles team keeps on winning.




5. Indianapolis Colts (7): The Colts went on the road and went into Washington in a matchup to where everyone thought they could be in trouble against a blitzing mentality defense. Instead, the offense exploded and put up hundreds of yards against a tough Redkins D. Manning had a field day, but even with all of that success on offense, they still turned the ball over too many times and only squeaked it out by 3 against a team that gave up a huge amounts of yardage.




6. Baltimore Ravens (2): Blowing leads isn't like the Ravens, but only scoring 20 points against a suspect N.E defense with the kind of weaponry Balty is supposed to have is a letdown. The offense produced a big lead, but couldn't finish the job like they did in Pitt 2 weeks ago. This offense should be putting up 30 points a game but instead, they have been under-performing as an offensive unit.




7. N.Y Giants (N/A): Welcome to 2010, G-Men. You're looking at possibly the class of the NFC at this point. Started off slow, but gaining momentum and steam. A tough team to beat, esp a team beating early adversity. Coughlin did a good job in getting these guys re-focused.





8. Atlanta Falcons (4): Atlanta was bound to slip up one of these weeks after playing the entire season as nail-biters, plus, going into Philly is no easy task. But they are struggling into getting things moving as far as being comfortable in games. This loss could wake them up, as well as New Orleans beat down on Tampa, so we'll see how they respond to their second loss of the season.




9. New Orleans Saints (10): We were all wondering when the champs would show up to the present day. The Saints took what was theirs and beat up on a pretending team that thought they had a shot. The champions did what champions do and that is beat on an un-worthy opponent.





10. Green Bay Packers (5): Every NFL team has it's fair share of injuries, but this just isn't right. The football Gods are looking down on GB and challenging them to over-come the impossible and that's to win the Super Bowl with their marquee guys on IR. With Rodgers still sporting a concussion and with GB losing back to back O.T games, you wonder if GB can win tight games against lesser opponents. The #1 factor in winning close football games is the running game, and Green Bay has NONE of that. Finger is creeping towards the panic button in Cheese land.

panic button is right. maybe not quite yet... but, the injury bug has hit them this year and to all the defensive studs...plus the stud running back, not good... the last 2/3 of the season could get ugly up in title town... especially if Favre and the Vikings start clicking again and come to GB and beat them.... OUCH!!! And I think its time that GB is not in your top ten power rankings, they just dont deserve it.













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Next 5: Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins

[Ehwmatt]

So I guess the Rams beating the Chargers was that anticipated upset., and maybe the Seahawks over the Bears in it's own little silly way.

Week 7 Power Rankings:



6. Baltimore Ravens (2): Blowing leads isn't like the Ravens, but only scoring 20 points against a suspect N.E defense with the kind of weaponry Balty is supposed to have is a letdown. The offense produced a big lead, but couldn't finish the job like they did in Pitt 2 weeks ago. This offense should be putting up 30 points a game but instead, they have been under-performing as an offensive unit.



Next 5: Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins

Said it before, will say it again: Flacco SUCKS. With this dude at the helm, the Ravens won't do shit... and that famed defense doesn't look so great any more now that it's getting older. Exhibit A: Peyton Hillis vs them. Exhibit B: Blowing a 10 point lead in the fourth quarter.

Packers are also looking like quite the pretenders at this point.

This is really a disconcerting year in the NFL... last year we had several very good teams and several very bad ones. This year, it appears we have mediocrity mostly across the board. Steelers are the only team that could compete with the big boys of years' past so far.

[Rockindeano]

So I guess the Rams beating the Chargers was that anticipated upset., and maybe the Seahawks over the Bears in it's own little silly way.

Week 7 Power Rankings:



6. Baltimore Ravens (2): Blowing leads isn't like the Ravens, but only scoring 20 points against a suspect N.E defense with the kind of weaponry Balty is supposed to have is a letdown. The offense produced a big lead, but couldn't finish the job like they did in Pitt 2 weeks ago. This offense should be putting up 30 points a game but instead, they have been under-performing as an offensive unit.



Next 5: Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins

Said it before, will say it again: Flacco SUCKS. With this dude at the helm, the Ravens won't do shit... and that famed defense doesn't look so great any more now that it's getting older. Exhibit A: Peyton Hillis vs them. Exhibit B: Blowing a 10 point lead in the fourth quarter.

Packers are also looking like quite the pretenders at this point.

This is really a disconcerting year in the NFL... last year we had several very good teams and several very bad ones. This year, it appears we have mediocrity mostly across the board. Steelers are the only team that could compete with the big boys of years' past so far.

Yeah but Matt, it's always fun watching the Raiders lose to an 0-5 team, and also seeing Dallas suck dicks like Marilyn Chambers. Man it is fun to see, at least for me. I just tune in nowadays to see the Raiders lose, and to see how much cock Dallas is going to eat.

[Eric]

http://rikkerpowerrankings.blogspot.com ... kings.html

[mikemarrs]

my top ten


1. Pittsburgh Steelers-three straight road games at dolphins,at saints and bengals coming up.


2. N.Y Jets-the packers,lions and browns are coming up for the jets.


3. New England Patriots-have chargers,vikings and browns to look forward to.



4. Indianapolis Colts-texans,eagles and bengals will be upcoming tests for indy.



5. Atlanta Falcons-the bengals,bucs and ravens are on the upcoming slate.


6. Baltimore Ravens-the dolphins,falcons and panthers coming up for baltimore.



7. New Orleans Saints-browns,steelers and panthers are next three teams the saints face.





8. Philadelphia Eagles-the titans,colts and redskins is a real tough upcoming slate.


9. N.Y. Giants-two games against dallas and the seahawks.



10. Tennessee Titans-they face the eagles,chargers and dolphins in the next three matchups.

[YoungJRNY]

OUCH!!! And I think its time that GB is not in your top ten power rankings, they just dont deserve it.

The Pack gets the benefit of the doubt in the top 10 only because the NFC is as wide open as Pamela Anderson's gaping butthole. They've dropped significantly weekly.

It's pretty sad that the 9'ers, at 1-5, still have a shot at the WC or even their division. The Pack is still 3-3 and very well alive, it's up to them to play a different kind of football and just eek out ways to win. Even with the injuries, they still went into overtime against two good teams. That's a play here or there (Crosby missed a FG for the win against Wash 2 weeks ago) but if they keep dropping close ones, they won't last long in the 10 top and it's up to teams like the Titans or Chiefs to earn the honor if the Pack fall.

[RedWingFan]

OUCH!!! And I think its time that GB is not in your top ten power rankings, they just dont deserve it.

The Pack gets the benefit of the doubt in the top 10 only because the NFC is as wide open as Pamela Anderson's gaping butthole.

[mikemarrs]

year in and year out i've watched the AFC have teams 11-5 or 10-6 and end up not making the playoffs but you'll always see an 8-8 team make it in the postseason from the NFC.the AFC is easily the superior conference in the league and has been for quite a while.certain divisions like the NFC west are just awful.wondering if we could see a 7-9 team actually win the division.

[Enigma869]

With the NFL Network in the midst of doing their list of the 100 greatest players of all-time, here is another guy's perspective. Interesting list. I must admit that his observation of Brady is VERY astute! That said, I definitely don't agree that Jerry Rice is the greatest player in the history of the NFL. Also, how the fuck does this guy (who appears to be from Detroit based on the website address) rank Emmitt Smith ahead of Barry Sanders? Also, this guy has Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens ranked ahead of Randy Moss? What the hell is he smoking?

http://motownsportsrevival.blogspot.com ... -time.html

When Brady’s career is over, I don’t think there will be any reason to rank him lower than any QB the league has seen. He has already won three Super Bowls with nowhere near the talent that Montana or Manning had the luxury of playing with. His career touchdown to interception ratio is among the best in the history of the game. He now boasts one of the greatest—if not the greatest—season by a quarterback in NFL history with his 50-toudchown, 4,806-yard, 117.2-passer rating effort in 2007. The only thing missing from his resume is longevity which only takes some patience to accomplish. If Brady stays consistent he will end up as one of the top 5-10 players in NFL history.

[mikemarrs]

game of the week:4-2 philadelphia eagles at 4-2 tennessee titans,good chance vick and desean jackson are out for this one.


steelers at dolphins:i think pittsburgh will shutout the dolphins.

patriots at chargers:the patriots will win this in a close game.

vikings at packers:could be a high scoring game in favre vs. rodgers grudge match

giants at cowboys:will the giants revert back to weak early season form or keep dominating like they have lately....

bengals at falcons:this one could go either way but i'd bet the falcons.

redskins at bears:will be interesting to see which bears team decides to show up.

[lights1961]

MY wish for this weekend in defense of the NFL... defenses let the offenses in the games this weekend run wild.. missed takles..let them go crazy... scoring lots of points... I can visualize it, of all the defensive players go on their little strike... during the games... would be fun to witness..

**the NEW DEFENSIVE RULES WILL SUCK and take away more from the game... UGH...

if they want the NFFL... (national flag football league)... no defense should be allowed period... just saying... but if you want the NFL... let em hit and hit hard... we have injuries every year, hard hits every year... and it seems like the leauge is wimping out... remember the cheer... hit em hard hit hard, real hard... .. the new cheer... touch them soft touch them soft... real soft...

sorry about the rant... it needed to be said...

[mikemarrs]

personally i'm much more a fan of defensive teams than offense.hard hitting teams like pittsburgh,tennessee,baltimore,chicago,etc. is what its suppose to be about.your right they are doing everything they can to handicap the defenses and put more emphasis on the offense.you barely touch a quarterback now and you get penalized.they are pussifying the league with this shit.bring back pete rozelle or tagliabue.yes i know rozelle is gone but still this league is getting further from its roots every passing day.

[lights1961]

personally i'm much more a fan of defensive teams than offense.hard hitting teams like pittsburgh,tennessee,baltimore,chicago,etc. is what its suppose to be about.your right they are doing everything they can to handicap the defenses and put more emphasis on the offense.you barely touch a quarterback now and you get penalized.they are pussifying the league with this shit.bring back pete rozelle or tagliabue.yes i know rozelle is gone but still this league is getting further from its roots every passing day.

unless your Arron Rodgers who has been hit now three times late during crucial part in each game and gets no call... just saying... AZ game where he fumbled... fask mask... no call... Redskin helmet to helmet.... no call... last week, thrown to the ground... no call... just saying...

[YoungJRNY]

I don't understand how these defensive players can go out, timid, and worry about how they play the game of football. This is a collision sport. You can't go low.. you can't go middle, and now you can't go high. In the speed of this game, how in fuck's sake are these players going to position their body in that SPLIT second to make it a "legal" hit? So much for defense's win championships. Polamalu said it in 2007: PANSY LEAGUE!!!!

This is all I'm saying on this bogus subject, pisses me off. Anyone see Mark Schlereth's rant on ESPN this morning? He was livid. I agree with him 100%.

[Rockindeano]

personally i'm much more a fan of defensive teams than offense.hard hitting teams like pittsburgh,tennessee,baltimore,chicago,etc. is what its suppose to be about.your right they are doing everything they can to handicap the defenses and put more emphasis on the offense.you barely touch a quarterback now and you get penalized.they are pussifying the league with this shit.bring back pete rozelle or tagliabue.yes i know rozelle is gone but still this league is getting further from its roots every passing day.

unless your Arron Rodgers who has been hit now three times late during crucial part in each game and gets no call... just saying... AZ game where he fumbled... fask mask... no call... Redskin helmet to helmet.... no call... last week, thrown to the ground... no call... just saying...

And yet I haven't heard a single word from Rodgers complaining of the violence in the NFL. It's turning into the NBA on grass= Pussy league.

[YoungJRNY]

This is the best rant on the subject. Schlereth's rant can't be touched. I agree with him 100%. I have a man-crush on Shlereth after this debate.

Take a look: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5706132

[S2M]

This is the best rant on the subject. Schlereth's rant can't be touched. I agree with him 100%. I have a man-crush on Shlereth after this debate.

Take a look: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5706132

Irrelevant. Just don't lead with your head. I've been hearing for 3 days now about how you can't unlearn what you've learned since you first started playing football. BULLSHIT. No one teaches(or has been taught) leading with your head/helmet, or honing in on the opposing players heads/necks. Now I agree totally that once you commit to a play at full speed - it is impossible to change directions. The laws of physics don't allow for that. And it is quite a dilemma when faced with the rule that something is a penalty if the player doesn't catch the ball, but NOT one if the player catches the ball. How is a player at, again, FULL speed supposed to field his position and make that determination once he's committed to the play? He's not.

BTW, Dick Butkus tackled with his hands and arms...and is considered one of the best defensive players of all-time.

Just don't lead with your head/helmet. Plain and simple. And if you do....you will be suspended. IMHO, Harrison's a pussy. He wants to quit because he can't lead with his head....PUSSY.

And maybe....just maybe - the game of Football has become TOO fast for humans.....

[YoungJRNY]

This is the best rant on the subject. Schlereth's rant can't be touched. I agree with him 100%. I have a man-crush on Shlereth after this debate.

Take a look: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5706132

Irrelevant. Just don't lead with your head. I've been hearing for 3 days now about how you can't unlearn what you've learned since you first started playing football. BULLSHIT. No one teaches leading with your head/helmet, or honing in on the opposing players heads/necks. Now I agree totally that once you commit to a play at full speed - it is impossible to change directions. The laws of physics don't allow for that. And it is quite a dilemma when faced with the rule that something is a penalty if the player doesn't catch the ball, but NOT one if the player catches the ball. How is a player at, again, FULL speed supposed to field his position and make that determination once he's committed to the play? He's not.

BTW, Dick Butkus tackled with his hands and arms...and is considered one of the best defensive players of all-time.

Just don't lead with your head/helmet. Plain and simple. And if you do....you will be suspended. IMHO, Harrison's a pussy. He wants to quit because he can't lead with his head....PUSSY.

And maybe....just maybe the game of Football has become TOO fast for humans.....

Butkus hit with his hands and arms!? What in Gods name are you talking about? Remember that thing called credibility John called you out for? It's ringing true in that statement alone.

HAHAHA, hands and arms, I can't help but wrap that around my head when talking Dick Butkus. Butkus DEFINED the hits of football and what we see fit for today (well, not anymore.)

I know you've watched more football than me over the years because you were born before me, but... I think you need a little schooling on how Dick Butkus played the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBumQdwc ... re=related

1:01- what an arm tackle!
1:14- FINE in 2010!
1:23- Illegal in 2010.
1:40- 2:00 (Butkus would of been kicked out of the league by now.)
2:01- Slamming a defenseless running back, head first into the dirt. FINE/Suspension/BEAUTIFUL!
2:37- Personal foul? Suspension?

"Dick Butkus was all about punishment. That's what he wanted to do, and that's what he thought football was all about."

Noone hit like Dick Butkus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvdKHxiJ ... re=related


I can post Dick Butkus vids all day for the sake of my own violence that I love for the game, but I'll just stop there. They should re-name violence in the dictionary "Butkus."

And I'll throw in Jack Lambert because he was another one that defined mean-ness and how the game was defined by those hits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Muh6cyyQRzw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Kof5Gnr_c

"That's apart of the game, that's the way the game is to be played. They should put dress's on QB's."

Hand tackler, lol.

[S2M]

Ok Travis...this is where your intellect fails you....I watched that first video and saw 95% arm tackling. I saw a couple of shoulder tackles, and the rest were him stripping the ball....with Dick Butkus you had an oversized LB for that era. Point Blank dude had size, and intensity....he was NO different than Singletary, Lambert, LT....NO DIFFERENT. Dude wasn't a HEADHUNTER, and that was my lone point.

He was intense for his era. Dude couldn't play in this era. Plain and simple. In today's game he'd be average. So please don't call my credibility out - with your sidekicks, the Testosterone Twins(Deano and JFB)...you got quite the Deano starter kit going on there.

I see how you glossed over the actual point of my post, settling on, instead, to take issue with something that isn't even debatable....nice try. FAIL.

[YoungJRNY]

Ok Travis...this is where your intellect fails you....I watched that first video and saw 95% arm tackling. I saw a couple of shoulder tackles, and the rest were him stripping the ball....with Dick Butkus you had an oversized LB for that era. Point Blank dude had size, and intensity....he was NO different than Singletary, Lambert, LT....NO DIFFERENT. Dude wasn't a HEADHUNTER, and that was my lone point.

He was intense for his era. Dude couldn't play in this era. Plain and simple. In today's game he'd be average. So please don't call my credibility out - with your sidekicks, the Testosterone Twins(Deano and JFB)...you got quite the Deano starter kit going on there.

I see how you glossed over the actual point of my post, settling on, instead, to take issue with something that isn't even debatable....nice try. FAIL.

Dick Butkus doesn't become the most feared NFL linebacker of ALL time by being an "arm tackler." He was the most vicious hitter the game ever produced. He was great at stripping the ball no question, but Butkus was known for his mean streak. Something tells me you didn't watch the whole entire video. Did you see the part where all those players were lying on the ground in excruciating pain and needed to be walked to the sideline? Something tells me those weren't arm or hand tackles. Don't give me that "He couldn't play in today's NFL" bullshit and don't steer the convo in that direction. Many and most from that era couldn't produce in today's NFL but Butkus used his body as a missile than anything else and used his size and the determination to manhandle to become the best ever.

Point blank: Today's NFL players admire the work of Butkus and Lambert as well as them being role models on how they play the game. Butkus and his tackling style is what the NFL no longer wants (slams, driving in dirt, follow throughs, head shots, collisions, etc.)

[Rockindeano]

He was intense for his era. Dude couldn't play in this era. Plain and simple. In today's game he'd be average. So please don't call my credibility out - with your sidekicks, the Testosterone Twins(Deano and JFB)...you got quite the Deano starter kit going on there.

WTF? Is this supposed to be a shot against me? WTF did I do in this thread to be labeled a "testosterone twin?"

[S2M]

....the NFL doesn't want anybody to DIE on the field, or get paralyzed because some fucknut LB, or SS wants to make it on an ESPN highlight reel....and the NFL doesn't want to be responsible for continualy paying retirees for life-lasting injuries....Even you cannot condone hits to the head. If you are, then you are as much of a no-life neanderthal as these players who complain about the way they've always played the game....again, none of these whiners were taught to hit helmet to nelmet, and none of these players will suffer their game if they were to stop doing it. And IF that lone subtraction makes their game suffer, then they weren't that talented to begin with.

These guys are so violent, and there is SO much HGH, and testosterone coarsing through the bodies - that it is only natural to want to decapitate some unsuspecting WR who dares wander into the middle of the field....pretty soon, Trav....you and your ilk will be clamoring for gladiator fights, and public feats of strength to quench your insatiable thirst for manly acts like helmet to helmet hits, or picking up a QB and driving his ass into the ground....sack stickers on helmets will be replaced by stickers of concussions and parylizations....pathetic, actually.

[Enigma869]

WTF? Is this supposed to be a shot against me? WTF did I do in this thread to be labeled a "testosterone twin?"

I've been called worse

[Enigma869]

Time for me to weigh in on this debate. First and foremost, guys like Butkus and Lambert don't even belong in this discussion. Travis is correct that these guys were feared players and definitely hit guys in a manner that wouldn't be allowed in today's NFL. That said, I actually agree (God, I hate to ever admit this) with S2M's larger point. The reality is that when guys like Butkus and Lambert played, the NFL had ZERO idea what the impact was on all of their players with too many shots to the head. Remember, there was a time in this country where people didn't believe that smoking cigarettes caused any harm. The bottom line is that football is a violent game with endless collisions over the course of each game and that isn't going to (nor should it) change. That said, guys can't be spearing each other with their helmets. It simply can't happen. If you think endless shots to the head are a good thing, take a look at what happened to guys like Mike Webster and Muhammad Ali!

[Rockindeano]

....the NFL doesn't want anybody to DIE on the field, or get paralyzed because some fucknut LB, or SS wants to make it on an ESPN highlight reel....and the NFL doesn't want to be responsible for continualy paying retirees for life-lasting injuries....Even you cannot condone hits to the head. If you are, then you are as much of a no-life neanderthal as these players who complain about the way they've always played the game....again, none of these whiners were taught to hit helmet to nelmet, and none of these players will suffer their game if they were to stop doing it. And IF that lone subtraction makes their game suffer, then they weren't that talented to begin with.

These guys are so violent, and there is SO much HGH, and testosterone coarsing through the bodies - that it is only natural to want to decapitate some unsuspecting WR who dares wander into the middle of the field....pretty soon, Trav....you and your ilk will be clamoring for gladiator fights, and public feats of strength to quench your insatiable thirst for manly acts like helmet to helmet hits, or picking up a QB and driving his ass into the ground....sack stickers on helmets will be replaced by stickers of concussions and parylizations....pathetic, actually.

Go change your panties and turn on some tennis.

Dude, it's fucking football. You know, "American" football, the REAL football, where it is almost gladiator like, and we here love it. That's why we call our Football the real football and the Euros stick with kicking a spotted ball around and faking injuries. Is that the kind of shit you want to see on Sunday?


Do you want to adopt some college rules like having the play be over when the knee touches the ground? Seriously, are you losing your stomach for hits? You watch the NHL, where hits are just as violent and guys are going 25 mph when they collide. Granted, NHL players don't go 6'7", 280, but theyr speed imore than makes up for their weight. I am serious, do you really think the speed of the NFL is becoming too fast? If so, I can sort of get on board with that motion.

[S2M]

....the NFL doesn't want anybody to DIE on the field, or get paralyzed because some fucknut LB, or SS wants to make it on an ESPN highlight reel....and the NFL doesn't want to be responsible for continualy paying retirees for life-lasting injuries....Even you cannot condone hits to the head. If you are, then you are as much of a no-life neanderthal as these players who complain about the way they've always played the game....again, none of these whiners were taught to hit helmet to nelmet, and none of these players will suffer their game if they were to stop doing it. And IF that lone subtraction makes their game suffer, then they weren't that talented to begin with.

These guys are so violent, and there is SO much HGH, and testosterone coarsing through the bodies - that it is only natural to want to decapitate some unsuspecting WR who dares wander into the middle of the field....pretty soon, Trav....you and your ilk will be clamoring for gladiator fights, and public feats of strength to quench your insatiable thirst for manly acts like helmet to helmet hits, or picking up a QB and driving his ass into the ground....sack stickers on helmets will be replaced by stickers of concussions and parylizations....pathetic, actually.

Go change your panties and turn on some tennis.

Dude, it's fucking football. You know, "American" football, the REAL football, where it is almost gladiator like, and we here love it. That's why we call our Football the real football and the Euros stick with kicking a spotted ball around and faking injuries. Is that the kind of shit you want to see on Sunday?

Oh yeah, Deano....let's love it. While we're at it, why not have a parade when Marty McSorley takes his stick like Jason Vorhees and slices Donald Brashear across his moss-laden skully...cause you know what Hockey fans say, 'It's part of the game'....and let's start a Matt Cook day for how he laid out Marc Savard last year with a well measured elbow/shoulder to the head....let's celebrate that because it's American Hockey!

[Ehwmatt]

It seems to me, based on old footage I've seen, that the crux of the problem is two-fold:

(a) As John said, we are simply more cognizant of the long-term serious implications that result from head trauma/other football-related injuries

(b) Today, although there were "rough/brutal" tacklers in the past to be sure, the athletes today are just so big and strong that it makes everything worse/more brutal. I think this is the real problem, and why we'll probably continue to see an uptick in these types of injuries regardless of what rules they do or don't adapt/enforce.