American Football

[JJ1532]

Julian Edleman likely tore his ACL. Feel free to send your sympathy cards to the Patriots, who cannot seem to catch a break at the moment. Seriously though, sucks for Edleman.

 

[Renegade]

They won a Superbowl without Gronk, the poor dears will survive.

 

[KevinMcallister]

oops wrong date

 

[.V.]

What time is the draft Saturday night?

 

[Craig]

What time is the draft Saturday night?

9pm

 

[Lamby]

Got my Wembley tickets in the post today, bring it on!

 

[Bobbin']

Hopkins has signed a 5 year contract worth 85mil, well deserved.

Meanwhile, Osweiler has been cut by the Browns

 

[kieran_vale]

Damn the Longhorns sure are shitting the bed against Maryland so far. That D is utterly putrid.

Penn State game on ESPN is a complete blowout as expected. The later ones should be better viewing particularly Bama and Florida State.

 

[KevinMcallister]

damn 7th pick in the draft bye BELL

 

[kieran_vale]

#2 pick, that makes a pleasant change.

V see Craig hasn't gone for Carels draft settings putting you last this year.

 

[.V.]

#2 pick, that makes a pleasant change.

V see Craig hasn't gone for Carels draft settings putting you last this year.

I was 5th last year and this year thankfully. It's been nice not to pick last.

 

[RavenBish]

Jeez.

2nd round pick just last year entering his second professional season, Su'a Cravens told some Redskins on Saturday he plans to retire, but a meeting with team officials has changed his mind for now, per sources.

Su'a Cravens suffered a concussion on October 2, 2016 and said he'd have to wear glasses for the rest of his life as a result. Quote: "Due to my concussion, my eyes have lost the memory to keep track of moving objects, so I have to wear (glasses) for the rest of my life."

 

[Aberstone]

I don't have anything against Jim Harbaugh but did chuckle at Wilton Speight throwing two pick 6's in the space of 5 minutes last night.

Ross Cockrell being traded to the Giants yesterday was news I wanted to hear - the guy's a bum who's utterly hopeless in man coverage. Getting a pick just made the news that he was no longer on the team even better. Mike Mitchell's still there in the secondary who thinks tackling shouldn't involve using your arms but it's a work in progress.

 

[Anon]

Pretty happy with my team overall given I picked 10th. Was also fairly sure Elliott would play week 1 so was stunned he was there at 15 as well.

Waiting on two trade requests to the same person despite my yearly knack of being too trade happy to the detriment of my team...

 

[1862]

Bah, autodraft. Many WRs available for RBs. Amari Cooper, Thielan, Woods mainly, but would consider giving up Dez if there's a worthwhile offer.

[Elementary DeShaun]

 

[Anon]

I'd be willing to part with a decent receiver, i.e. Cobb or Brown, and one of my defences in exchange for a good defence option...

 

[KevinMcallister]

had to alter my opening lineup

no Ajayi or Landry 1st week due to florida storm , so I've dropped M Lee and added Burkhead and hope he gets some time

 

[kieran_vale]

Looking forward to "Do Your Job Part 2" about to start on NFL Network in a few minutes. Basically a behind the scenes look at the Patriots season and will have Belichick talking in depth (in so far as he ever does) about how they went about strategising etc. Obviously very Patriots centric but if it's anything like the first one then listening to how they drew up certain plays like the (now illegal) ineligible receiver formation against the Ravens is also a great learning tool about the game.

Can't wait for the season to start now, will go with the following predictions as we are on the eve of it now

AFCE - Pats
AFCN - Ravens
AFCS - Texans
AFCW - Chiefs

Wildcards - Raiders and Steelers

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

Wildcards - Cowboys and Falcons

Superbowl Pats v Seahawks

 

[Camborne Gills]

Anybody except the Cheatriots (please)

 

[Renegade]

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

Wildcards - Raiders and Texans

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

Wildcards - Giants and Cardinals

Superbowl - Steelers v Seahawks

As above though, anyone but the Patriots. Please God. I fully expect them to wipe the floor with the Chiefs tonight having had months to prepare.

 

[Stagat]

kieran_vale Renegade

Why both of you went for Carolina over Atlanta, out of interest? Not saying they won't (I have no idea) but just wondered.

 

[Renegade]

I think the Panthers have more talent, people forget they are only 18 months removed from a 15-1 season. They had some bad injury issues last year and lost some decent players to free agency, I think they are primed for a bounce back season after Newton performed so poorly last year, with Benjamin fully recovered from injury and a new weapon in McCaffrey. Atlanta on the other hand have lost their OC who has made offences tick wherever he has coached and whilst they still have a lot of talent, I think they are destined to regress on that side of the ball. I think the sides have comparable offences, the Panthers have a better defence and better coaching. I think both sides will be in the playoff hunt, but I fancy both the Panthers and the Cardinals to return to something closer to 2015 form.

 

[kieran_vale]

Stagat A couple of things in play really. Firstly I think the way Atlanta lost that Super Bowl is going to take a lot of getting over and expect there will be some sort of hangover. In addition to that from a Panthers perspective that Defence of theirs is elite though I'm making the assumption Luke Kuechly (probably my favourite defensive player in the league) can stay healthy. In addition to that I expect the drafting of McCaffery to be a real gamechanger for them. Him and Stewart in the backfield will be hard to deal with and take the load off Newton. Put it this way if Carolina call any power runs with Newton now then the entire offensive coaching staff should be fired on the spot.

Oh yeah number 1 pick - step forward the J-E-T-S not that I want them to have the opportunity to draft Darnold or someone like that but they are in full on tank mode.

 

[Aberstone]

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

Wildcards: Chiefs and Bengals

NFCE - Eagles
NFCN - Packers
NFCS - Falcons
NFCW - Seahawks

Wildcards: Giants and Panthers

Superbowl: Patriots vs. Packers

 

[.V.]

This is going to be a strange season for me. I've been a Chargers fan since 2006, but moving the team to LA from San Diego was the final straw for me.

I was a Chargers fan because in 1996 my family went on holiday to California, and spent a week in SD. When there I watched my first NFL game, albeit on TV, and it was the Raiders @ the Chargers. Being in SD I rooted for the Chargers even if knew little about the game, and as I got older and started to play Madden they were always my team, even if I didn't watch American Football on TV.

Fast forward to 2006 and I watched a full NFL season for the first time, and of course I was going to root for the Chargers. As it was, LT was immense and we went on to finish the season with a 14-2 record. A pretty good start that the Patriots ruined, of course.

There were plenty of ups and downs over the years, but the Spanos family... their decision making made it hard, always in spite of them. And so when the team moved, that was that.

So this year I have a new team. I've been lucky enough to see 3 games in the States; 1 in Philly and 2 in Baltimore, so naturally I've chosen to be a Ravens fan. They don't feel like my team, and I'm sure they won't for a few years yet, but I'll get there in the end.

Oh, and I still hate the Broncos, that's not changing.

 

[kieran_vale]

Don't blame you to be honest V. I think that franchise is doomed until the Spanos family depart which clearly won't be any time soon.

That 14-2 season didn't Spanos fire Marty Schottenheimer after that season or not long after? Incredible really when you think how long he hung on to Norv for example.

 

[Anon]

Tbh I hope the Panthers bottom out. With the switch at GM back to the guy who got them into the cap trouble of not so long ago, they're asking for it.

Draft wise though I do think they've (or Gettleman, at least) done the right thing to surround Newton with extra options, as although it's good for his longevity I have my doubts about him dialing down run plays and increasing pocket passing and being successful.

 

[Aberstone]

I was going to like that post .V. until I saw who you plan to switch allegiances to...

*spits*

 

[.V.]

Don't blame you to be honest V. I think that franchise is doomed until the Spanos family depart which clearly won't be any time soon.

That 14-2 season didn't Spanos fire Marty Schottenheimer after that season or not long after? Incredible really when you think how long he hung on to Norv for example.

He did. Although Marty made some questionable decisions in the play off game, so I think they're thinking was they needed a coach who could win in the play offs, so they went with Norv Norv did win some play off games but it always seemed to be in spite of him, not because of him.

In the time I was a fan they sacked Marty too quickly but stayed with Norv and McCoy for far too long.

 

[kieran_vale]

Hard not to feel pretty pumped for this after the banner unveiling. Nice also to get the build up from NBC rather than Sky's usual fare.

Should be a good game this, KC are exactly the sort of team who are well built to beat us.