I'll be out of work for like five minutes: 2013 NFL Offseason Thread

Here's a place to discuss the offseason and the inevitable hiring of terrible coordinators who will last two years at most, plus all the RG3 news that's fit to print

I hope RG3 isn't the new Daunte Culpepper.

good piece on Deadspin today about the over racism when it comes to black quarterbacks. RG3's 40 time is only .2 seconds faster than Luck yet he got 50 more rushes - despite also being one of the most accurate QBs in the league (only Peyton, Rodgers, and Matt Ryan completed a higher %).

i am just gonna say that that article is fucking retarded and thank you for the reminder not to read deadspin

god i really can't tell if frogbs is trolling

JUST IN CASE

i like drew's writing but this kinda shit is far from his expertise. "40 time" is not the same thing as "running ability" and the reason why RGIII ran far more than luck is because he's more agile, better at cutting, quicker in small spaces etc. that has nothing to do with perceptions about race. when luck runs a zone read you don't go (hmmm that should be a big part of their offense) because he's just not all that good at it. griffin is the exact opposite of that.

oh i agree the conclusions he's drawing are bad (and he probably may not exactly believe them himself) - not saying Luck should be running more, but that race definitely contributes to the way a lot of people perceive quarterbacks. obviously Griffin gets way more of these plays called for him because that was his system in college.

yeah i feel like QB speed is in some cases lower on the scale wrt to running ability. some qbs run like barry sanders, some like
http://i.minus.com/itWuVltZWH0f1.gif

RG3's 40 time is only .2 seconds faster than Luck yet he got 50 more rushes

^.2 is a lot when it comes to 40 times. For a wide receiver or db, it's the difference between the 1st round and the 5th.

obviously Griffin gets way more of these plays called for him because that was his system in college.

^ and the white guy who succeeded him at Baylor is running the exact same system, with nearly the same amount of success. I'm not sure what the point is.

as far as charges of racism go I'm inclined to believe this is more a media problem (alternatively see the odd fawning over "gritty" white TE/WRs like Welkah and Witten). I do think 100 rushes for RG3 is dumb. The guy could be as great a pocket passer as Brees or Brady and we may never get to find out. When I think about it the difference between 4.4 and 4.6 is really quite large but RG3 doesn't have the self-preservation instinct that guys like Rodgers have (certainly something he had to learn, btw) and Shanahan's offensive system is going to get him killed.

he COULD be a great pocket passer... though comparing him to brees & brady is really premature. you can't disentangle his passing stats this year from the offense where the threat of him running on every play was constant. personally i'd stick with what they're doing while hoping that he can learn -- unlike vick -- to avoid contact when he can. i just think it would be a waste to not utilize his running ability and it's hard to say that he should decrease his carries when they're primarily running option plays.

when I saw Griffin at Baylor I saw Drew Brees and thought he wouldn't run that much in the NFL. The dude had a 65% completion percentage and a 20/5 TD/INT ratio this year, just let him throw it imo.

you can't disentangle his passing stats this year from the offense where the threat of him running on every play was constant.

^ agreed. He's a one man play action machine.

Griffin also ran out of bounds a lot after he almost got decapitated by Weatherspoon. He'll learn from the Ngata hit too.

I think there's a lot of evidence that he really didn't learn - he still look a lot of those dumb kind of hits after that game but there was no injury so nobody really paid attention. He fumbles a lot which is another side effect of playing balls out all the time.

Anyway my emphasis above is on the word "could" - even without the play action game his accuracy and ability to avoid picks is pretty damn good for a rookie. I think it's possible for him to run less but for a greater ypc figure. I also question having him run so much when you've got maybe the 2nd best RB in the game.

drew magary is so worthless

I think there's a lot of evidence that he really didn't learn - he still look a lot of those dumb kind of hits after that game but there was no injury so nobody really paid attention. He fumbles a lot which is another side effect of playing balls out all the time.

He survived the season which proves he learned. He's on record saying he learned. The weatherspoon hit was a killer and a dumb play by rg3

"he COULD be a great pocket passer... though comparing him to brees & brady is really premature"

The guy that RGIII is like that people seem to avoid comparing him to is Donovan McNabb. I think McNabb's last couple years of 'meh' kind of make people forget how really unique and good he was those first few years. Early on in that run, McNabb was the Eagles offense. The Andy Reid that threw the ball 50 times a game every game really was much longer down the line.

That said, I think RGIII is an athlete nearly on par with Vick and Vince Young, both of which had moments early on that you thought 'you know this might work and change the QB' position. I'd say Griffin has a more solid game of being a real QB, kinda like McNabb and you could see him grow into a more traditional QB like McNabb did.

but isn't rg3 much, much better a runner than vince or donovan?

he's almost certainly a better passer than any mobile QB I can remember

could see him as peak vick, which is v v good

comparing him 2 brady is kinda wild 2 think abt but idk

mcnabb isn't a bad comparison... i think maybe aaron rodgers is the peak comparison for him if they really want to tone down his running. rodgers is one of the best passers in the game but is still a huge threat with his legs when he wants to be.

steve young

thats good actually

yeah, that too

didnt think of young, that's a good one

the browns hired a guy

"but isn't rg3 much, much better a runner than vince or donovan?"

McNabb ran a bunch the first couple years he was the starter. He was the Eagles offense back then as they had terrible WR and no-name RBs. They were pretty much a surprise that first year to make the playoffs and win a game.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McNaDo00.htm

Looking it up, it was like 629 yards his first year as a starter, which is still a ton for a Qb and led the Eagles in rushing.

Vince Young ran for like 552 as a rookie and I think they won a bunch in a row to make the playoffs out of nowhere.

Part of the reason I think Steve Young was so successful running the ball is that the Niner West Coast offense completely fxxxed with all of the defensive schemes for it's day. People were so worried trying to cover all of those targets, I'd imagine there was quite a few times he could go hey I can run here. He paid for it with some concussions, but he took over the Niner offense which had already won 4 titles and changed football too. Alot of dudes would have been successful with that team to an extent. I think Aaron Rogers is pretty similar to Young actually.

I still think the whole TO debacle, getting sick in the Superbowl and then those last few years kind of muddies how good and unique McNabb was as a QB. McNabb's the first real modern running QB and he was the first one that was pretty successful moving into being a traditional QB.

Rob Ryan rams

Chargers hire Mike McCoy as coach. I'll take it.

he must interview real well

he has peyton manning audible his interview responses

Haha

oregon's chip kelly to coach the iggles

whoa

oh shit

somewhere in oregon phil knight is going "noooooooooo!!!!!!" and slamming his fist on a desk

i guess billick didn't want the job

it will be interesting having kelly in the nfl but i wish he hadn't landed in the nfc east

good god this is a massive move

yeah but how many grey cups has he won

W T F

chip kelly is weird

love al leong for uncorking that steven seagal gif on the thread

me too

i really hope philly's monstrous and disgusting fanbase doesn't turn on chip kelly if he goes 6-10 in his first year or something

i do

i do

― mookieproof, Wednesday, January 16, 2013 1:33 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark

i do

damn what's up w/ you guys

I think Aaron Rogers is pretty similar to Young actually.

I've been making this comparison for years but everyone thought I was talking about the Favre thing :(

i am an enormous fan of philly sports teams being in disarray, as a right-thinking human being should be

maybe chip kelly is a really nice guy, but a) he reneged on staying at oregon and b) his name is 'chip' and c) he took a job in philly, so fuck him

oh boy I can't wait to see Gregg Easterbrook soil his pants over this (but only if the Eagles fail next season)

I don't know really know the story, did Chip make it clear that he wanted to say at Oregon? Or is that one of those ESPN/Favre things where something happens and the media just runs with it?

i think he told them he was coming back but that was, what, a week ago? it's not like he screwed them over in any significant way.

in reality by being as open as he was with them about his desire to go to the NFL he gave them a long time to consider what they wanted to do once he left, so he did them a favor

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-football/21563687/chip-kelly-will-be-most-scrutinized-nfl-coach-weve-seen-in-long-time

tru

though the niners, seahawaks & redskins are definitely going to help keep some pressure off him

i am an enormous fan of philly sports teams being in disarray, as a right-thinking human being should be

― mookieproof

this is otm, it was glorious how philly sports was incessant comedy gold last year.

tbf i may be an even bigger fan of the jets in disarray, but that's maybe because i live here/tebow/rex. hating philly is eternal

u r all terrible human beings

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000127217/article/oregon-recruit-chip-kelly-was-at-my-house-monday

"Chip Kelly left?!?! He was at my house 2 days ago," tweeted Nico Falah, a 6-foot-4, 267-pound offensive tackle from Saint John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif.

I have a couple of friends who go to a Packer away game every year and they confirmed that Philly fans are indeed the worst, that it was the only time they actually had things thrown at them throughout the game

xp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkJqKOb0ZhY

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8631595/the-success-chip-kelly-oregon-ducks-offense-more-familiar-seems

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/8848801/chicago-bears-hire-marc-trestman-former-cfl-coach-year-montreal-alouettes

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears ended their search for a new coach early Wednesday morning when they made the decision to bring aboard the Montreal Alouettes' Marc Trestman as the franchise's 14th head coach.

A noted quarterback guru, Trestman has been an assistant with eight NFL teams but has been out of the league for eight years. His stint in the CFL began in 2008 and eventually led to his succeeding Lovie Smith, who was fired by the Bears on Dec. 31.

In addition to his duties as a coach, Trestman works during the offseason to prepare college quarterbacks for the NFL draft. Trestman worked with Jay Cutler and Bears backup Jason Campbell before their respective drafts.

I don't understand Mike Silver's ongoing crusade to get Hue Jackson a better job.

the photos i'd seen of trestman didn't emphasize his giggling supervillain countenance.

http://www.nflgridirongab.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSC03075-610x400.jpg

wtf

http://cdn0.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6634851/uspw_4167983.0_standard_352.0.jpg

http://www.9e3k.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Batman-Begins-GIF-07.gif

a. so j-e-t-s *owner* woody johnson was 'forced' to trade for tebow?

b. seems like a poor career move for an nfl gm candidate to tell this stuff to the press

c. lol the batman

http://marcelgomessweden.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/grimly200_13658c.jpeg

Tim Brown talks shit about Bill Callahan, accuses him of sabotaging the Raiders AFC Championship team in the superbowl.

Same day: Callahan named the new playcaller for the Cowboys, lol

Tim Brown talks shit. Period.

And I'm no Callahan lover but Brown is a grade a shitstirrer

Completely changing your gameplan two days before the Super Bowl DOES seem like a bad idea.

looking forward to more Cowboy lols this season.

lol jerry rice is straight-up backing brown on all this stuff

ugh I should just bite my tongue now

just a really weird story

That's the Raiders for you.

http://deadspin.com/5978888/rob-ryan-was-out-of-work-for-22987-minutes

the Rams are shaping up to be an awesomely villainous team. Love the NFC West so much right now. I am rooting so hard for the Cardinals to pick up Alex Smith.

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk
Jets have explored JaMarcus Russell http://wp.me/p14QSB-75gt
;)

bwahahahaha

that sounds like a euphemism

rob ryan will now be out of work for additional minutes because the rams changed their minds, lol

kinda hoping GB gets him to be honest

"Former 49ers and Raiders tackle Kwame Harris faces charges that he assaulted his boyfriend at a Menlo Park restaurant after an argument involving soy sauce and underpants, San Mateo County prosecutors said Monday."

http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Kwame-Harris-charged-with-felony-abuse-4230112.php

"During the restaurant argument, Harris accused Geier of stealing his underwear, Serrato said. Harris then tried to pull down Geier's pants, the prosecutor said."

well then

Anybody that can find that lowlight reel video of Kwame Harris committing holding penalty after holding penalty with "Holding Back the Years" playing will be my friend forever.

Awesome.

cowboys, steelers, patritos ftw, lol jets

http://deadspin.com/5979970/facebook-data-provides-the-most-accurate-nfl-fandom-map-ever-created

stillers fans in NW Ohio can gtfo

look at all that lovely black :D

steelers: team of the alaskan north slope

Anybody that can find that lowlight reel video of Kwame Harris committing holding penalty after holding penalty with "Holding Back the Years" playing will be my friend forever.

― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, January 29, 2013 11:16 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Awesome.

― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, January 29, 2013 11:22 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

this is amazing

Why has Donald Driver's retirement garnered like 5% of the attention that Ray Lewis's has

cuz donald driver didn't even play this year, would be one of a number reasons

also he's not a first ballot hall of famer

donald driver should murder someone

Ray only played 6 regular season games this year but I get your point. I do think Driver is a HOF'er but I'm biased. You'd think he would get the feature on ESPN for at least an hour, y'know?

http://nbcprofootballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/jagslogo.png?w=250

cute

they should change to gold leopard/jaguar print helmets imo

Should've dumped the turquoise part of the brand when they had the chance (though I guess there's nothing they could do with all those turquoise seats in the stadium).

they should change to gold leopard/jaguar print helmets imo

― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, February 5, 2013 9:54 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

fuck yes

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/page/George-Visger/george-visger-damage-done

stories like this are commonplace and every single time i read one it nudges me closer to just giving up on watching the sport, knowing that dozens of the dudes i'm watching on weekends during the fall will go through the same thing.

jeeeesus

i'm really getting to that point too. this is nuts.

it's true

i have become less of a fanatic the last two years but i don't know if it's because I'm a good person or if it's because my team won the Super Bowl then. I guess the Brewers will have to win one so I'll know for sure.

maybe not so true

frogbs here is your donald driver tribute

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/07/donald-driver-hug-angie-leroy-green-bay-packers_n_2640185.html

Here is another pretty cool Donald Driver retirement story.

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2119925/okoye.jpg

never forget

Friday, February 15, 2013 8:09 AM
Report: Chiefs Interested in Trading for Nick Foles

Charles Woodson released :(

Johnny Knox quits football
"relatively normal life"

Knox has pushed himself in rehabilitation, but he walks with a limp and can't stand comfortably. The only time he's not in pain is when lying down. But he's grateful to have a relatively normal life.

wow. that's difficult to hear.

get well eventually, Johnny Knox

:(

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=8949586

Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen said Thursday the team isn't considering a new nickname, adding that it's "ludicrous" to suggest that the franchise is trying to upset Native Americans.

"There's nothing that we feel is offensive," Allen said. "And we're proud of our history."

Opposition to "Redskins" has gained momentum following last week's symposium at the Smithsonian that was heavily critical of the use of the word, citing its history as an offensive term. Local columnists and commentators have called for the team to change its name in recent days.

The Redskins have responded with website postings featuring interviews with officials from the 70 high schools they say still called themselves "Redskins."

not everyone is proud of the history of using offensive names for sports teams tbh

the latest response from the franchise is pretty disgusting -> look at who all still uses it! we only hold ourselves to the standards of high school teams really!

disgusting, I hope rg3 finds an escape clause and signs with the eagles.

"at least our mascot isn't as offensive as the Cleveland Indians!"

http://daveartlocker.blogspot.com/2013/02/what-if-all-nfl-logos-were-british.html

'buggery bandits'

disappointed that the pracy horsies horse does not have a monocle

Where would changing the names of NFL teams stop?

Are there no more important issues these days? There are many NFL team names that may offend thin-skinned and hypersensitive people: Do atheists hate the Saints? Do socialists despise the Patriots? Are short people (sorry, “vertically challenged”) offended by the Giants and Titans? Do environmental activists dislike Chargers, Jets and Steelers? And surely animal-rights extremists cannot appreciate the Bears, Bengals, Broncos, Cardinals, Colts, Dolphins, Eagles, Falcons, Jaguars, Lions, Panthers, Rams, Ravens and Seahawks.

Where and when does such ridiculousness stop? If the Redskins name is changed, then so should the Blackhawks, Braves, Chiefs and all the others.

yes the blackhawks/braves/chiefs should, why shouldn't they? is the "patriots" name owned by the tea party now? i don't even know.

thats right Native Americans, we care about your feelings as much as we care about the feelings of our tiny birds

it's such a slippery slope -- next thing you know people will be marrying their box turtles

http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/18484/tribe-supports-native-american-mascots

how is the nfl salary cap set?

brady's extension is like 40% of a-rod's salary. it is comparable to a top salary in the nhl, which has revenues orders or magnitude shy of the nfl's. i guess he accepted a discount, but jeez maybe the cap should be higher?

the formula is here: http://www.askthecommish.com/SalaryCap/faq.aspx

ty. so the cap is in the 75th percentile of baseball team payrolls (the dodgers will be spending close to twice that this year), and not quite twice the nhl's cap (i dunno about the nba).

seems pretty small, all things considered.

so...Alex Smith to Chiefs?

the nba cap this year is $58 million.

http://cdn.ksk.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/bryant-571x600.jpeg

what the fuck

http://now.msn.com/terrance-ganaway-nfl-player-works-at-jimmy-johns-in-off-season

veggrl: http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2013/02/lookin-good-desmond-bryant.html

lol I thought he had swallowed something weird, his neck is wider than his head!!

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/03Q1dIe8QD1Gi/439x.jpg
also romanharper.jpeg

halp I swallowed a shoebox

So it's come to this: David Garrard to the Jets

and brady quinn!

garrard's not a terrible option if he can stay healthy. and if he can't i'd guess they will owe him next to nothing.

yeah, but he can't

plus he hasn't played in a while, this has the makings of Donny McNabb: the Vikings years but worse

well except that he's just gonna be their backup

so he's probably gonna see a lot of action

ATL just cut Dunta Robinson, John Abraham and Michael Turner.

They either have a lot of faith in Jacquizz or they're going after someone in the draft.

they should really draft eddie lacy

Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens have agreed to a six-year, $120.6 million contract that makes the quarterback the highest-paid player in NFL history, a source familiar with the deal told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Flacco will make an average of $168,908 each day of the regular season for the six years.

nice

thats crazy money

so they backed up the money truck after all

oh they had no choice

amazing what a difference a year makes

i dunno how much of that is guaranteed tho

what's the over under on flacco ever even playing another super bowl

Plenty of teams make it to Super Bowls with weak-ass defenses, and even with no Ray Lewis and an older cadre of defensive players, I think there's an okay probability they can get back.

jesus they weren't kidding

Flacco feels respected http://assets.espn.go.com/icons/watch_headlines.png | Goes to McDonald's

For too long, Jay Cutler has had an image problem. I know that’s too nice for some people, but the Chicago Bears starting QB turns the big three-0 next month. Maybe this is the year he matures into the man, and the quarterback we all know he can be.

A 30-year-old quarterback in the NFL is in the second half of his career. With the average age of starting QB’s dropping like the dollar, Cutler needs to grow up fast.

In 2008, Cutler was a member of the Denver Broncos. At 25, he was a rising star with potential and promise. He had just thrown for 4,526 yards, 25 touchdowns, and a 62.3% completion percentage. Then a new head coach came to town, and Cutler’s time in the mile-high city was over.

Sweet-home Chicago gave him a chance for a do-over. The Bears needed a franchise QB and Jay Cutler was their man. But 2009 saw Cutler throw for 900 fewer yards (3,666), and have 8 more interceptions (26). The windy-city was watching Cutler blow his chance.

Here we are in 2013 still talking about what Cutler is doing off the field, and what he isn’t doing on the field. Sadly, the headlines still focus on his antics more than his incredible talent. The Bears know he can be so much more, and they are waiting for their signal caller to call the right play.

Jay Cutler has to audible. It’s the second half of his career, and the clock is ticking by for the chance at reinventing his image and securing his legacy. He can’t keep doing what he’s doing. Cutler can do it—the question is will he?

http://cheekymonkeyart.com/artwork/wcg/HatersGonnaHate-500pxWide.gif

I forgot all about Cutlers antic's

He can’t keep doing what he’s doing.

Getting driven into the turf every other play? No, he probably can't.

http://www.sportsgrid.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Jay-Cutler-dog.jpg

never change jay cutler!

i'm not kidding

classic pic

haha jay cutler has a tiny dog hahah

i feel like this very special week on SI.com gives mixed messages esp in light of 'new information'

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/etienne_saint/ScreenShot2013-03-05at33208PM_zps320a035a.png

DON'T CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARE

forks otn

otm even

/!\attn horseshoe/brownie/!\

http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2013/03/a-movie-about-the-buffalo-bills-will-be-filmed-in-cleveland.html

what!!

Costner will play the general manager of the Buffalo Bills
Costner will play the general manager of the Buffalo Bills
Costner will play the general manager of the Buffalo Bills
Costner will play the general manager of the Buffalo Bills

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/1231/ncf_g_bnixts_200.jpg

amazing

http://deadspin.com/5989287/im-better-at-life-than-you-richard-sherman-craps-all-over-skip-bayless-on-first-take

oh wow that's priceless

like the only time i've ever seen stephen smith show a damn i'm glad i shut the fuck up face

"you wanna trash talk me, which is totally cool..."

maybe i should start a rolling thread for these stories

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/03/07/fight-on-battle-over-redskins-name-heads-to-court/

Redskins general manager Bruce Allen said last month that it is “ludicrous” to think that the team is “trying to upset anybody” with its nickname, which many Native Americans consider to be offensive. Allen said after Thursday’s hearing that he doesn’t know if it’s been proven that the name is offensive and that the team has no plans to change it.

Asked about the Native Americans who find the name offensive, Allen said: “I’m not going to respond to that, because I don’t know if it’s been proven.”

omg this guy

Bruce Allen: What do the boys in the lab say about all this?
Flunkie: No word yet.
Bruce Allen: I guess we'll have to keep the nickname.

Baltimore wants Boldin to take a pay cut. Boldin says nuh uh. He also said he'd be a Raven 4 LYFE, but if I just saw my team give a middle-of-the-pack qb the largest deal in NFL history and then ask me to take a pay cut on my comparatively measley $6M base salary for 2013, I'd walk that claim of devotion back too. I hope they lose him over this.

i imagine the pats would snap him up in a heartbeat

The dude I'm more surprised they aren't making more of a play for is Paul Kruger, who was incredible in their playoff run.

Absolutely.

i think they're smart to gauge his market and see if someone is gonna jump and overpay him

kruger is a good player but not a great talent, good orgs like the ravens can manufacture those types of players

Yeah that makes sense. I guess they have a bigger need at inside linebacker without Lewis, so focusing on Ellerbe makes sense.

I'd like to see them re-sign Bart Scott. One of the few Jets players I love (although I have no idea if he can play anymore).

good orgs like the ravens can manufacture those types of players

see Rolando McClain at Alabama vs. Rolando McClain at Oakland

ugh don't remind me

good orgs like the ravens can manufacture those types of players

On the other hand they also know when to lock guys down, like Ngata, Lewis, Reed, and Suggs.

sure. but kruger is not on that level.

i'm not saying that they shouldn't resign him, just that it makes sense to wait and see if it can happen at a sensible price

I can't think that B-more would let Boldin walk unless they figure this is time to blow it up and build up for 3 years from now. Boldin would be great for a whole lot of teams, as he is a big physical reciever that has no fear of going across the middle. He is like the anti-aligator arm reciever in that aspect. He'd be great on the Bears as a compliment to Marshall, especially since they don't have a good recieving TE.

@JayGlazer The Seahawks and Vikings have agreed to a trade that send Harvin to Seattle for draft picks, pending Harvin passing a physical

why is this happening

Man, if Harvin can stay healthy, the thought of a Russell Wilson to Percy Harvin touchdown machine in Seattle is making me giddy.

so, Seattle's going to be real SB contender next year, correct?

yes niners/seahawks whoever gets home field will go all the way imo.

Harvin's amazing but he's a boutique talent, better placed on a team that already has a well rounded offense without him. He'd burnt his bridges and was never coming back to Minnesota. Not sure why, didn't seem like he was mistreated. Maybe Pete Carroll can be his guru and he'll get his head straight.

Twitter says the Vikings got Seattle's first round pick. If they sign Greg Jennings and find someone good in the draft (Justin Hunter? Keenan Allen?), they can have Jarius Wright play 3rd WR from the slot. That'll be an overall upgrade from last year -- and they won their last 4 even with Harvin on IR. Plus they have another first round pick to use on a LB or DT.

What kind of bridge burning?

Blew up at Leslie Frazier a couple of times, including on the sideline in the game at Seattle where he later hurt his ankle. Frazier's not known to be hard to get along with.

Then he took a long time to get back to practice with an ankle sprain that was initially reported to take 2-3 weeks to heal. The team went on a losing streak after Harvin went out, playing terribly in Chicago and losing at Green Bay in a game they led that would've given them a chance to win the division. Harvin met with reporters at one point to claim he'd be back soon, within a day or two he'd been put on IR and was never seen again. The ankle didn't need surgery, longest possible realistic rehab would've put him back with the team for the season finale where they had to beat the Packers to make the playoffs. Harvin had gone back to Florida, didn't do any interviews, had nothing to say about the team's improbable winning streak or Peterson's shot at breaking the rushing record. Meanwhile the Vikings seemed to rally as a team as soon as Harvin was put on IR, won their next 4 straight and made the playoffs.

So it was obvious for Vikings fans that Harvin was done with the team. Consensus was we'd be lucky to get a second round pick for him, given that there was no way they were going to pay him Calvin Johnson type money, and the alternative was a final year holdout and then free agency without compensation or the franchise tag. Instead they got a first and a seventh and a ? 3rd in 2014.

Vikings GM Rick Spielman is a good poker player. He kept saying they had "no intent" of trading Harvin, evidently let the deal come to him. The timing just before free agency opens suggests they've got a deal in place with a free agent WR (Jennings I hope, I'd rather have a complete receiver with no character concerns who'll block on running plays than Wallace), since otherwise I think they'd wait until draft day to make a deal.

Last year Spielman fleeced the Browns out of extra picks to swap #3 and #4 and draft Trent Richardson, made it seem he might draft anyone so Cleveland had to worry they'd trade with another team instead. Later it became clear they wanted Kalil all the time and would've taken him at #3 if they didn't get extra picks, which Spielman then cashed in to move back into round 1 and draft Harrison Smith, who had a great rookie season.

was always going to be a good market for him but even so 1st and 7th and possible future pick is too much. very interested to see what money they give him.

harvin to s'hawks is a steal considering that outside tate, the receiving corps is pretty lousy with YAC.
they have no make-you-miss-break-your-ankle wrs so percy is definitely needed in the slot or outside especially with the added advantage having played in turf half his career.
who would you rather have: welker (31), poor-man's welker in amendola (27) or harvin (24)?

Anquan Boldin traded to 49ers for a sixth-round pick

damn. cheap.

YEEEEYAH

uhhhh....wow

boldin, crabtree, davis is killer

@AdrianPeterson

The best all around player I ever seen or you'll ever see! Goes to Seattle! I feel like I just got kicked in the stomach. Several times!!!

idk, kicked in the stomach several times is just the usual Monday abs workout for AP.

Anquan Boldin traded to 49ers for a sixth-round pick

― pun lovin criminal (polyphonic), Monday, March 11, 2013 4:18 PM (57 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

fucking harbaughs. what a bullshit sweetheard deal.

sweetHEART

At least he gets to face off against Fitzgerald twice a year.

Looking forward to seeing Baltimore struggle with Smith and....nobody else for their $126M qb to throw to.

well they have a really good tight end

also maybe this means ray rice will touch the ball more than 11 times per game

That's a definite upside.

well on the other hand it looks like they were going to release Boldin anyway so why not get a pick for him at least

tbh have a hunch we just saw boldin's best year in the nfl, but that is a nice pick up anyway

http://www.phillymag.com/eagles/2013/03/11/vick-appearances-cancelled-amid-threats-of-violence/

yeah that's fucked up

“As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals."

Ed Reed to the Niners?

I'm sure the Ravens would argue to the contrary, but what this LOOKS LIKE is that the team is letting go of a lot of their real talent to compensate for wildly overpaying their qb.

i don't think anyone thought ed reed was coming back

Maybe so, but still ;_;

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/12/gonzalez-tells-falcons-hes-returning/

vikings released antoine winfield. super bummed out, what a great dude & still a very good player last year.

i'm afraid tony is only gonna leave when he's badly injured and that's not gonna be good.

Yeah Winfield has been the secret to their run defense not sucking. The game where he almost single handedly beat the Eagles near the end of the season a few years ago, 3 sacks and a FF recovery for TD I think it was, was just the best.

I guess Josh Robinson moves to slot / nickel corner and they draft or sign somewhere to play wide opposite Cook. AJ Jefferson would be OK as a dime back but he'd better not be starting.

Greg Jennings press conference just after 3pm, fingers crossed.

yeah Jennings to the Vikings seems inevitable and real sucky

for who, Packers fans?

yep. even knowing full well that letting him walk is almost certainly the right move!

The Bills have released QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

congratulations, geno smith!

RIP Fitzy

sign Tebow!!!

we'll always have those 5 games in 2011

Two QB offense with Geno Smith and Tim Tebow, with Geno as the passing specialist.

Nnamdi released! Mike Wallace to Miami! Plaxico to Stillers!

Kruger to Browns, with a contract that made me understand why the Ravens didn't pursue him.

RIP nnamdi i'm sure you'll be really good next year on any other team

Report: Nnamdi Asomugha ate in car

yeah i would 100% sign nnamdi on the low if i was a team outside of the northeast corridor

come back, nnamdi

Whoa, Ellerbe to Miami?!

Damn that defense is gonna have a lotta new faces

good luck to miami's slew of free agents - i hope it works out

props to miami for at least attempting to make the afc east interesting

kruger money is o_O

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krugerrand

cleveland loves this kruger deal

yeah signing kruger for that much.....does not seem like a good choice

god it was so fucking obvious, too

the other thing is that they're big money for a guy who isn't a major pass rusher despite the draft being loaded with pass rushers this year. maybe they'll still take a pass rusher with their first pick... it wouldn't be the worst idea. but yeah, not sure about that one.

the dolphins, as always, are insane. i have no idea if dannel ellerbee or phillip weaver are worth the money they got (probably not) but the dolphins did need to get younger on defense, even tho the unit was really solid last year. dansby and kevin burnett were really good last year but they were def guys who could just fall off a cliff for no reason.

dolphins could be interesting next year next year. decent team last year, spending a lot of money right now and still have two extra high picks due to the marshall and vontae davis trades.

man dansby is only 31...i always like him a lot

yeah he's good, kinda limited tho. can't really cover and isn't exceptional as a pass rusher. can tackle tho.

https://twitter.com/AZCardinals/status/311503084796923904

cheap lol

it makes all the vatican news coverage far more interesting if you just run with it

is cardinal kurt warner available to participate in this

cardinal adrian wilson was released before the conclave

any of those cardinals are as good as ryan lindley

It's weird how players are perceived. Ppl act like jennings is old, and he's the same age as larry fitzgerald

wel injury history will do that to you

I know but dudes at work literally didn't believe me until I showed them on wiki that they were the same age

yeah i wouldn't have either

"I'm sure the Ravens would argue to the contrary, but what this LOOKS LIKE is that the team is letting go of a lot of their real talent to compensate for wildly overpaying their qb."

Ravens are at that point where they have to completely reload. I think letting Ed Reed or Boldin go is really just reality, they are great players that are well into their 30s. Ravens are at that point they got to look 3 years from now. I'm kind of surprised Kruger and Ellerbe go, but I think both are getting paid big. It all depends on how they draft and rebuild. I got to figure this is where we really know how good a coach Harbaugh might be. I'd believe it if they rebuild quick.

I'm curious how the Bears signing of Martellus Bennett and Jermon Bushrod will work out. I don't know either player.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/13/report-raiders-having-preliminary-talks-with-vince-young/

even if it's preliminary my first reaction is 'Dont you even LOOK at him, let alone talk.' I swear they're just fucking trolling me now

boom

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/9048556/wes-welker-serious-talks-denver-broncos-sources

ugh manning to welker gtfo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3ZOKDmorj0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRRw1ERj2Gc

If Welker was going to fit with another qb, it would be Manning. Hope this happens.

Also, the Revis to Tampa thing looks more likely every day, but I'd love to Seattle to sneak in and grab him. Sherman on one side, Revis on the other.

reggie bush to lions

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9048053/detroit-lions-agree-deal-ex-miami-dolphins-rb-reggie-bush

quiet in vikingsland today :/

welker to broncos is official. pats fans gotta be PISSED

thomas, decker, and welker is a pretty sweet trio

fuck i am bandwagoning that shit SO HARD

broncos in talks to acquire free agent dome from minnesota. elway says there at least two years left in its career.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/SeattleGreen-Bay-botch-job-cost-Floyd-Mayweather-900000.html

cassel to vikings...interesting....

Steven "Action" Jackson to the Falcons...even more interesting

that Jackson signing sounds really good for both sides

yeah the Falcs are really going all out to get Gonzo that ring

goddamn are they keeping turner too?

would be great to bust him out for like ten runs a game and have him fresh for the playoffs

turner was released already:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9002220/michael-turner-john-abraham-dunta-robinson-released-atlanta-falcons

missed that. so i guess he retires?

man he was probably a top 5 back only a couple years ago...but i guess he's 31 and seems like he's problematic...seems like he ought to find a job

he ought to get into a training camp but i dunno any more than that after his last season
it's a damn shame the way the nfl burns through running backs

i'm amazed the falcons got as much out of him as they did

kolb cut

random sources saying that he may be the Jets starter next year. his intangibles must be through the fuckin' roof

Dumervil released because his fax was slow.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/15/fax-snafu-leads-to-elvis-dumervils-release/

that dumervil thing is so weird!

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9059473/donte-stallworth-hurt-hot-air-balloon-accident

donte stallworth has a weird life

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/16/brian-westbrook-experiencing-memory-loss-at-age-33/

(don't read the comments.. never read the comments)

oy poor westbrook. :(

Bucs looking to trade Blount. Half the league should be in the market for him. He'll probably factor into the trade for Revis and go to the Jets.

he's not very good

there's prob like 8 running backs any team could draft in rounds 5-7 this year that would equal whatever production legarrette blount could put up next year

Aw pshaw. He's a starter imo.

Blount is very limited. Good runner between the tackles but can't catch, not a great blocker ...

yeah he doesn't really have most of what a modern-era rb is supposed to bring

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9075058/nfl-owners-end-tuck-rule-approve-helmet-penalty

Tuck rule, rightfully dead.

I hate this helmet penalty thing, though...and that it passed 31-1.

Oh wait, I just learned (after a week of reading stories about it) that it only applies OUTSIDE the tackle box. In that case, okay.

bears got rid of urlacher wtf

probably the right move

okay i will soon start a running thread for this, honest

http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/289407-lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-void-redskins-trademark

A group of House Democrats on Wednesday introduced a bill that would prevent the term "Redskins" from being trademarked, a move intended to put pressure on the Washington football club to change its name.

del. eleanor holmes norton <3

that's a good strategy

The team has not publicly commented on challenges to the Redskins trademark, but last month began posting articles to the team website that highlighting high schools that also use the moniker.

Is that tactic supposed to convince people that there's no harm in it? I would think that a racist moniker spreading to high schools around the nation after a pro team legitimized it might be yet another argument against the stupid thing.

I know the Democrats will get a ton of shit for this from football, and probably give me even less reason to want to keep following it, but in ten years, nobody but a few nutjobs will even remember.

http://www.thebiglead.com/index.php/2013/03/26/jared-veldheer-looks-like-a-mutated-super-hero/

the Dallas Cowboys and Tony Romo reached an agreement on a blockbuster 6-year extension worth http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story/_/id/9112658/tony-romo-6-year-deal-dallas-cowboys-sources08 million, making him the highest-paid player in franchise history, according to league sources.

seems reasonable

good for, uh, tony romo...

matt flynn to the raiders, apparently

Donovan McNabb ✔ @donovanjmcnabb

Tony Romo 6 yr 55 million dollar extension. Wow really, with one playoff win. You got to be kidding me
8:16 PM - 29 Mar 13

haha donovan is so bitter

lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/SuperMo0/GIF/2mx2vcw.gif

dmc otm

the sun can only smile on one choker at a time

poor dmac

I love that the gif is from a Dallas game too.

lol, donovan has gotta do ESPN behind a desk soon
i hope he talks mad shit about everyone

donovan got it wrong, too -- $55m is just the guaranteed money

I love that the gif is from a Dallas game too.

i was at that game! we won that game!

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs4/1361756_o.gif

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000156054/article/kwame-harris-being-openly-gay-in-nfl-wasnt-compatible

Harris, who played six years as an offensive lineman with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, said he always has known he's gay but kept it a secret. Harris was outed in January after being arrested for an alleged fight with his former boyfriend over "soy sauce and underwear."

or did we already do this? "Soy sauce and underwear"?

Boy sauce in underwear

I'm moving to Dallas, should I become a Cowboys fan y/n

of course not

ffs

I'll probably be unable to, considering how much I hate people from Dallas. but it would spice up ILNFL!

I feel like living in Dallas and not being a Cowboys fan would make me suicidal though

mookie otm
I don't think not being a cowboys fan will have anything to do with your suicidal tendencies.

I feel like it's like living in Canada and not liking hockey

More like living in North Korea and not liking the supreme leader.

just like the mavs

I'm moving to Dallas, should I become a Cowboys fan y/n

where are you coming from; where did you grow up

eh -- i live in nyc and hate the yankees (and was married to a yankee fan); have lived in dc while hating the redskins

hatred is bracing

yeah alright I might as well just switch to the Seahawks or something

I'm kinda done with the Raiders since Al died

If you start rooting for the cowboys you run the real risk of continuing to root for the cowboys when you move somewhere else, which would make you an asshole.

Matt Armstrong if you abandon me (not the Raiders, ME, goddammit) for the Dallas fucking Cowboys I will fight you Magill-style in the street

i don't care where you move. you root for the team you grew up with or gtfo (with some few exceptions)

i mean rooting for the cowboys is bad, but if you're from dallas then fine whatever. consciously *choosing* to root for them is the devil's work

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4z6q9bxuH1qezzk9.gif

the fact that vg came to this hemisphere and wound up with the raiders is pretty lol tho

loony aussie + team about to start a 10 year downward spiral

what could go wrong

the only way I break up with the Raiders is if they move

Cheering for the cowboys would also mean cheering for a team that's got Tony Romo eating up 15% of the cap for the next 5 or so years.

and Jerry Jones is Al with a facelift, Armstrong and YOU KNOW IT

the cowboys are fucking hilarious, being a diletante fan of theirs would probably be a blast

I grew up in San Antonio which is Cowboys country and all that but really it's a basketball town. I never really was a fan of a team until my late teens when I discovered the madness of King Al.

it's not so surprising that the australian would be drawn to the team whose fans dress like mad max extras

:D

haha

what did buffalo do to deserve this

@caplannfl Kolb gets a 2yr, $13 M max deal w/ the Bills, per source.

they'll probably get bridgewater or somethin'

its really odd how much money Kevin Kolb has made in his career

I don't think Kolb could be great, but I think he still has some talent. I think his big problem is staying healthy at this point.

The money is pretty nuts though.

i don't care where you move. you root for the team you grew up with or gtfo (with some few exceptions)

well if you live in a place for over a decade and you can't see many games from the ol' hometown team...

so Flynn to Raiders really did happen

http://www.tshirtrocket.com/images/ribbon/PURPLE-RIBBON.jpg

so Flynn to Raiders really did happen

Followed by Palmer to Arizona, I guess.

Not sure what the Cardinals are doing.

it seems like there's some sort of plan at work?

they're just looking for a stop gap

summarizing peter king: arians wants a QB who can throw the ball downfield, palmer wants to prove that he can still throw the ball downfield

also cards have money to spend and no qb, so why not

ppl in mn who are bitter about ponder are SO READY for a cassell QB controversy lol

calls started coming in to the local sports talk station the day we signed him

Ponder doesn't seem like he's very good.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/raiders-confident-some-dipshit-team-will-be-stupid,31884/

Carson Palmer is still a pretty decent QB, if AZ would have gotten a vet instead of those retreads when Warner retired, I think it could have been a different story.

Nnamdi to the 49ers for 3mil

$1.35 million in base salary.

Dammit! Was hoping the Saints would snag him. SF has enough defensive talent.

don't worry, they're not adding any new defensive talent w/ this move

I don't know, I think if put back into a 3-4 press coverage scheme he could have a solid season. His pro-bowl days are probably over, but I think he can still ball.

How do incentives work with the salary cap? Is there an extra $1.65mil hold on the 9ers cap or does it just apply to next year's cap if he meets the criteria?

i heard on the radio the guaranteeed money was zero! that's crazy

it's just so funny how richard can make even the ultimate hippie anthem feel real ominous and apocalyptic

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2013/04/04/bills-wr-stevie-johnson-suggests-on-twitter-that-north-korea-bomb-foxboro-mass/

lol Stevie

http://cbsphilly.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/stevie-johnson-1.jpg

lol my last post was for the richard thompson thread on ilm

terrell suggs
I may be the only one, but I really want the series "PARTY DOWN" to come back on.

T SUGGS

suggs otm

yeah no joke

T SIZZLES - Variety

first and last time i'll otm suggs

http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/02/08/4610354/rangers-pass-cowboys-as-most-popular.html#storylink=cpy

This is kind of interesting. I'd really love to see Dallas throw in a 3-13 in the mix to see how the Jerrydome turns.

ouch. i kind of still don't believe that the rangers have fans.

Holy Shit!!! I was just browsing through spotrac (a little peeved that the Raiders landed Porter and Jenkins, both guys we were looking at, too) and I saw the complete disaster that is the Raiders cap management.

Over $48mil in dead money???! Oh man, I lived through Ditka trading an entire draft class and more for Ricky Williams and I still don't think I felt as boned by the front office as y'all must. Is it often like this or is this some great purging of Al's legacy?

It's a purge for sure.

McKenzie is getting rid of everyone and replacing them with scrubs. It's going to be lean for a while.

Rolando McClain to the Ravens! hmmm

replacing ray lewis with rolando mcclain is a fantastic troll

boy, that is like every christmas at once for that asshole. seems like any b-list LB can become a star at bmore if they can just put hnest hours in. rooting for him to fail tbh

BUM

http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2013/04/11/lions-sign-left-footed-kicker-havard-rugland-kickalicious/

have we talked about this? i've been saying forever that kicking is really easy and there is no reason to have a shortage of competent kickers in the NFL when half the world loves soccer as much as it does

i don't know if that is tongue in cheek, but it's like saying table tennis players should be good baseball batters. the technique and the intention are so different.

"there is no reason to have a shortage of competent kickers in the NFL when half the world loves soccer as much as it does"

The thing is that the impact from soccer players really already happened back in the 60s/70s. By the 80s pretty much the last traditional style field goal kicker was Mark Moseley.

I think in theory it seems like it should be easy, but in fact it's not that easy at all. That's why you get the good kickers and punters that stick around the NFL for like literally a couple of decades. It is the same with long snappers too, which also seems kinda nuts too.

That said, you just don't see that many make the leap from other forms of 'football' into kicking like the old days. Sav Rocca is about the only one I can think of off the top of my head that didn't play college football and is working as a kicker/punter in the NFL.

rip pat summerall

aw

boy I bet Stevie Johnson feels like shit now

Pat Summerall's voice had kind of a baritone saxophone sound, real low and smoothe.

Rolando McClain, arrested AGAIN.

BUM

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, April 10, 2013 7:25 PM

Revis finally officially to the Bucs in exchange for this year's first and some unclear conditional next year. 6 years. $16m/yr. Zero guaranteed. Not excited about having to face him twice a year now but as long as he's costing them and arm and a leg it doesn't bother me too much.

ny papers going batshit

huh Week 1 Sunday, Sept. 8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Jets, 1

even tho it would make the jets look good, for some reason i am really hoping he bombs

Naw, I like Revis. I like him even more now that he's on a team I don't hate.

new vikings uniforms look great!! :)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIjrfuKCMAEbTGr.jpg:large

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/487917_10200896453912246_621454127_n.jpg

:(

http://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/13739dc6ac3911e2a62a22000aaa09e0_7.jpg

The color transition on the helmet is interesting.

Dolphins logo looks even worse irl

dolphins unis look crappy head to toe tbh.

jax...smh. i realize you can't do anything with that combo of colours but ffs

so sick of black/aqua, black/teal, black/purple combo

yeah jax continues to look like a fictional pro team from a movie

"black and gold, like a jaguar"

"ok, sounds great"

"...and some kind of electric turquoise, yeah!"

"um"

you know they focus grouped the shit out of those colours too. i would've love to have seen that in action.

JAGS badge is a straight Ravens ripoff imo

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zpn17VSWZL8/UThxVCMHvoI/AAAAAAAAC9c/uGT3kKV4vXU/s1600/Baltimore-Ravens-Logo-Centre5.jpg

what's with all the sharp edges on the numbers, jesus it's all so EXTREME and IN YOUR FACE

It's a visual trick to make completely tame players look intimidating.

OH NO CECIL SHORTS IS COMING STRAIGHT AT ME I GIVE UP

"black and gold, like a jaguar"

"ok, sounds great"

"...and some kind of electric turquoise, yeah!"

"um"

"and swords, it needs swords!"

"i guess we could do something with the numbers there..."

stupid dolphins stupid new logo BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

That big center stripe and logo on the Dolphins helmet looks like something out of the USFL like maybe the Boston Breakers.

All white Dolphins is pretty sweet, the new logo looks all clean and modern, I don't mind it.

Vikings numbers are supposed to be sails according to the sports logos thread, idk. Rest of the uniform looks good so far, helmets are matte or satin, maybe the horns are bigger like in the 70s. Way, way better than the Purple Broncos. I'll need a white #28 or whatever number they give Teo.

Jags are just embarrassing to look at. Maybe they can be relegated to the CFL?

the numbers are my biggest beef with the vikings but they improved in a number of areas, including a more simple overall design, revert back to a darker shade of purple, and losing the weird pants stripes that terminated in "horns" and losing the weird side panel on the jerseys and the dumb yellow "collar"

Whoa, this article is wild:

http://deadspin.com/the-chargers-doctor-is-a-drunk-quack-why-havent-they-466685771

http://deadspin.com/the-chargers-doctor-is-a-drunk-quack-why-havent-they-made-the-playoffs-in-four-years-466685771

lol awesome, that totally works

hahah

http://deadspin.com/so-where-can-you-get-your-nfl-draft-spoilers-this-year-my-god-not-us-i-hope-we-will-be-totally-useless-479848313

huh, is this a common exploit that I'm unfamiliar with?

http://deadspin.com/cop-posing-as-hooker-tells-browns-lb-anal-sex-would-be-awesome-479672916

http://deadspin.com/forks-is-a-mean-jerk-466685771

me irl

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/14/Ralph_Wiggum.png/220px-Ralph_Wiggum.png

afaik words on gawker urls have been window dressing for a while, the numbers are what matters

cool, out of my system now.

http://images.nike.com/is/image/DotCom/NIKE_PDP_NFL/NFL-Jacksonville-Jaguars-Maurice-Jones-Drew-Mens-Football-Away-Game-Jersey-599984_101_A.jpg
http://images.nike.com/is/image/DotCom/NIKE_PDP_NFL/NFL-Jacksonville-Jaguars-Maurice-Jones-Drew-Mens-Football-Away-Game-Jersey-599984_101_B.jpg

so fresh and so clean

not crazy about the weird numbers but overall good

otm

welcome to philly lane johnson

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2013/04/jets-quarterback-geno-smith-fires-agents-after-sliding-out-of-the-first-round-of-the-nf

Four days after Geno Smith slid out of the first round of the draft, the former West Virginia quarterback fired his agents due to his displeasure over his draft position, according to sources.

The Daily News has learned that Smith thought that he would and should be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Sources told the News that Smith’s agents from Select Sports Group gave him no assurance of his draft position.

Jets drafted the right player, imo.

oh boy, if he was thinking he was going #1 that adds layers to the draft night pathos. also he is an idiot.

from now on I'm saying his name to the chorus of Boz Scaggs' Lido Shuffle

hahahah what a schmuck

http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2013/04/30/falcons-stadium-designer-proposes-that-new-sports-facility-may-look-likethis?fb_action_ids=10152825975250604&fb_action_types=og.likes

deeply hoping we end up w/ the wtf pantheon design, strongly suspect we'll end up w/ the boring solarium design.

Pantheon is some Beijing olympics shit! I'd love to look out my office window and see that thing every day.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/geno-behavior-raises-eyebrows-article-1.1332544

God Geno Smith is so damn perfect for the Jets

get yr popcorn ready

Pretty good chance that Tim Tebow will finish his career with more playoff wins.

It is nice to see that Geno Smith is already fitting into the NY Jets way of football.

On the flipside to Geno Smith, there is 49ers 4th round pick Quinton Patton.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/49ers-rookie-quinton-patton-shows-early-impresses-coach-181230073.html

If I got picked by the 49ers instead of the Jets, I might take a trip out there on my own dime too.

we have great museums, don't forget that

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BI52DL4CEAAsL-N.jpg

awww mccourty

Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young was arrested twice in a 15-hour span Sunday, according to an Oakland (Mich.) Press report.

Young was pulled over at 12:01 a.m. Sunday in southern California after making an illegal left turn, according to the police report. Young was then arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence, booked by the Moreno Valley Police at the Robert Presley Detention Center, issued a citation and later released.

At 2:22 p.m. that same afternoon, officers responded to a local tow yard after a man was seen climbing over a fence. The man turned out to be Young, who said he was looking for his impounded black Mustang.

Young was then arrested for burglary and booked again at the same detention center.

I didn't realize the Rams had already cut him loose after claiming him from waivers. Dude's a mess.

This guy got signed by the Lions as their second kicker for the preseason. Cool story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDwbjHV8jLo

http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2013/04/30/falcons-stadium-designer-proposes-that-new-sports-facility-may-look-likethis?fb_action_ids=10152825975250604&fb_action_types=og.likes

deeply hoping we end up w/ the wtf pantheon design, strongly suspect we'll end up w/ the boring solarium design.

― balls, Tuesday, April 30, 2013 7:56 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark

that looks like a "fresh loaf" alright.

titus young with a trifecta!

it is about the saddest fucking thing when a young dude with the enormous opportunity of an nfl career doesn't have someone around him to save him from his own stupidity

yeah titus seems to be a brutally troubled soul

Titus Young is seeming more and more like undiagnosed mental illness than ”stupidity”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/14/james-harrison-says-hes-known-as-a-massage-whore/

great URL

Well I guess James Harrison is probably going to end up broke after he retires.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/15/david-garrard-my-knee-isnt-holding-up/

Garrard probably hobbling into retirement. :(

In other retirement news, Rolando McClain is dunzo at age 23.

ya I heard he's 'retiring' loooooool

YER OUTTA HEAH YA BUM

i had an awesome "gift horse in the mouth" joke ready but apparently the colts don't play in baltimore anymore? anyhow, what a tool. another top 10 raiders draft pick out of the league within 3 years.

Urlacher going to either the Broncos or the Vikings?

Intrique...

Of course, I think every free agent of note seems to be close to signing with the Broncos.

Vikings keep saying no to this rumor, I think, which means there's like an 86% chance he ends up there.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/16/arrest-warrant-issued-for-chad-johnson/

:(

cmon mayne

this isn't gonna end well is it

Kluwe is a Raider

:D

"Donte’ Stallworth cleared to return to football after hot-air balloon accident"
http://tracking.si.com/2013/05/17/ex-pats-donte-stallworth-cleared-to-return-to-football/

things just seem to happen to donte

waiting for "attacked by pelicans in own home"

THANK GOD

not that this would necessarily stop the Vikings bu it's a step in the right direction

good for him, hope he's retiring before too much damage was done.

Raiders signed Charles Woodson for his farewell tour.

Urlacher has "retired".

o i c that's what DJP had linked to.

Oh dammit, Crabtree TORN ACHILLES

RIP 9ers

aw, just when i was starting to not loathe him any more

i hope that bill magill returns in time for football season. that has to be soon right?

once he's done taping his knuckles

truly one of the great ILX mysteries of our time... canks? you really not gonna kiss and tell here?

@CorkOnTheNFL
D.J. Hayden is at a local hospital, coach Dennis Allen said, undergoing tests. No word on when he is going to be released.

Another awesome Raiders pick?

great nugget from Barnwell: "in terms of their respective cap holds, Mark Sanchez will make more money per game than [Russell] Wilson will make all season"

i hope he had the foresight to make that contract due even if he's dead
otherwise i imagine a J-E-T-S drone circling Sanchez's summer home

Pro Football Weekly going out of business

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9315572/adrian-peterson-minnesota-vikings-says-gay-marriage

"To each his own, [but] I'm not with it," he said. "I have relatives who are gay. I'm not biased towards them. I still treat them the same. I love 'em. But again, I'm not with that. That's not something I believe in. But to each his own," he said.

If he's got religious convictions or whatever, that's cool. He doesn't seem to be saying it should be outlawed or that he'd go out of his way to stop it from happening. I'd venture to guess that most people who are "against" it share his sentiments. It's just the loudmouth fringe who's freaking out.

to each his own, just don't ask for equal rights

Deacon Jones, RIP
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-0604-deacon-jones-20130604,0,2236197.story

;_;

idk a d lineman living to 74 seems like something to celebrate

I'm gonna miss hearing from him every time a QB goes into the HOF

gonna youtube some of his old clips, love watching that dude make sacks

lol Jamarcus Russell will work out for the Bears this Friday.

iggles + pats having joint practice on aug 6th + 7th. apparently belichick's idea.

chip can i ah...can i take a looksee at your notebook there

i just turned on the tv and the heaven can wait remake is playing, with deacon jones in it, wonder if coincidence

rip

Deacon Jones was one of the NFL's greatest interviews. I loved listening to that guy talk about football.

sometimes i actually hate the NFL tbh

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9375313/roger-goodell-defends-washington-redskins-name

“We’ll never change the name,” Snyder said. “It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps.”

Redskins were also the longest holdouts on racial integration in pro football and refused to hire black players until the federal gov't threatened to deny them use of RFK stadium. Turns out Snyder's just following in a franchise tradition of racism.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Kraft-says-Putin-stole-2005-Super-Bowl-ring.html

this is amazing!

damn that's gangsta

meanwhile in cleveland

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9424219/ausar-walcott-cleveland-browns-rookie-arrested-tuesday-charged-attempted-murder

@VicTafur
Just like Mike Vick didn’t, sounds like Aaron Hernandez didn’t learn his lesson from Ray Lewis: make your deal w/ police before your pals do

who in the NFL teaches the lesson not to execute your friends

Um, yeah, doesn't that presume Hernandez's friend(s) killed that man? xpost

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M0bF9CFUVM

Redskins' Indian-Chief Defender: Not A Chief, Probably Not Indian

Dodson added that all the Indians he knows are fine with "redskins" even in a non-football context.

"It's actually a term of endearment that we would refer to each other as," Dodson said. "When we were on the reservation, we'd call each other, 'Hey, what's up, redskin?' We'd nickname it and call each other 'Skins.' We respected each other with that term. … It's not degrading in one bit."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV_KM8zYFsk

http://i.imgur.com/fJeoSLsh.png

anybody not on that list?

Go Vikings!

http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/sanchez.gif

our generation's JFK moment

future generations will never believe that butt fumble and tebow helmet pass were achieved by the same qb in the same season

i remember watching that jets/pats game with something approaching near awe
i was at a party where it wasn't okay to stop the party but i kinda tried to stop the party anyway

I will never find that not funny.

masterpiece

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aFQk-TJYuY

serial killer

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9446754/mass-police-investigate-aaron-hernandez-possible-role-2007-gainesville-shooting-according-sources

#neverforget florida threw cam newton off the team for buying a stolen laptop

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-football/22636059/look-brandon-weedens-july-4th-outfit-is-better-than-yours

wow.

lool

pretty sure this is how brownie looks irl, tbh

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dispatch/obituary.aspx?n=scott-e-entsminger&pid=165695591#fbLoggedOut

Entsminger Scott E. Entsminger, 55, of Mansfield, died Thursday, July 4, 2013 at his residence. Born January 8, 1958 in Columbus, Ohio, he was the son of William and Martha (Kirkendall) Entsminger. He retired from General Motors after 32 years of service. He was an accomplished musician, loved playing the guitar and was a member of the Old Fogies Band. A lifelong Cleveland Browns fan and season ticket holder, he also wrote a song each year and sent it to the Cleveland Browns as well as offering other advice on how to run the team. He respectfully requests six Cleveland Browns pall bearers so the Browns can let him down one last time. Scott was a fun loving, kind and caring man who enjoyed gardening and fishing but his greatest enjoyment was spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Pat Entsminger; a son, Aaron Entsminger of Columbus; a brother, Bill (Kathy) Entsminger of Grove City, Ohio; a sister, Lois Courtright of Galloway, Ohio; a sister-in-law, Carol Ferrall of Georgia; four nieces, Kristi Nunamaker, Allison Courtright, Emily Ferrall and Ashley Ferrall; a nephew, Benny Entsminger; his three dogs, Blackey, Shadow and Jezebel; his step mother, Lil Entsminger; a special aunt, Ginny Entsminger; and several cousins and other dear relatives. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother-in-law Harry Courtright. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at the Life Celebration Reception Center, 129 South Main Street, Mansfield, Ohio 44902. Friends may call one hour prior to the service, from 1-2 p.m., on Tuesday. The family also encourages everyone to wear their Cleveland Browns clothing to the service in honor of Scott. The family suggests that something be planted in his memory. Online guest registry at www.wappner.com

lol

It's still July, but it's beginning to head into training camp big time and start practicing for the new season.

B-more and Denver for a rematch at Mile High definitely is a good game to start the season off. The Thursday night kick off game has been an idea they did that was pretty good. I'm glad the game ties is a previous season playoff re-match. Some of the games didn't have this context (Cowboy's I'm lookin' at you, you don't have anything to talk about the playoffs since like '95).

NFL WEEK ONE-

THU, SEP 5 TIME (ET) TV TICKETS LOCATION
Baltimore at Denver 8:30 PM NBC 1,579 available from $222 Sports Authority Field at Mile High

SUN, SEP 8 TIME (ET) TV TICKETS LOCATION
New England at Buffalo 1:00 PM CBS 7,770 available from $68 Ralph Wilson Stadium
Cincinnati at Chicago 1:00 PM CBS 2,162 available from $89 Soldier Field
Miami at Cleveland 1:00 PM CBS 4,048 available from $48 FirstEnergy Stadium
Atlanta at New Orleans 1:00 PM FOX 2,732 available from $160 Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Tampa Bay at NY Jets 1:00 PM FOX 8,214 available from $35 MetLife Stadium
Tennessee at Pittsburgh 1:00 PM CBS 2,111 available from $59 Heinz Field
Minnesota at Detroit 1:00 PM FOX 11,771 available from $41 Ford Field
Oakland at Indianapolis 1:00 PM CBS 4,232 available from $33 Lucas Oil Stadium
Seattle at Carolina 1:00 PM FOX 4,404 available from $47 Bank of America Stadium
Kansas City at Jacksonville 1:00 PM CBS 2,956 available from $48 EverBank Field
Arizona at St. Louis 4:25 PM FOX 7,582 available from $20 Edward Jones Dome
Green Bay at San Francisco 4:25 PM FOX 10,127 available from $113 Candlestick Park
NY Giants at Dallas 8:30 PM NBC 14,251 available from $41 Cowboys Stadium
MON, SEP 9 TIME (ET) TV TICKETS LOCATION
Philadelphia at Washington 7:00 PM 6,380 available from $37 FedEx Field
Houston at San Diego 10:15 PM 7,727 available from $57 Qualcomm Stadium

Pretty pumped about that opening saints/falcons game.

how are fedex field tickets only $37 when you have the chance to watch rg3???

goddamn we pay almost that much just for fucking parking

maybe i should go -- cheap tickets, it's only 2 hours away, late game on sunday...

how are fedex field tickets only $37 when you have the chance to watch rg3???

― Mordy , Tuesday, July 16, 2013 12:21 AM (8 hours ago) Bookmark

i'm sure that's 100% accurate

acc to stubhub apparently the really cheap tickets are just tailgate no-admission

You're pretty much not going to sit anywhere inside a stadium for less than $60-80 a pop, and that's in the nosebleeds on the visiting side with an awkward angled view at the field.

i've said this before but i can't think of one good reason to go to an nfl game in 2013

those mid-January games at Lambeau are really fun if you have the fortitude for it. its weird though how much a game in person seems more like a high school homecoming match than what you see on TV. basketball is so much more fun to see live.

otm, only been to one NFL game ever and dont see the need to do again.

RGIII may not start @ season opener, who knows

i kind of want to go, but i also don't really want to give any money to the team until they change their name

hmmm on the other hand the 12/22 pats at ravens game.. that should be something. super expensive but..

going to pats games was a total blast, i wish i still had my ticket hookup

yeah i wouldn't do it more than once/season but it was sweet

well the big difference is that teams like that Pats or Packers are almost always in the playoffs so those games are meaningful. just being in crowds like that is fun.

I've only been to games in Qualcomm and the Oakland Coliseum, and those are both horrible venues due to being baseball/football hybrids (although I haven't been to Qualcomm since the Padres moved out). I'd like to go to a game in a dedicated football stadium sometime. But tv timeouts make live football such a boring and miserable experience. So much standing around doing nothing.

i've really enjoyed the games i've seen at the linc (and the boss concert i saw there too)

I don't like Oakland Coliseum, but I like the seats we're able to get while we can afford to get them...and I like the group of friends we tailgate with almost every week. And I like watching dudes smash into each other. Is why I continually go to the Raiders shitshow year in, year out for 10 years

Live games are great if you're not paying for the tickets or driving.

getting in free and being the one that gets to get drunk is pretty much the best way to experience everything

Truthbomb etc

i've said this before but i can't think of one good reason to go to the pitchfork fest in 2013

did you say it on the wrong thread before?

haha

pitchfork fest = patritos training camp

haw

ade: not a killer

Ron Jaworski's top QB list for this past season.

1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Peyton Manning
3. Tom Brady
4. Joe Flacco
5. Matt Ryan
6. Drew Brees
7. Ben Roethlisberger
8. Eli Manning
9. Matt Schaub
10. Andrew Luck

No. 32 Matt Flynn No. 31 Jake Locker No. 30 Kevin Kolb No. 29 Chad Henne
No. 28 Mark Sanchez No. 27 Christian Ponder No. 26 Brandon Weeden No. 25 Michael Vick
No. 24 Ryan Tannehill No. 23 Carson Palmer No. 22 Sam Bradford No. 21 Josh Freeman
No. 20 Alex Smith No. 19 Andy Dalton No. 18 Cam Newton No. 17 Philip Rivers
No. 16 Matthew Stafford No. 15 Tony Romo No. 14 Jay Cutler No. 13 Robert Griffin III
No. 12 Russell Wilson No. 11 Colin Kaepernick

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9498600/bill-barnwell-ranks-top-assets-nfl

love simmons' dissents, it's like a supreme court decision

some of that list is very wacky but the NFL is so year-to-year that i guess it couldn't really be any other way

yeah i don't really "get" NFL contracts/draft like i do the NBA tbh

no one from philly in the top 50. is shady's contract bad?

weird dynamic on this thing. barnwell does his nose to the stats nfl moneyball thing and seems to not take a second to step back and evaluate his conclusions, and instead of being a "common sense" voice to temper that, simmons just throws the whole fucking thing out and undermines barnwell with his typical gut feeling bullshit. it's like simmons wants a particular product (forward thinking sports analysis) and wants a particular audience (sports movie and Wings reference dbags like all his buddies i guess) and he is desperately trying to tie the product to the (wrong) audience.

also, i think barnwell is thinking in terms of if GMs made good decisions, and simmons is thinking in terms of what your average crappy GM would do. in particular simmons doesn't want to hear about running backs not having prime value.

it's sort of weird to have your editor undermining your work... i'm not sure it quite came off as simmons thinks/hopes it does

it should be formatted as a back-and-forth debate. but really the trade value column doesn't work for nfl.

Doug Martin not even making the top 50 is completely WTF.

also, i think barnwell is thinking in terms of if GMs made good decisions, and simmons is thinking in terms of what your average crappy GM would do. in particular simmons doesn't want to hear about running backs not having prime value.

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, July 24, 2013 4:09 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Simmons is a semi-casual NFL writer. He's semi-casual at best for anything that isn't basketball.

with that said, Russell Wilson number 2?!?!?

russell's production + contract is seen as historically unique, i believe

we'll see how he plays next season

Swope released a statement Thursday night through his representation, Rep1 Sports:

"As a result of a concussion I suffered during OTAs, I was advised by doctors that there were serious risks in returning to play football at this point. It has been a lifelong dream to play in the NFL but my long-term health interests outweigh my current goals for football. Because of that, I am electing to retire from the game for now and then reassess my future after this season. In the meantime, I plan to return to Texas A&M to pursue my degree."

that must be pretty devastating, retired without officially earning anything & a future spent anxiously waiting on neurologists' reports

do college players have any way to limit their exposure to injuries? or could he have left college & got drafted sooner to at least get one contract before the concussion liability caught up with him

<i>do college players have any way to limit their exposure to injuries? or could he have left college & got drafted sooner </i>

i believe you have to be out of high school for 3 years to be eligible...so *technically* you don't have to play college football for 3 years but in generally that's the best route to the NFL...i guess there are the rare players that come from the CFL or arena leagues etc

there are a few guys every year that come out as redshirt sophomores

but to the larger point, if you are in a major program and you want to keep your scholarship and make the NFL someday you are going to play football and probably play through injury as much as you possibly can if that's what the coach wants

but i can't even talk about the NCAA it should be burned to the fucking ground. god bless reggie bush and every single player that squeezed one dime out of some rich booster.

yeah, it's not just football either. there's no incentive -- aside from a moral one -- for college coaches in any sport to preserve their players. baseball coaches routinely ruin pitchers who could've been major leaguers . i'm sure college hockey has a major concussion problem that hasn't really been addressed yet. in football it's acute because of the nature of the game, but yeah.

even in the majors - I remember Ben Sheets pitching through pain and injury through 2008 until something just snapped, and his career's been in major flux ever since

does the return of bill magill from the apparent dead count as offseason news?

absolutely. integral part of the ilnfl franchise.

so relieved. football season would be a wasteland without bill magill

Thanks.

I am so happy training camp is starting and the season is right around the corner.

ugh Swope was such a great player, shame to hear about that

http://espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp13/story/_/id/9514036/jeremy-maclin-philadelphia-eagles-suffers-knee-injury

ugh

pitta out for the year :(

that's a pitta

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsDwynKAFPo

i guess this means next year he won't be on that nfl top 100 players list instead of jimmy graham

Aaron Hernandez did 9/11

Adrian Peterson has his sights on Emmitt Smith's NFL career rushing record and said he expects to break the mark in 2017, even circling a date on the NFL calendar as to when he'll accomplish the feat.

Peterson, 28, finished just yards shy of Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record (2,105) last season, when he rushed for 2,097 yards. Peterson has said his goal is to reach 2,500 yards in 2013.

Meanwhile, Peterson is laughing off gripes by players about the rule making it mandatory to wear knee and thigh pads this season. Peterson wore the pads last season and shrugs off claims that the pads will slow players down during games.

"I'll call B.S. on that," Peterson told FoxSports.com, which reported that he gave his answer once he finished laughing at the suggestion.

http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=9521609

This Adrian Peterson story I thought was pretty funny. He's not bitter...got to like the passive aggressive tone.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-adrian-peterson-matt-leinart-20130730,0,1247477.story?track=rss#axzz2aZ7yjm7l

http://www.trbimg.com/img-51f7ef85/turbine/la-sp-sn-adrian-peterson-matt-leinart-20130730-001/600
A+ AP

percy harvin having hip surgery, out 3-4 months

percy bein' percy

Riley Cooper seems nice.

Percy Harvin got to be about washed up, that guy has had some injuries and weird one's at that with the whole Migraine thing.

Harvin's made out of glass or something. Terrible offseason for ex-gators.

and the people they murdered

REAL LYFE FANTASY DRAFT AYOOOOO

The NFL is overhauling the Pro Bowl, eliminating the AFC-NFC format in favor of captains picking 43 players per team regardless of conference.

In addition, kickoffs will be eliminated from the game as a safety measure, one of several changes to the game. A coin toss will determine which squad gets the game's opening possession. The ball will be placed at the 25-yard line at the start of the game and after scoring plays. Since there will be no kickoffs, the kick-return specialist Pro Bowl roster spot will be replaced with an additional defensive back spot.

The loss of a kick returner Pro Bowl spot angered Oakland Raiders returner Josh Cribbs, who said in a link from his twitter page that the game was now "tainted." He followed that up with another tweet.

Voting for the game also will be changed, as conference affiliation no longer will be considered in determining the All-Star selections. The two leading vote-getters will be named captains and will be assisted by Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders and two NFL.com fantasy football champions in picking the two teams.

Among other changes:

• A two-minute warning will be added to the first and third quarters in addition to the traditional rule in the second and fourth quarters. Possession also will change hands after each quarter.

• Defenses will be allowed to play Cover 2 and press coverage. In the past, only man coverage had been allowed, except for goal-line situations.

• Changes will be made to the game clock during the two-minute warning, with the clock stopping if the offense doesn't gain at least 1 yard, in order to encourage offenses to try to gain yardage at the end of each quarter.

• In addition, the clock will start after an incomplete pass on the signal of the game referee except during the two-minute warnings and the final five minutes of the game.

• The game will use a 35-second/25-second play clock instead of the traditional 40-second/25-second clock.

• Also, the game clock will not stop on sacks of the quarterback, outside of the game's final two minutes.

The changes were proposed by NFL Players Association president Domonique Foxworth and were jointly announced Wednesday by the NFL and the union.

"As players, we wanted to keep the Pro Bowl to honor excellence in individual performance and connect with the fans in a different environment," Foxworth said in a statement. "To do that, I worked with a group of players to map out new ideas."

Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league was "very receptive to the ideas that Domonique and the players put forth."

"From there, our office worked closely with him in developing the concept. The players made it clear that they wanted to continue the Pro Bowl and were committed to making it better than ever. We think these changes will enhance the game for both fans and players," he said in the statement.

The Pro Bowl draft will be held Jan. 22 next year, and the game will be played Jan. 26 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.

draft idea - awesome

everything else - lame

The two leading vote-getters will be named captains and will be assisted by Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders and two NFL.com fantasy football champions in picking the two teams.

super lame!

The Kansas City Chiefs paid a steep price to acquire Alex Smith this offseason but according to offensive coordinator Doug Pederson, Kansas City got a steal as he considers the quarterback the best in the NFL.

"Ultimately, every team has to have a quarterback," Pederson told The Kansas City Star. "I think we have the best in the league."

really enjoying the complete disconnect between clause 1 and clause 2

not alex smith's grandma thinks he is the best qb in the league. 'knowing when to stfu' should be the first class of coaching school.

What they need to do is put up some $$$ and make playing and WINNING the Probowl worth it to the guys playing.

The other thing they could do is some crazy High School scramble thing where you get 4 teams, team 1/3 play a half, then teams 2/4 play a half, then the winner of the two halfs play a half to win the thing.

THAT could be pretty damn boss.

They should do some of that kind of crazy stuff for preseason, but they won't.

I'd also think since they got the NFL network, they should also allow teams to bring back more scout team stuff and let clubs develop players or get players work in an indoor-football league for off season.

Then you have clubs be aligned in the same way you have in AAA baseball but this time the league is in a dead time for football and if talent develops they go play on the big team in the fall. Basically dovetail the league to get done 2 weeks before training camp.

This would get live TV product for the NFL network and I think the merchandising might pay for everything. It's a whole other club of shirts, hats and stuff to sell to fans.

As much as people love to listen, read and watch stuff about football when there is no football, I think a summer league like that gives people something to talk about. If they get lucky and a star or two comes out, that would be novel too.

that sounds like the foundation of a winning idea imo

problem with the probowl is that no one wants to get hurt so no one plays defense.
Why not turn the whole thing into a skills challenge for bragging rights and each team sends one player for each challenge to do races and bench press maxes and throwing precision derbies and that kinda shit. at least then people would have something to bet on.