NFL Season 2010

[Lancer]

I was listening to the Steelers radio show this morning and most of the fans not that upset. Most of the complaints were they should have looked for Miller and Ward more than just relying on Wallace. I don't think Miller had any attempts his way last night. Ward is a money player and I would have definitely tried to find him during that last drive.

[ScoopBrady]

They threw to Miller early a couple of times and he dropped balls he should have caught. I don't know if that's why they went away from him or if the Packers made an adjustment. I was surprised to see Miller disappear as well. The Packers are a hell of a team but as a Bears fan it pains me to see them win it. Still, for the most part the Packers fans are classy (except for the one sitting a few rows behind me at the NFC Championship game) and deserve a championship. It gives me hope for the Bears that they played them the best out of everybody over the past several weeks of the season and the postseason.

[Lancer]

Speaking of the Bears, one caller on sports radio made a good point of how Jay Cutler should take notes from Woodson on how to act once they are out for the game.

Woodson while out, was still involved in the game. He seemed attentive on the sidelines, cheering, supporting his fellow players, and going over and giving advice and votes of confidence to guys coming and going off the field. In contrast, Jay Cutler was..............well I won't rehash that whole debate.

Few other things that surprised me about the telecast. I had to check if it was 2010 or 2001 with the Emenin(sp??) commercials and the next Vin Diesel Fast and Furious movie coming out.

Is Emenin still a big star these days? I haven't followed popular culture in about the last 5-6 years. That whole 'I'm a white guy thinking I'm black' thing is so 90s...Vanilla Ice Ice baby.... hehe.

And someone tell Vin Diesel that we now have 'The Rock'. We don't need 2 of the same guy.

[Brando70]

I know this isn't football related, but the one commercial I loved was the VW Beetle where they did the parody of car commercials with bugs. Very creative, and I liked how the final shot morphed into the outline of the car. Textbook example of how you make a creative commercial that still relates to the product.

[ScoopBrady]

Speaking of the Bears, one caller on sports radio made a good point of how Jay Cutler should take notes from Woodson on how to act once they are out for the game.

Woodson while out, was still involved in the game. He seemed attentive on the sidelines, cheering, supporting his fellow players, and going over and giving advice and votes of confidence to guys coming and going off the field. In contrast, Jay Cutler was..............well I won't rehash that whole debate.

Jay Cutler is also a Type 1 diabetic who had a cortosone shot during halftime. Cortosone shots mess with diabetics blood sugar levels. We really have no idea how Cutler was feeling on the sideline. His teammates, especially Hanie, said he was very helpful on the sideline. Fox's coverage of the whole situation sucked as they showed you want they wanted to show you and what they wanted the story to be. Notice how they went out of their way to show just how badly Woodson's shoulder hurt when he celebrated a Packer play? The Bears are also to blame for the situation as they were their usual tight-lipped selves. As a lifelong Bears fan I have no problem with the way Cutler handled the situation.

[lexbur]

I thought it was odd to see John Madden texting (when they showed him in the suite next to Bush).

Mr. Clumps of Mud on the Facemask, Ripping Turkey Legs Right From the Carcass, typing on that tiny little keyboard... just didn't seem right... he must be getting soft in his old age.

[vader29]

With most of the offense locked in long term and relatively young (Wallace, Brown, and Sanders should only get better) the Steelers should be able to stay competitive for the next few years if they can draft some decent young DBs. They need a real steal like the Patriots got last year in the draft.

I would like to see them draft Pounceys brother in the first round if he is still available, supposedly he is projected as a second round pick or possible late first rounder. Then draft cornerbacks the rest of the way and hope that one or two of them pan out.

I thought it was odd to see John Madden texting (when they showed him in the suite next to Bush).
Mr. Clumps of Mud on the Facemask, Ripping Turkey Legs Right From the Carcass, typing on that tiny little keyboard... just didn't seem right... he must be getting soft in his old age.

He was probably just checking out the pics from Favre that he had saved.

[fletcher21]

How were the ratings for this Super Bowl? I watched the game, but I just couldn't get into it. I am sure the league was a bit bummed with the matchup. Patriots vs Cowboys would have been the "dream" matchup I'd imagine. I have nothing against Green Bay, but watching their games is just boring to me. The whole Nfc North division is boring football to me.

[vader29]

How were the ratings for this Super Bowl? I watched the game, but I just couldn't get into it. I am sure the league was a bit bummed with the matchup. Patriots vs Cowboys would have been the "dream" matchup I'd imagine. I have nothing against Green Bay, but watching their games is just boring to me. The whole Nfc North division is boring football to me.

Super Bowl sets American TV record with 111 million viewers:
http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story/0900 ... on-viewers

[greggsand]

I have nothing against Green Bay, but watching their games is just boring to me. The whole Nfc North division is boring football to me.

Yeah, all that passing & scoring is a snooze-fest. Seriously, Rodgers is a blast to watch. Not sure what you're looking for.

[Jackdog]

How were the ratings for this Super Bowl? I watched the game, but I just couldn't get into it. I am sure the league was a bit bummed with the matchup. Patriots vs Cowboys would have been the "dream" matchup I'd imagine. I have nothing against Green Bay, but watching their games is just boring to me. The whole Nfc North division is boring football to me.

[warnerwlf98]

Speaking of the Bears, one caller on sports radio made a good point of how Jay Cutler should take notes from Woodson on how to act once they are out for the game.

Woodson while out, was still involved in the game. He seemed attentive on the sidelines, cheering, supporting his fellow players, and going over and giving advice and votes of confidence to guys coming and going off the field. In contrast, Jay Cutler was..............well I won't rehash that whole debate.

Jay Cutler is also a Type 1 diabetic who had a cortosone shot during halftime. Cortosone shots mess with diabetics blood sugar levels. We really have no idea how Cutler was feeling on the sideline. His teammates, especially Hanie, said he was very helpful on the sideline. Fox's coverage of the whole situation sucked as they showed you want they wanted to show you and what they wanted the story to be. Notice how they went out of their way to show just how badly Woodson's shoulder hurt when he celebrated a Packer play? The Bears are also to blame for the situation as they were their usual tight-lipped selves. As a lifelong Bears fan I have no problem with the way Cutler handled the situation.

Yeah. I forgot about his being a diabetic in that whole mess. I'm a diabetic, and I know that you can feel really messed up if your blood sugar isn't where its supposed to be. If my blood sugar is too high, I feel lethargic, nauseous, and like my eyeballs are going to pop out. Too low, and I get shaky, can't think, and recently I've discovered that I get instantly depressed (which goes away after eating something). And you can feel either set of symptoms if your blood sugar is different from what it should be at a particular time of the day, even if your blood sugar is at a normal level.

It must be extremely rough being a pro athlete as a diabetic, even though there have been many in pro sports. If I were out there on the field, I'd be eating nonstop so I wouldn't be worried about passing out and dying.

[wco81]

Looks like the league and the NFLPA are gearing up for a PR battle, as the deadline approaches.

There have been jokes about fans having to choose sides between millionaire players and billionaire owners.

There are dueling polls about whether fans support an 18-game season, supposedly one of the key bargaining items.

The PA has claimed the owners want $1 billion off the top back from the players' share of revenues, without offering much in return. Owners also want 18 games but are offering only 2 more roster spots to deal with the expected increase in injuries.

Owners claims they need a bigger share of the revenues to do special things like billion dollar stadia. Of course, they raise prices like crazy to finance those new stadia so it's not like the current CBA, which is supposedly imposing economic hardship on them, has prevented them from building these stadia. Or making crazy money despite the recession -- there's talk about contraction in the NBA and MLB had lower ratings this past year.

TV networks will still pay the owners a lot of money, even if they lock out and part or all of the season is canceled, so owners may be able to squeeze the players.

[Brando70]

I'm with the players on most of those counts. Anyone who ever agrees to "work more for less" is a fool, especially when engaged in something as dangerous as pro football.

I am very much against the 18-game schedule. 18 games are just going to mean more injuries, especially during the playoffs. They've talked about expanding roster sizes to accommodate, but that's just going to dilute the talent pool even further and hurt the game. There has been some talk of capping playing time to accommodate that, but what fan wants to see the stars handled like cell phone minutes?

[matthewk]

How were the ratings for this Super Bowl? I watched the game, but I just couldn't get into it. I am sure the league was a bit bummed with the matchup. Patriots vs Cowboys would have been the "dream" matchup I'd imagine. I have nothing against Green Bay, but watching their games is just boring to me. The whole Nfc North division is boring football to me.

Ummm, what? This was the dream matchup for the NFL. What's exciting about the Cowboys nowadays, other than the cheerleaders?

BTW (as has already been mentioned) this game was the most watched television program.....EVER!!

[Brando70]

How were the ratings for this Super Bowl? I watched the game, but I just couldn't get into it. I am sure the league was a bit bummed with the matchup. Patriots vs Cowboys would have been the "dream" matchup I'd imagine. I have nothing against Green Bay, but watching their games is just boring to me. The whole Nfc North division is boring football to me.

Ummm, what? This was the dream matchup for the NFL. What's exciting about the Cowboys nowadays, other than the cheerleaders?

BTW (as has already been mentioned) this game was the most watched television program.....EVER!!

Ha, no s***. It took a little while to get going, but the second half in particular was very entertaining. Aside from the drops, I also think it was a well-played Super Bowl.

[matthewk]

Looking back at the SB, I'm glad the refs were not a factor. So far I haven't seen anyone blaming the officiating for ruining the game. The only call I disagreed with was the one where Crabtree pulled the Steeler down and they called it a facemask. Happy to see that the game wasn't stolen like it was from the Seahawks back in '05

Funny that Eminem (well, the claymation version) made a point in the Brisk commercial to say how he never does commericals, only to show up again in a Chysler one a hour later.

I can't believe that the NFL will be dumb enough to get to the point where there is a lockout. Everyone is making way too much money to let that happen.

5 years ago I would have been in favor of 18 games, but now I don't like the idea. These guys get way too beat up already. I would liek them to drop a preseason game of two, but don't replace it with more regular season games. I also hope they don't expand the playoffs at all. 12 teams is enough. If they want more games, maybe they should have a loser bracket, where the bottom 4 or 8 teams compete for draft positions.

[ScoopBrady]

I'm torn on the 18 game schedule and it it solely because I'm a season ticket holder. I pay full price for 2 preseason games each year. I think it is total bullshit. They jack up the prices of the playoff tickets so why can't they lower the prices of the preseason games? Ideally, for me, I would like to see the preseason go down to 2 games instead of 4 and keep the season 16 games. I know that would never happen because each team would be losing a lot of money by losing out on 2 preseason games.

I really want to see a rookie salary cap. I think all rookies should get a standard 3-year contract worth a certain amount of money based upon position played and where they were taken. The first 2 years would be locked in and the 3rd year can be used as a time to rework and extend the contract as seen fit. I would rather the money be given to veterans who have proven themselves rather than rookies who have not.

Outside of those two issues just play football fellas. I don't side with either side because neither side comes up smelling roses.

[Rodster]

I'm torn on the 18 game schedule and it it solely because I'm a season ticket holder. I pay full price for 2 preseason games each year. I think it is total bullshit. They jack up the prices of the playoff tickets so why can't they lower the prices of the preseason games? Ideally, for me, I would like to see the preseason go down to 2 games instead of 4 and keep the season 16 games. I know that would never happen because each team would be losing a lot of money by losing out on 2 preseason games.

I really want to see a rookie salary cap. I think all rookies should get a standard 3-year contract worth a certain amount of money based upon position played and where they were taken. The first 2 years would be locked in and the 3rd year can be used as a time to rework and extend the contract as seen fit. I would rather the money be given to veterans who have proven themselves rather than rookies who have not.

Outside of those two issues just play football fellas. I don't side with either side because neither side comes up smelling roses.

I think the preseason should be scrapped, totally worthless. Teams should hold scrimmages before and after training camp. I'm all for a 20 game season and rookies need a salary cap but owners are to blame for paying the signing bonuses rookies have been getting for years.

[Zeppo]

I'm 100% with the players. The owners argument for adding two games is often that ticket holders complain about paying full price for preseason games. I find it obnoxious that their solution is to add two regular season games when the obvious, rational adjustment would be to charge less for non-competitive games.

Also for many years now, the owners have been very aggressive in finding ways to make money off of their stadiums that is not subject to revenue sharing. For any 'premium seat' like club seats or luxury boxes, only a small percentage is subject to revenue sharing. Also the PSLs are not subject at all to revenue sharing. This ia why the newer stadiums like the cowboys and giants stadiums have so many club seats, nearly the entire lower bowls. Pete Rozelle and Wellington Mara are surely turning over in their graves about how these new owners have abandoned the revenue sharing model that made this league grow into what it is today. Add in that they make you agree to long term 5- 7- or 10-year contracts for your tickets, and there is plenty for a long time season ticket holder to get angry about.

The players deserve more. For every ridiculous peyton manning or Albert haynesworth contract, there are 30 players who leave their jobs to go to training camp, make a small pro-rated amount of the league minimum and are cut or worse get hurt and then get cut and get no more paychecks from the team. Most players do very well, but there are a ton of guys who make up a core segment of thr league that dont really make all that muh money. Not to mention how little the league does for retired players' medical bills or pension (as if!).

The players claim 'if you need us to take less, then show us your books and prove t us that you are making less money,' but the owners flat out refuse to open their books. I'm sorry but there's only one way I can interpret that.

And finally, the league will get paid by the TV networks if there is no season, and that is just flat out wrong on every level.

[XXXIV]

I'm 100% with the players.

Im definately on the player side too but Im only at 99%...

the league will get paid by the TV networks if there is no season, and that is just flat out wrong on every level.

This is why the owners will probably eventually get their way.

Many of the players wont be able to afford a long stoppage. That stuff about millionare players may apply in baseball but it sure doesnt work here.

I cant believe the networks agreed to such a deal.

[Jackdog]

Loving the NFL Network programming this week. Just watched the 2008 Steelers season video with Tomlin, Polamalu and # 7 interviewed throughout. Great stuff all week so far.

Me too! I watched the Packers beating the Steelers in The Super Bowl on Total Access 10 times. Great stuff indeed!!

[Lancer]

Loving the NFL Network programming this week. Just watched the 2008 Steelers season video with Tomlin, Polamalu and # 7 interviewed throughout. Great stuff all week so far.

Me too! I watched the Packers beating the Steelers in The Super Bowl on Total Access 10 times. Great stuff indeed!!

^

[Jackdog]

Great seeing Polamalu get Defensive POY and Harrison come in 3rd, although I probably would've had those 2 reversed (tough call -- they both deserve it). With the guy from GB sandwiched between those 2 at #2, it's pretty cool that the top 3 defensive players in the NFL will all be playing in the SB. Can't remember that ever happening before.

That guy was Clay Matthews Jr. You know the player that caused Mendenhall's key fumble? Pretty cool indeed.

[Brando70]

I'm 100% with the players. The owners argument for adding two games is often that ticket holders complain about paying full price for preseason games. I find it obnoxious that their solution is to add two regular season games when the obvious, rational adjustment would be to charge less for non-competitive games.

Also for many years now, the owners have been very aggressive in finding ways to make money off of their stadiums that is not subject to revenue sharing. For any 'premium seat' like club seats or luxury boxes, only a small percentage is subject to revenue sharing. Also the PSLs are not subject at all to revenue sharing. This ia why the newer stadiums like the cowboys and giants stadiums have so many club seats, nearly the entire lower bowls. Pete Rozelle and Wellington Mara are surely turning over in their graves about how these new owners have abandoned the revenue sharing model that made this league grow into what it is today. Add in that they make you agree to long term 5- 7- or 10-year contracts for your tickets, and there is plenty for a long time season ticket holder to get angry about.

The players deserve more. For every ridiculous peyton manning or Albert haynesworth contract, there are 30 players who leave their jobs to go to training camp, make a small pro-rated amount of the league minimum and are cut or worse get hurt and then get cut and get no more paychecks from the team. Most players do very well, but there are a ton of guys who make up a core segment of thr league that dont really make all that muh money. Not to mention how little the league does for retired players' medical bills or pension (as if!).

The players claim 'if you need us to take less, then show us your books and prove t us that you are making less money,' but the owners flat out refuse to open their books. I'm sorry but there's only one way I can interpret that.

And finally, the league will get paid by the TV networks if there is no season, and that is just flat out wrong on every level.

Well put Zeppo. After the financial records for MLB teams were leaked and showed even small market teams making significant profits, I imagine the NFL books would undermine the owners' profitability arguments even more.

Given the physical demands of pro football, I tend to believe the players are entitled to everything they make and then some. If the fans are going to get gouged on everything from PSLs to concessions, I'd rather see that money going toward the men actually putting their bodies on the line than to white-collar Napoleons like Dan Snyder.