NFL Season 2009

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 8:50 pm

LA wasn't that great a town for NFL, was it? Or why would the Rams and Raiders both have moved?

Weren't there blackouts down there too? Which is incredible for such a huge market.

Maybe LA is now more of a college football town.

Is Jacksonville near UF or FSU?

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:24 am

wco81 wrote:LA wasn't that great a town for NFL, was it? Or why would the Rams and Raiders both have moved?

Weren't there blackouts down there too? Which is incredible for such a huge market.

Maybe LA is now more of a college football town.

Is Jacksonville near UF or FSU?

Exactly. USC & UCLA work in L.A. because the city is loaded with USC & UCLA Grads. The problem with NFL Teams is that a lot of people are not from here. Of course a lot of "other city" fans will come out for their team's games (much like Arizona Cards), but there is no indication that this wouldn't be a repeat of the Rams all over again. This is the same reason the NFL doesn't want to have teams playing in the Coliseum while a stadium is being built. The NFL buzz would be killed by the lack of glam (that LA needs) before that new stadium (in beautiful City of Industry or some other hellhole) could even open. The NFL is wise to say "build it and we'll probably come, someday, maybe".

One poll earlier this year was kind of interesting in that a majority of "nfl fans" in LA didn't want the NFL because they wouldn't be able to watch the best games of the week. Imagine LA getting stuck with the Raiders & being forced to watch that crap week-in/out. Right now, we get great TV games, no blackouts, and the NFL ticket 'unblocked'. Not too shabby. Just because the NFL plops some team here doesn't mean people will stop liking the Giants, Eagles, Cowboys, Pats, or whoever to rally behind the "LA Jags". Oy...

fletcher21 · Post by **fletcher21** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:43 pm

LA > Minnesota in every way imaginable. f*** the people here, move to where the money and the pretty people are in California!

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:39 am

Not sure if this means I'm officially "old" or just a wuss, but I just passed on a free ticket to the Browns/Steelers game tonight. With temps in the teens and wind chills around ten below, I think I'll watch it at home.

And not that I wouldn't LOVE to see the Browns end any hope the Steelers have of making the playoffs, but if the season ended today the Browns would get the first pick in the draft. Why mess that up with a win now?

Everybody's drooling over that kid from Nebraska. Of course, knowing Mangini, if he's still around and has any say in the matter, he'd probably trade it down for two picks that he'll sit on the bench all year.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 12:38 pm

Browns are still selling out games, not being blacked out?

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 12:54 pm

wco81 wrote:Browns are still selling out games, not being blacked out?

Yeah, every year the Steelers game sells out in about five minutes no matter what. Last week the Chargers game needed an extension but sold out in time. But they still have two more home games after tonight, the Raiders and Jags. I'm guessing those won't sell out and will be the first blackouts in the 11 years since they've been back. Pretty good run of sellouts considering how bad they've been and the economy.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:46 am

F*CK! I shoulda went. What a game!!!!!!!!

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:13 pm

Rothlisberger was like 10-1 in Ohio before last night.

Despite two unbeaten teams, it seems the playoffs will be wide open, unless someone gets hot in these remaining games. It's not unimaginable that a physical running team could dominate possession and keep the ball away from their offenses in the playoffs. Then again, AZ got to the Superbowl because their offense got hot at the right time and teams couldn't keep up.

Some teams have been hot for awhile like the Chargers but you may want to peak going into the postseason, not in the middle.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:08 pm

For the 4th time? this year the Rams are being obliterated by a SUB .500 team....Its not very pretty. Though they did have a beautiful fake punt that seemed to loosen what screws were left in Jeff fischers head...

He is actually running up the score alla Patriots style. Going for 4th downs repeatedly in the 2nd half of a blow out game. Perhaps he is trying to rid himself of SB demons past or maybe its the obvcious and he is just a f***in scumbag...either way...Classless.

As for Spags....Wow...man you suck ass.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:15 pm

XXXIV wrote:For the 4th time? this year the Rams are being obliterated by a SUB .500 team....Its not very pretty. Though they did have a beautiful fake punt that seemed to loosen what screws were left in Jeff fischers head...

He is actually running up the score alla Patriots style. Going for 4th downs repeatedly in the 2nd half of a blow out game. Perhaps he is trying to rid himself of SB demons past or maybe its the obvcious and he is just a f***in scumbag...either way...Classless.

As for Spags....Wow...man you suck ass.

Yeah, I hope Spags remembers that s*** head Fischer. I like Spags though.. he needs time. 5 INT's from Null, ugh yeah.. he's NOT our QB of the future.

Why did they take so long to get Jackson out of the game? Nothing like getting him more wear and tear.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:22 pm

I (heart) Jeff Fisher.

Can't help it. And I'm a big believer that there's no such thing as "running up the score" against a putatively professional team. These aren't college kids, they are grown-ass men getting paid...on both sides of the ball. Those men get paid based on wins and the numbers they put up on the field.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:28 pm

RobVarak wrote:I (heart) Jeff Fisher.

Can't help it. And I'm a big believer that there's no such thing as "running up the score" against a putatively professional team. These aren't college kids, they are grown-ass men getting paid...on both sides of the ball. Those men get paid based on wins and the numbers they put up on the field.

Didnt bother me that way...You had to be watching...It was embaressing for Jeff not the Rams...They can no longer be embarresed.

..It just looked so petty.

MizzouRah wrote: Yeah, I hope Spags remembers that s*** head Fischer. I like Spags though.. he needs time. 5 INT's from Null, ugh yeah.. he's NOT our QB of the future.

Why did they take so long to get Jackson out of the game? Nothing like getting him more wear and tear.

Null was terrible...Ill give him more than game before I write him off forever but he was scarey bad.

Leaving jackson in was almost as strange as Jeffy leaving Johnson in...Lets get Chris Johnson hurt trying to get to 50? Was pretty messed up.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:40 pm

There are two undefated teams after 13 games....Wow...The Colts and the Saints...Thats crazy...

Im going to make my late season super bowl pick...

Chargers 24 Vikings 20

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:26 pm

I'm definitely not a Saints fan but damn what a good story for them. They've been the leagues joke for years and now they are on the verge of going undefeated.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:30 pm

Rodster wrote:I'm definitely not a Saints fan but damn what a good story for them. They've been the leagues joke for years and now they are on the verge of going undefeated.

Jinxed!

No way in hell are they going to close this out with 6 wins and go undefeated. 19-0 aint gonna happen. They might do Patriot disgrace but Dolphin perfection they will NOT have.

Reverse jinx?

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:31 pm

XXXIV wrote:
Rodster wrote:I'm definitely not a Saints fan but damn what a good story for them. They've been the leagues joke for years and now they are on the verge of going undefeated.
Jinxed!

No way in hell are they going to close this out with 6 wins and go undefeated. 19-0 aint gonna happen. They might do Patriot disgrace but Dolphin perfection they will NOT have.

Reverse jinx?

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:35 pm

XXXIV wrote:There are two undefated teams after 13 games....Wow...The Colts and the Saints...Thats crazy...

Im going to make my late season super bowl pick...

Chargers 24 Vikings 20

I'll go Chargers 17 Cardinals 21

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:05 am

XXXIV wrote: Didnt bother me that way...You had to be watching...It was embaressing for Jeff not the Rams...They can no longer be embarresed. ..It just looked so petty.

Null was terrible...Ill give him more than game before I write him off forever but he was scarey bad.

Leaving jackson in was almost as strange as Jeffy leaving Johnson in...Lets get Chris Johnson hurt trying to get to 50? Was pretty messed up.

Agreed.. it was the way in which he went about it. Trust me, you can't embarrass this team anymore.

I don't like Bulger, but Jackson has maybe 3 years left, at best and we need to draft Dez Bryant and let Bulger play his contract out. I'm tired of sitting though these shitty seasons. Dez would really make this team have a nice WR core.

Add a defensive player in the second round and at least I think we have a chance at some wins next year.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:07 am

This Eagles - Giants game is quite entertaining!!!

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 2:15 pm

Cerrato is out in Washington and Russell may be out in Oakland with an impending roster bonus before next season.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/3099 ... us-russell

Would be ironic if Davis cut Russell considering one of the reasons he fell out with Kiffin was that Kiffin didn't think Russell had it.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:41 pm

"NEXT!!!!!"

I guess now it's Mike Holmgren's turn to try and fix this mess.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 1:20 pm

lexbur wrote:"NEXT!!!!!"

I guess now it's Mike Holmgren's turn to try and fix this mess.

Don't hold your breath. They wouldn't give him all the powers in SEA and he didn't wow many people while he was managing there either.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:19 pm

10spro wrote:
lexbur wrote:"NEXT!!!!!"

I guess now it's Mike Holmgren's turn to try and fix this mess.
Don't hold your breath. They wouldn't give him all the powers in SEA and he didn't wow many people while he was managing there either.

How many Superbowl appearances did Seattle have before Holmgren arrived?

Who was the QB when Holmgren arrived?

I don't know if he will be successful but he should be able to identify talent and hire coaches to utilize that talent.

It's funny, there's a story out that before the 49ers hired Nolan, they considered Holmgren (I don't recall him being available in 2004) but passed on him because a couple of business consultants produced a statistical analysis that showed coaches who won the SB for one team were less likely to win it again on another team.

So the clueless 49ers owners not only went along with this, they hired the consultant, Paraag Marathe, in their personnel dept. Marathe had no background whatsoever in football. He was a Stanford MBA and came to be known to the owner as a Bain company consultant.

Not only that, Marathe is coming up with stats to give prospects a rating and there are claims this input is used more than the input of traditional scouts. This approach was apparently adopted by Donahue, a horrendous GM, and now, Jed York, who's like 25 and the president of the team, apparently likes it too.

So Holmgren sounds good to me. Ironically, the current GM is a Holmgren protege but he pushed for Alex Smith in 2005 too.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 3:00 pm

If Holmgren wants to tackle a new world and prove to himself he can succeed while wearing several hats at once, he's making a good choice, if he's allowed to have total control of operations. That's how he likes. Going back to Seattle would have been settling for something too familiar. Ownership just wanted him to concentrate on GM duties or coaching not both. Going to Cleveland is a parachute jump that has to have his blood pumping high.

During his tenure in SEA, he reached the SB once and that's when all the big boys were healthy and had a good run during the playoffs. They won the division too, but that's not saying too much considering the teams in there. ARI that was the joke of town along the Rams made it to the big dance.

MH was too comfy with all the pieces he brought in during his time in Seattle. He kept the D- coordinator too long, Many of the current players are his doing. Overrated Hill, one-tackle Curry, Jones, Branch, the Hutch debacle, Kerney debacle etc.

If he can get everything he wants in Cleveland; more cash, more control, more challenge, then things may change in CLE. That's a big IF for now.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 3:06 pm

It's got to be for the money.

He moved from GB to Seattle to be closer to home.

Now going back to cold Cleveland?

Cleveland had to pay him more to draw him away from the West Coast. Hell if he was patient enough, the 49ers will probably have openings again in another year or two.

But there are a lot of SB-winning coaches out there -- Cowher, Gruden, Shanahan -- as well as Schottenheimer. So if someone throws you $50 million, why wouldn't you take it?

As an exec, he could probably work a lot of it from the West Coast.