Football (NFL) 2009 Season

[What Exit?]

I'm the wrong person to start a thread on this as I really only follow my Giants and little else about the league.

The Giants look good this year. They have many option at WR and the running core should be as good as last year. The Defense is capable of swarming over any less than good O-line and pressuring a good one.

They looked good in their first pre-season game.

[dread pirate jimbo]

I could not believe they pulled that one of of their collective ass last night in the dying seconds of the game. Helluva finish though, and a nice play to strip the ball, recover it and score.

There are a number of teams that I pull for depending on which of my guys are performing. I'm a big-time Bears fan, having discovered the NFL when Walter Payton was at the peak of his powers (that's the only football jersey I own), but I also like the Steelers, Colts, and 49ers. Looking forward to the season...

P.S. I don't depise the Giants. That's probably a bit of a disappointment for you, What Exit?, but if you'd like, I can still diss the hell out of them, just for fun.

[What Exit?]

I could not believe they pulled that one of of their collective ass last night in the dying seconds of the game. Helluva finish though, and a nice play to strip the ball, recover it and score.

There are a number of teams that I pull for depending on which of my guys are performing. I'm a big-time Bears fan, having discovered the NFL when Walter Payton was at the peak of his powers (that's the only football jersey I own), but I also like the Steelers, Colts, and 49ers. Looking forward to the season...

P.S. I don't depise the Giants. That's probably a bit of a disappointment for you, What Exit?, but if you'd like, I can still diss the hell out of them, just for fun.

Bears are my #2 team. It is odd, but I am Yanks and Giants and then Cubs and Bears for my teams. But my 2s are a distant 2.

Dissing Yanks is expected, dissing Giants is odd unless you root for an NFC east team. Dissing the Cowboys is the proper thing to do in Football.

[dread pirate jimbo]

I don't have the kind of hate for the Cowboys that many Americans harbor, maybe because I'm not living in the right country for it. I don't particulalrly love them either, though.

[What Exit?]

I don't have the kind of hate for the Cowboys that many Americans harbor, maybe because I'm not living in the right country for it. I don't particulalrly love them either, though.

Makes sense, but though Yankees and Giants fans tend to overlap, I was just pointing out that the Cowboys are to Football what the Yanks are to Baseball. I mean, you could mock me for being a Rangers fan (NHL), but that would just be for them being pathetic, it would not make sense. There is little reason to resent the Giants.

We need some real die hard fans to check in and give us some analysis now.

[dread pirate jimbo]

Valid point about the Cowboys. And the Rangers (although they did win the Cup not too long ago). And, as I said, I don't hate the Giants -- I just wouldn't want you thinking that I could have a discussion about sports without running a bunch of smack about your team, is all.

No die hard fans here yet... Maybe we should talk about the wonder that is Michael Vick?

[jali]

I'm an excited Giants fan.

I've been worried about the permanent loss of Plaxico, but it seems that our "step up" players can do the job.

[What Exit?]

I'm an excited Giants fan.

I've been worried about the permanent loss of Plaxico, but it seems that our "step up" players can do the job.

I'm liking our young receivers. None of them are the players that Plax was, but I think they are enough to get us to the playoffs and in coming years grow into star players hopefully.

[dread pirate jimbo]

Favre has signed with the Vikings.

You know, that guy had a reputation for being one of the best, classiest players in the NFL for a long time, with respect from everybody. But since he held the Packers hostage for however the hell many years it was, then retired, then unretired, then went to play with the Jets, then retired, then insisted as recently as three weeks ago that he was done for good, then unretired and signed with his former nemeses... well, let's just asy he's looking like a bigger narcissistic douche every day. Very disappointing.

[What Exit?]

I never even paid attention to Favre until recently. I never thought he was an all time elite QB, just a very good Hall of Fame QB. But with his antics of the last several years, I am rooting for him to fall on his face and drag the Vikings down with him.

[dread pirate jimbo]

I was quite a fan of his during his glory days in Green Bay, but he has taken himself several pegs down in my opinion over the last 3 or 4 years. Brett Favre seems to be all about Brett Favre, and you can't have that in a team sport where every cog in the wheel is so critical to the success of the machine.

[NAF1138]

Screw Brett Favre. That's all I have to say about that one.

Ok, so I want to get in on this thread as I promised my wife I would teach her about football this year and since I normally only follow the Raiders (because I am a masochist) I am going to need you all to help me keep on top of the goings on in the rest of the NFL. She wants to follow the Steelers, her home town is Phily so she was going to root for the Eagles but then they signed Michael Vick...so the Steelers it is.

[What Exit?]

Screw Brett Favre. That's all I have to say about that one.

Ok, so I want to get in on this thread as I promised my wife I would teach her about football this year and since I normally only follow the Raiders (because I am a masochist) I am going to need you all to help me keep on top of the goings on in the rest of the NFL. She wants to follow the Steelers, her home town is Phily so she was going to root for the Eagles but then they signed Michael Vick...so the Steelers it is.

Well, it is rarely a good thing to root for Philly anyway. So good choice. I can't help much with the Steelers though. I still have to come up to speed on the 4 NFC East teams and I am far from having a clue about the AFC yet.

[NAF1138]

Screw Brett Favre. That's all I have to say about that one.

Ok, so I want to get in on this thread as I promised my wife I would teach her about football this year and since I normally only follow the Raiders (because I am a masochist) I am going to need you all to help me keep on top of the goings on in the rest of the NFL. She wants to follow the Steelers, her home town is Phily so she was going to root for the Eagles but then they signed Michael Vick...so the Steelers it is.

Well, it is rarely a good thing to root for Philly anyway. So good choice. I can't help much with the Steelers though. I still have to come up to speed on the 4 NFC East teams and I am far from having a clue about the AFC yet.

You make a good point, and I am more of an AFC person anyway, so the Steelers is a good choice all the way around. And they are looking good this year, so she might even get to root for a team that wins big. the only downside is it's going to be hard to catch steelers games in LA. This might be a good excuse to sign up for the DirecTV NFL ticket.


At least she didn't decide to root for the Broncos.

[dread pirate jimbo]

I haven't heard a bunch of news about the Steelers yet, but I do know the big news over the summer has been Ben Rothlisberger's legal troubles and whether or not that will mess up the team's chemistry.

I'm a huge Willie Parker fan, mainly because I got him for next to nothing in a football draft a couple years back, when Jerome Bettis and Deuce Staley were both injured going into the regular season and Parker had a 200+ yard day to open the year and push me to the top of the pool. Sweet! I've been digging on that kid ever since. (I seem to have a thing for running backs -- all my favorite guys are running backs).

Hines Ward is one of the better possession receivers in the game. Troy Polumalu is scary good at strong safety. They've got a legitimate contender in Pittsburgh, definitely one worth watching.

[Bovine Excrement]

Philadelphia Eagles fan checking into your thread. That damn dog killer will be with us this year and that sucks, but maybe he'll get electrocuted like he did to those dogs so a guy can hope. I'd like to see it in a priest on the golfcourse Caddyshack way.

Football is the only sport I follow closely.

[Sarahfeena]

I feel...cautiously optimistic about this Bears season, and that scares the everlovin' hell out of me.

[What Exit?]

I feel...cautiously optimistic about this Bears season, and that scares the everlovin' hell out of me.

I'm not up to speed but you have a big upgrade at QB in my opinion. That always helps.

[Sarahfeena]

I feel...cautiously optimistic about this Bears season, and that scares the everlovin' hell out of me.

I'm not up to speed but you have a big upgrade at QB in my opinion. That always helps.

Major, MAJOR upgrade at QB, which has been a problem for us for some time now.

[Cluricaun]

My biggest worry about Jay Cutler is that finally having a strong presence at the QB may only serve to highlight the other staggering weaknesses that our offense suffers under. For the last, well since Eric Kramer left, we’ve had a comfort zone that allowed us to rest all of our struggles on that one highly visible position. Without a Cade McNown or a Kordell Stewart or a Rex Grossman or other high profile flop running the show I’m just waiting to see how inadequate our wide receiver corps is, and how weak and aged our offensive line is as well. I’m afraid that Cutler, as huge as his potential is, is just another case of too little too late and that he’s just been added to a team whose post season window actually closed three years ago that honestly needs a complete rebuild to be any kind of contender outside of the laughably bad and equally poorly staffed NFC North.


I predict that we’ll easily take the division, unless St. Brett of Indecision puts up some sort of actual last hurrah in Minneapolis which is unlikely. The Lions continue to be almost a non-entity and Green Bay is just lost thanks to Brett’s waffling. As usual, we’ll be slaughtered in the first game where we play a team from the actually competitive NFC East.

[pepperlandgirl]

Maybe I should be a Bears fan. I miss Jay already

[Gumby]

I'm looking forward to the 49ers this year. Things are looking good right now with only one loss in the preseason.

[Sarahfeena]

Maybe I should be a Bears fan. I miss Jay already

He threw 4. Count them. FOUR interceptions last night.

And, Brian Urlacher is out for ths season with a dislocated wrist.

Rage. :Shake:

[What Exit?]

Giants look pretty good yesterday against the Red Skins. They used a lot of receivers but had some critical Red Zone problems and gave up a TD on a fake field goal. They refused to put the Skins away and let them stick around.

The Jets had a very good first game.

Eagles might have lost McNabb for a while.

[Cluricaun]

He threw 4. Count them. FOUR interceptions last night.

And, Brian Urlacher is out for ths season with a dislocated wrist.

Rage. :Shake:

That wasn't him as much is it is a confirmation of my earlier fears. Do any of our WRs know how to run a route?!?! No.

Urlacher hurts even more, he was finally healthy again after all the neck and back issues he's had, and then, boom. There goes the wrist. At least we have depth in our defense to fill those holes with some experiance, but we need to find someone that Cutler can throw the ball to, and quickly.

[Sarahfeena]

That wasn't him as much is it is a confirmation of my earlier fears. Do any of our WRs know how to run a route?!?! No.

Urlacher hurts even more, he was finally healthy again after all the neck and back issues he's had, and then, boom. There goes the wrist. At least we have depth in our defense to fill those holes with some experiance, but we need to find someone that Cutler can throw the ball to, and quickly.

You're right, Ryan. I shouldn't blame Cutler, you nailed it when you said that having him as QB would highlight the weaknesses in the offense.

[Cluricaun]

You're right, Ryan. I shouldn't blame Cutler, you nailed it when you said that having him as QB would highlight the weaknesses in the offense.

Our defense looks pretty good, our special teams will continue to be the toast of the league (as long as there's no more of that "Send Garrett Wolfe on a fake punt run business) but our offensive line can't open up lanes for our running game, can't give our QB enough time to not feel like he should just start rifling the ball all over the field, and in general will be our achilles heel for the season. Damn it.

[dread pirate jimbo]

Cutler lost and Orton won. I hate to say I told you so, but I kinda did.

That is all.

[NAF1138]

That wasn't him as much is it is a confirmation of my earlier fears. Do any of our WRs know how to run a route?!?! No.

Urlacher hurts even more, he was finally healthy again after all the neck and back issues he's had, and then, boom. There goes the wrist. At least we have depth in our defense to fill those holes with some experiance, but we need to find someone that Cutler can throw the ball to, and quickly.

I really really want to like the Bears. I was rooting for them last night and was a bit heartbroken when they lost.

I think it's unfair to place the blame for Cutlers poor performence on the WRs. Cutler played like crap. At least 2 of the interceptions that he threw were solidly his fault because he was throwing the ball into an area he had no business throwing into. Also, where the hell was the offensive line? That said, I thought the defense was damned impressive and hope that I get to see another couple of Bears games this season.

[Cluricaun]

I think it's unfair to place the blame for Cutlers poor performence on the WRs. Cutler played like crap. At least 2 of the interceptions that he threw were solidly his fault because he was throwing the ball into an area he had no business throwing into.

I don't think that he had the time he needed to make good decisions. He was (forgive me for going Madden here) playing like Brett Favre, just hard slinging the ball in the face of no oppertunity. And just like St. Brett he was getting picked off left and right. This kid has a huge ego and will try and force plays to happen, but that's a horrible decision 99%of the time when you have nothing to work with in your WR corps.

Now what's done is done and we need to prepare for Pittsburgh. A lot. They're a much better team than the Peckers are and we need a lot of tape watching and route work between now and the 20th.

I'm also dying to know if McNabb is out for a while and if that means that Vick starts as soon as possible. That I want to see, just to see if he's good to go or horribly rusty.

[NAF1138]

I don't think that he had the time he needed to make good decisions. He was (forgive me for going Madden here) playing like Brett Favre, just hard slinging the ball in the face of no oppertunity. And just like St. Brett he was getting picked off left and right. This kid has a huge ego and will try and force plays to happen, but that's a horrible decision 99%of the time when you have nothing to work with in your WR corps.

Fair enough. I can absolutly see the ego thing being a problem for him. It would seem to me like the first priority for the Bears has to be getting a pocket that can actually hold so he is able to attempt some decent passes. I know you are all about the running game out there, but there are some guys on the team that can catch a football if it is thrown into their hands. If Cutlers problem is trying to force plays and making bad decisions, then giving him some more time is the best thing that can be done.

So, anyone want to watch the Raiders game tonight so I have someone to talk to about it tomorrow? I don't expect us to win, but I am interested in seeing if Cable has been able to take us from a mess of a team with promise to a team that actually works as a cohesive unit.

[Laughing Lagomorph]

I was surprised there are two games tonight? Has it ever happened before that there were two Monday night games?

Sucks about Brian Urlacher. They interviewed him at the start of the game, obviously people were hoping he would have a big year this year, and then poof, it's over. See you next year.

I'm looking forward to seeing the Patriots tonight. I hope Bellichick knows what he was doing trading Seymour away just before the season started.

[Laughing Lagomorph]

Well. That certainly was a lot closer than a most New England fans expected. Buffalo came to play, and N.E.'s defence showed it's inexperience, but the rustiness of the offence was the real eye-opener. In the end special teams made the pivotal play.

[Sarahfeena]

Sucks about Brian Urlacher. They interviewed him at the start of the game, obviously people were hoping he would have a big year this year, and then poof, it's over. See you next year.

That's the freaky thing about football...so easy to have a season-ending injury, and they can happen any time. I think I remember the same thing happening to Rex Grossman, but in a pre-season game, was it his first year with the Bears? Anyway, got injured, out for the season. Bam.

[NAF1138]

I'm looking forward to seeing the Patriots tonight. I hope Bellichick knows what he was doing trading Seymour away just before the season started.

As both a Raiders fan and a bit of a Buffalo fan I was hoping that the trade of Seymour would mean good things for both my teams last night. And it did! Just not enough.

Two great games though, both of them were nailbiters.

Now if only the Raiders would get themselves a proper quarterback we might actually have a shot.

[Cluricaun]

That's the freaky thing about football...so easy to have a season-ending injury, and they can happen any time. I think I remember the same thing happening to Rex Grossman, but in a pre-season game, was it his first year with the Bears? Anyway, got injured, out for the season. Bam.

Did you know that at the Texans game on Sunday after their starting QB begain to suck on ice they crowd started chanting "We want Grossman."

....and it begins anew. Careful what you wish for there Texas.

[Sarahfeena]

Did you know that at the Texans game on Sunday after their starting QB begain to suck on ice they crowd started chanting "We want Grossman."

....and it begins anew. Careful what you wish for there Texas.

I did not hear that. Yeah, we wanted him once, too.

[Cluricaun]

I did not hear that. Yeah, we wanted him once, too.

I was there, I too once chanted from the stands in Soldier Field asking for Grossman. And Orton. And Lightning from the Sky to Annhilate Us All.

Thing is nobody expects much from the Texans. Maybe it will work for them. Hahahahaha!

[What Exit?]

Giants play at Dallas tonight. I want Romo weeping by the half.

[What Exit?]

Well I guess no tears by the half. Giants D is showing the injuries right now. Giants O can't get rushing so far.

[prr]

I was in the Meadowlands for the Jets game yesterday, sitting field level at the 35 yd line, close to Fireman Ed. Fantastic day. Sanchez looked good, Brady looked awful.

[What Exit?]

That must have been a great game prr. Hell of a victory.

The Giants win thanks to Manning's 4th quarter clutchness again.

[NAF1138]

Bah, the Raiders won yesterday but I didn't get to see the game because the local station has decided that it is going to show Chargers games instead.

Bastards. Now I have to decide if it's worth ordering the games on DirecTV just to watch them have a losing season.

[Sarahfeena]

I was quite pleased about the Bears' win yesterday. Kind of sorry that it was due to 2 bad FG attempts on the part of the Steelers, but I'll take it.

[What Exit?]

I was quite pleased about the Bears' win yesterday. Kind of sorry that it was due to 2 bad FG attempts on the part of the Steelers, but I'll take it.

More importantly, the Bears defense kept Big Ben controlled. It was a good win.

[Sarahfeena]

More importantly, the Bears defense kept Big Ben controlled. It was a good win.

Yeah, the defense did a great job, and of course we were all nervous about that, given the circumstances. Hopefully, they can keep it up.

[What Exit?]

The Giants are looking very good and if Eli is OK they are getting better as some of their injured players are trickling back now. The Raiders should be another easy game. I hope it is, but the Giants actually looked sloppy yesterday despite the score.

Coach is probably going to kick a little butt this week to get them back in the right mindset.

The Giants real test is in two games against the Saints. It is likely to be a shootout with a good Giant's D against a great Saint's O and a good Giant's O against a weak Saint's D.


Big thanks to Denver for beating the boys. I think Denver is the biggest surprise of the season so far.

[jali]

The Giants are kicking butt!

[pepperlandgirl]

I can't believe my Broncos are 4-0. It's blowing my mind, but in the good way. Though we're playing the Patriots on Sunday. I'm nervous because Shannahan had the Patriots number. Regular season or post-season, we could usually beat them. Will McDaniels be able to out think his old boss? Will our defense be enough to shut Brady down? I don't even know how the Pat's defense is looking this year--are they effective against the run?

[What Exit?]

The Giants are up 28-0 already in the 2nd quarter. Everything looks good for the Giants and everything looks bad for the Raiders. There is still 11 minutes in the half.

It is now 28-0.

Next week the Giants get a real serious test. First since the Cowboys. They play they high-flying Saints. Probably the battle of the best two NFC teams.