2009 NFL Season Thread

[BlueSky]

The 2009 NFL season is finally here! The first training camp opens today as the Browns' rookies report in Berea, OH. Here are the dates and locations for each team:

Training Camp Dates

I have very high hopes for the Saints this year. If Brees stays healthy and Gregg Williams can get the D in shape, they'll make some noise. I heard Williams has coached a top 10 defense in 5 of the last 10 seasons.

Balanced against that optimism is a tough schedule and the fact that I've had high hopes for them at this time every year since 1970.

If you have a chance to see a few training camp practices, do it. Over the last few years I've been to the Saints' and Falcons' camps and it's always a lot of fun. Great photo ops too. This is from a special teams drill last year. Bush ran over and yelled at the coverage guy trying to throw him off from downing the ball.

[TrueYankee26]

1st reply!

I'm so ready for the Jets season, Rex Ryan has us on the rise!

[tBBP]

I'm ready for some football...but I ain't expecting the Buccaneers to do jack-squat this year.

The Jaguars, on the other hand...I just wanna see how these newfangled togs of theirs look in game action. (And how long Del Rio and GM Gene Smith keep trying to fabricate the "Steeler mentality" in Jacksonville...)

[JayJaxon]

Let us see if the Falcons can post up another winning season. If I'm not mistaken, if they can pull it off, it will be the first time in their history they have had two winning seasons in a row! The time has come!

[FiddySicks]

I'm ready for some football...but I ain't expecting the Buccaneers to do jack-squat this year.

The Jaguars, on the other hand...I just wanna see how these newfangled togs of theirs look in game action. (And how long Del Rio and GM Gene Smith keep trying to fabricate the "Steeler mentality" in Jacksonville...)

5-11. MAYBE 6-10 if Josh Freeman has the talent/smarts/luck to match his size. No better than that. Uggh. Anyone who thinks otherwise is crazy IMO.

Still though, fire them cannons.

[Gary]

I'm ready for some football...but I ain't expecting the Buccaneers to do jack-squat this year.

The Jaguars, on the other hand...I just wanna see how these newfangled togs of theirs look in game action. (And how long Del Rio and GM Gene Smith keep trying to fabricate the "Steeler mentality" in Jacksonville...)

5-11. MAYBE 6-10 if Josh Freeman has the talent/smarts/luck to match his size. No better than that. Uggh. Anyone who thinks otherwise is crazy IMO.

Still though, fire them cannons.

At least you're favorite team isn't going to be famous for going winless during the season. Oh wait they did. But at least not 0-16 like the Lions. I have high expectations for the Lions this year. I think 6-10 or 7-9 will be the record. I know it won't be another winless season

[BBTV]

The Eagles will officially have a new defensive coordinator for the first time in the Andy Reid era, as Sean McDermott will officially take the title, after filling in for Jim Johnson during the offseason as Johnson is battling cancer. Apparently, he will not be healthy enough to return to coaching. More on this later... it's likely going to be a pretty sad story about a pretty damn good coach.

[NEW.ERA]

Really pumped for the 3-4 in Green Bay it will be a better season at Lambeau, and the NFC North will be a very fun division watch with Cutler in Chicago, Stafford in Detroit and Favre/Harvin/The Purple Jesus in Minnesota.

I'll have predictions soon

[rentz]

I'll ask you guys, as I'm afraid that I am blinded by my fanhood:

Is it ridiculous for me to think the Dolphins will win the division again?

[NEW.ERA]

I'll ask you guys, as I'm afraid that I am blinded by my fanhood:

Is it ridiculous for me to think the Dolphins will win the division again?

With Pat White the Wildcat should still be effective not as much as last season but with Mr. Brady back in New England it could be tough

[rebelx]

I'll ask you guys, as I'm afraid that I am blinded by my fanhood:

Is it ridiculous for me to think the Dolphins will win the division again?

Can't say that I think it's ridiculous, but it sure will be a lot harder for them if Brady is anything like he used to be. Additionally, I expect the Bills to be better with T.O. taking the field for them, and the Jets' defense to improve, so you'll also have to worry more about your other divisional rivals this year.

[rebelx]

Another thing: what to make of Tennessee? Was their performance last year a fluke? Do they still even win the division, or lose out to Indy once again? I don't believe that they'll be quite as good, personally, especially now that they've lost Haynesworth. Talk about an impact player.

[zmspartans]

Really pumped for the 3-4 in Green Bay it will be a better season at Lambeau, and the NFC North will be a very fun division watch with Cutler in Chicago, Stafford in Detroit and Favre/Harvin/The Purple Jesus in Minnesota.

I'll have predictions soon

Agreed. The defense will be much better in the 3-4 and Aaron Rodgers willl be in his second year, so the offense should be better as well.

[RyanMcD29]

In the latest NFL Overkill measure, the NFL Draft's now gonna be 3 days long and start on a Thursday night

That being said I can't wait for the NFL season to start this year, mainly because the Giants should be good again this year with the Burress mess behind them and the Jets will be interesting with Sanchez. Plus being in college I can probably watch more games with people up there.

[Jigga]

Look on the bright side...at least you get your weekends back. I'm only going to watch the first round on Thursday night...and probably only the first half of the pics.

[DDR]

I'll continue to watch until the Packers make their first selection.

[tBBP]

I'll ask you guys, as I'm afraid that I am blinded by my fanhood:

Is it ridiculous for me to think the Dolphins will win the division again?

With Pat White the Wildcat should still be effective not as much as last season but with Mr. Brady back in New England it could be tough

I seem to recall a game between the Patsies and Dolphins down in Miami a couple years ago, I want to say it was a prime time game at that...one in which the heavily favored Pats got rolled on by the Dolphins. And this was before the Wildcat. And with Brady in the lineup.

(Of course, the Eagles and the Bengals also managed to tie recently, so...)

Point is...anything's possible in today's NFL. That even includes my Buccaneers winning more than four games...though I ain't holding my breath.

[chuckymack]

I'll ask you guys, as I'm afraid that I am blinded by my fanhood:

Is it ridiculous for me to think the Dolphins will win the division again?

Yes?but it's only as ridiculous as me thinking my Bengals have a shot at the AFC North title this year. I know it's a long shot, but at least it's a shot.

</unbridledOptimism>

[TFoA]

TFoA's unrealistic goals for the Atlanta Falcons' 2009-10 season: Division champs, NFC Champs, Super Bowl bid.

TFoA's realistic goals for the Atlanta Falcons' 2009-10 season: Just go 9-7, PLEASE.

[Cujo]

The AFC East will be another boatrace this season, as the Patriots will probably jump out to an 8-0 start and finish with a disgusting record like 14-2 or 15-1. The Jets, Bills, and Fish don't stand a snowball's chance -- even if Brady goes down again. Hell, I'll just go ahead and say it right now: For the 4th time this decade, New England's gonna win the whole damn thing.

As for the NFC, that conference is up for grabs every friggin' year (Cardinals, Giants, Bears, Seahawks, Eagles, Panthers, whatever). I'll go ahead and randomly pick the 49ers to represent and get throttled in the Super Bowl this time around.