2009 NFL Season Thread

[gingerbreadmann]

Don't be so quick here! WTF does this mean for 2009? The D-line was the only strong spot on the defense and even so, it wasn't a surplus. He's getting older, but he is still a wildly productive player and was healthy for 15 games last year, a great sign. I can see where this comes from with the uncertain bargaining agreement future, unlikelihood of re-signing him, freeing up cap space, and the futility of the Raiders, but nothing is guaranteed except that the Patriots are a much worse team now than they were 24 hours ago. I can't see how this makes any sense for Oakland but I don't think the Patriots are clear winners here either. It is thin :censored:ing ice when you further deplete this already-shaky defense.

I'm not quite sure why the cap would be an issue when it looks like the league may lose it. Probably. What does the NFL want John Shaw to get for them again? I need to know this so I can expect the opposite. Because he sucks like that.

Well, two reasons. There is going to be a Vince Wilfork contract marathon next year and this gives the Patriots $3.3 million to play with this year in preparation (and to put into other roster spots), even if there is none next year. And, though this is more what I meant by the CBA part of that sentence, the owners seem quite adamant about including a slotted rookie salary cap in the hypothetical new CBA, which would begin with the 2011 draft.

I will also say that this is pretty remarkable value for Seymour just looking at the individual pieces of the deal, but I'm still not sold. Hopefully this means the two rookie DLs Myron Pryor and Ron Brace are ready to contribute in BB's mind, which would soften the blow. I guess a 4-3 is in the future.

[Saintsfan]

Here is an interesting thing about the cap, and its future place in Football. At what point could anyone say that a cap will not come back, and it seems reasonably possible that a new CBA could being place for 2011. So how do teams play 2010 and the contract negoatiations for that year? Are there going to be a bunch of 1 year contracts waiting to see what happens? Are teams going to put themselves in a position where they are overloaded with starts and need to off load some when a new cap comes in? It seems to me that there is a clear case to be made to be very careful overloading a roster, as some seem to think the rich teams might.

[VandyDelphia Mike]

I did hear that she was drunk, so I wonder what will happen once we know all of the facts.

I just drafted SD as my starting DST in fantasy, so please I hope nothing happens to him

With a name like Tequila? What are the odds?

You're ready for a front office gig in The NFL.

Not her real last name. And probably not the only thing fake about her. Merriman? Thought he could do better than this.

[BBTV]

Here is an interesting thing about the cap, and its future place in Football. At what point could anyone say that a cap will not come back, and it seems reasonably possible that a new CBA could being place for 2011. So how do teams play 2010 and the contract negoatiations for that year? Are there going to be a bunch of 1 year contracts waiting to see what happens? Are teams going to put themselves in a position where they are overloaded with starts and need to off load some when a new cap comes in? It seems to me that there is a clear case to be made to be very careful overloading a roster, as some seem to think the rich teams might.

Much like a few years ago, the union has stated that if the uncapped year actually happens, there won't be a cap ever again, which means either a long lockout (most probable outcome), or the contracts negotiated for 2010 would remain valid. If I'm a star player who negotiated his deal under the confines of the current system, I'd be pissed if the cap goes away, knowing that I could be paid a lot more by one of the big teams. Expect New England, Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia, the New Yorks, and probably a couple of other teams to go nuts next year if the CBA isn't extended.

[Jigga]

The uncapped year was meant to really be a poison pill. A reality so unfathomable that no one would actually let it happen, so there would be a reason for both sides to negotiate in good faith. I still don't think the owners collectively want to lock the players out. However, when the owners voted last year to opt-out of the CBA in March 2011, the union began preparing for a lockout immediately thereafter and dug in their heels...no cap in 2010, no cap ever again. I really expect this thing to get super ugly.

I'll miss the football, but I hope the NFL does go this route. They need to be knocked of their perch for a little bit. But it would only be a little bit because the public will overwhelmingly blame the players, scream how they will never watch or go to another game, but they will just as certainly stand in line for hours to get tickets and merchandise as soon as the NFL returns.

[Andy]

I bet Donovan McNabb is really excited about the post-lockout "new NFL," when games ended in a tie automatically go to a shootout.

[DEAD!]

I bet Donovan McNabb is really excited about the post-lockout "new NFL," when games ended in a tie automatically go to a shootout.

I think Plaxico Burress would be excited about it as well.

[Saintsfan]

So is Gooddell playing a game of chicken by saying there won't be a salary cap in 2010, forcing the teams to sort it all out? Does he secretly want less parity and the big franchises to be more successful consistently??

[BBTV]

So is Gooddell playing a game of chicken by saying there won't be a salary cap in 2010, forcing the teams to sort it all out? Does he secretly want less parity and the big franchises to be more successful consistently??

Yes. As the Jiggaman put it, it's in nobody's best interest for the uncapped year to actually happen. Sure, the big teams would have an immediate benefit, but at the cost of the league as a whole.

Any CBA that doesn't have a cap would likely have some type of guaranteed contracts, in which case the players wouldn't get big signing bonuses anymore (since that's the part that effectively guarantees part of their deal today.) While they bitch that they can be cut at any time, they never bitch about getting 30M up front. I really don't think in the long run that the players want this, nor do the owners.

I find it extremely unlikely that this uncapped year will actually happen - it just doesn't make sense for anyone. If it does, and if there's a subsequent lockout, I hope that there are posts like "OMFG Goodell hates the NFL and wants it to fail he should resign he's an insult to the amazing game of football!!11!!!one!"

[Shumway]

Well, it's official.

Stafford is the starter in Detroit. Now, everybody pray that the Lions don't turn him into Harrington 2.0

[Jigga]

So is Gooddell playing a game of chicken by saying there won't be a salary cap in 2010, forcing the teams to sort it all out? Does he secretly want less parity and the big franchises to be more successful consistently??

Yes. As the Jiggaman put it, it's in nobody's best interest for the uncapped year to actually happen. Sure, the big teams would have an immediate benefit, but at the cost of the league as a whole.

Any CBA that doesn't have a cap would likely have some type of guaranteed contracts, in which case the players wouldn't get big signing bonuses anymore (since that's the part that effectively guarantees part of their deal today.) While they bitch that they can be cut at any time, they never bitch about getting 30M up front. I really don't think in the long run that the players want this, nor do the owners.

I find it extremely unlikely that this uncapped year will actually happen - it just doesn't make sense for anyone. If it does, and if there's a subsequent lockout, I hope that there are posts like "OMFG Goodell hates the NFL and wants it to fail he should resign he's an insult to the amazing game of football!!11!!!one!"

I'll just be happy if Goodell gets one nanogram of blame.

[infrared41]

I did hear that she was drunk, so I wonder what will happen once we know all of the facts.

I just drafted SD as my starting DST in fantasy, so please I hope nothing happens to him

With a name like Tequila? What are the odds?

You're ready for a front office gig in The NFL.

Not her real last name. And probably not the only thing fake about her. Merriman? Thought he could do better than this.

No kidding. Really? And you think she's had some "after market" work too? Wow. Where have I been?

[rams80]

So is Gooddell playing a game of chicken by saying there won't be a salary cap in 2010, forcing the teams to sort it all out? Does he secretly want less parity and the big franchises to be more successful consistently??

Yes. As the Jiggaman put it, it's in nobody's best interest for the uncapped year to actually happen. Sure, the big teams would have an immediate benefit, but at the cost of the league as a whole.

Any CBA that doesn't have a cap would likely have some type of guaranteed contracts, in which case the players wouldn't get big signing bonuses anymore (since that's the part that effectively guarantees part of their deal today.) While they bitch that they can be cut at any time, they never bitch about getting 30M up front. I really don't think in the long run that the players want this, nor do the owners.

I find it extremely unlikely that this uncapped year will actually happen - it just doesn't make sense for anyone. If it does, and if there's a subsequent lockout, I hope that there are posts like "OMFG Goodell hates the NFL and wants it to fail he should resign he's an insult to the amazing game of football!!11!!!one!"

I'll just be happy if Goodell gets one nanogram of blame.

I blame him for putting John Shaw in charge of the negotiations (and as a side effect, necessitating his continued employment by the Rams).

[Gary]

I did hear that she was drunk, so I wonder what will happen once we know all of the facts.

I just drafted SD as my starting DST in fantasy, so please I hope nothing happens to him

With a name like Tequila? What are the odds?

You're ready for a front office gig in The NFL.

Not her real last name. And probably not the only thing fake about her. Merriman? Thought he could do better than this.

No kidding. Really? And you think she's had some "after market" work too? Wow. Where have I been?

Oh come on Mike, she's not that bad(says the man with the asian thing) Tila "Tequila" Nguyen is definitely a cutey in my book. But we won't know what really happened, there are 2 sides to every story, Merriman has given his, lets wait for her side. I'm not going to make a judgement til that happens

[Harmening]

I did hear that she was drunk, so I wonder what will happen once we know all of the facts.

I just drafted SD as my starting DST in fantasy, so please I hope nothing happens to him

With a name like Tequila? What are the odds?

You're ready for a front office gig in The NFL.

Not her real last name. And probably not the only thing fake about her. Merriman? Thought he could do better than this.

No kidding. Really? And you think she's had some "after market" work too? Wow. Where have I been?

Oh come on Mike, she's not that bad(says the man with the asian thing) Tila "Tequila" Nguyen is definitely a cutey in my book. But we won't know what really happened, there are 2 sides to every story, Merriman has given his, lets wait for her side. I'm not going to make a judgement til that happens

Cutey? Man, I don't know. If I call someone a cutey they would have to have some sort of innocence about them. She definitely does not. She seems to be the epitome of skankiness.

[Cujo]

The Patriots have traded DE Richard Seymour the Oakland Raiders for a first round pick in 2011.

After being dealt, Seymour is refusing to report to Oakland.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4453249

[infrared41]

The Patriots have traded DE Richard Seymour the Oakland Raiders for a first round pick in 2011.

After being dealt, Seymour is refusing to report to Oakland.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4453249

Can't say I blame him. It's like he got traded out of The NFL.

[slightly shotgunned]

Well, it's official.

Stafford is the starter in Detroit. Now, everybody pray that the Lions don't turn him into Harrington 2.0

Futile. There aren't enough gods in this world...

That said, I can't help but feel optimistic like I do at the start of every season. At least this year, we can't get any worse...

[FiddySicks]

The Patriots have traded DE Richard Seymour the Oakland Raiders for a first round pick in 2011.

After being dealt, Seymour is refusing to report to Oakland.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4453249

Can't say I blame him. It's like he got traded out of The NFL.

I really think the Raiders have the ability to surprise a lot of people this season. Not saying they'll make the playoffs or anything, but a respectable year really isn't too far out of the question IMO.

[Jigga]

The Patriots have traded DE Richard Seymour the Oakland Raiders for a first round pick in 2011.

After being dealt, Seymour is refusing to report to Oakland.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4453249

Can't say I blame him. It's like he got traded out of The NFL.

I really think the Raiders have the ability to surprise a lot of people this season. Not saying they'll make the playoffs or anything, but a respectable year really isn't too far out of the question IMO.

Depends on what you consider respectable. I would say for the Raiders, 7-9 would be "respectable." Just lose less than 10, baby!