2009 NFL Season Thread

[BlueSky]

Went to the Falcons' training camp today. I know, I know, why, if I hate them so much? Well, because going to an NFL camp is fun and this is where I live. Doesn't look like I'll get to New Orleans to see Saints' camp this year, so it's like that old song...'if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with.'

I'll post pics tomorrow. What struck me as I was leaving wasn't something I saw, it was something I didn't see...a Vick jersey. Not a single one among the hundreds of fans in attendance. Guess everyone is finally moving on.

In case the Falcons run it this year, you heard it here first, and maybe someone else has seen this play but I never have. They ran a direct snap flea-flicker. Jerious Norwood took the snap, started forward, then pitched to Ryan, who fired a pass to...no one. He threw it to the back left corner of the end zone but there wasn't a Falcon within 10 yards. Interesting play though.

Glad to see they signed Ferguson. This was a nice catch today but Ferguson has to be an upgrade.

[BBTV]

Re: Crabtree...

Here's my crazy idea regarding NFL draft picks (well, it could apply to MLB too.)

Rookie contracts are negotiated by the league, not the individual teams. All teams would contribute to a pool of money that the league would use to sign the players. The rookies would be officially "property of the league", and assigned to the teams that drafted them. They would NOT count against the team's salary cap, so there's no reason that a crappy team can't improve by drafting anyone they want - they don't have to worry about things like signing bonuses, or salary cap issues. After the initial contract, the player becomes property of the team, who can negotiate an extension, or let the player become a FA. This would be big in MLB, since teams avoid guys just because they can't sign them.

The league and PA would have to do a lot to work this out during collective bargaining, but I think it could happen. There would have to be some kind of "slotting", which I'm pretty much against, but I can't think of another way to do this. Also, things like contract lengths could vary by round, or there could be options for the players to choose - for example, the 5th pick may pick a 3-year deal at $X, while the 6th pick may instead choose a 5-year deal at $X-n. Obviously, those are football examples - baseball would be much different.

[BlueSky]

Seems like a good time to review the rule changes for this year. I don't get the wedge thing - that's going to really change kickoffs. Should be interesting to watch. This is taken from an article on nola.com:

===

There are five major new rules that are being implemented:

--> The initial force of a blindside block can't be delivered by a helmet, forearm or shoulder to an opponent's head or neck. An illegal blindside block will bring a 15-yard penalty.

--> Initial contact to the head of a defenseless receiver also will draw a 15-yard penalty.

--> On kickoffs, no blocking wedge of more than two players will be allowed. A 15-yard penalty will go to a violating team. Johnson said Saints special teams officials were especially inquisitive about this rule.

-->Also on kickoffs, the kicking team can't have more than five players bunched together pursuing an onside kick. Breaking this rule would draw a 5-yard penalty.

-->On kickoffs, there will be no re-kick for a failed onside effort. The receiving team can choose between the first point of contact or a 5-yard penalty and receiving the ball at that point.

There is no change in the so-called Brady rule, on the type of play that disabled New England quarterback Tom Brady last season, but it is a point of emphasis. Johnson said the "onus is on the (rushing) player to avoid contact."

Brady's knee was injured last season when a defensive lineman who had been blocked to the ground lunged for Brady and hit him at the knee. The point of emphasis this season will be to protect the quarterback by penalizing any low hit.

"You can swipe at the quarterback," Johnson said. "But you can not lunge at the knee."

Being blocked into the quarterback is no longer a defense. <<< Um, how do you avoid being blocked into the QB?

===

As for Crabtree, he's evidently lost his freakin' mind.

[TFoA]

"You can swipe at the quarterback," Johnson said. "But you can not lunge at the knee."

Being blocked into the quarterback is no longer a defense. <<< Um, how do you avoid being blocked into the QB?

Which is why this is probably the stupidest rule in the book since they tweaked the roughing the passer rule. I still remember from last season Justin Tuck putting on one of the most beautiful, cleanest tackles that I have ever seen on a quarterback, and they called it roughing the passer because he "drove the QB into the ground." And I'm watching and thinking "What in the hell, THEY TEACH YOU TO DO THAT WHEN THEY TEACH YOU TO TACKLE!!!" How else is he gonna bring him down in that position without driving him into the ground? Just let him go, release him and say "Yay, I got you! Sack!"

The competition committee really dropped the ball on these new rule changes.

[TFoA]

Roddy White's holdout ends.

6 years, $50 mil, $18.6 mil guaranteed.

[Drew22]

Sweet. This softens the blow of losing HD.

[HedleyLamarr]

I went to that intra-squad scrimmage at the Dome today.

It was touch football, and there wasn't much emphasis in running the ball.....but the first-team's passing attack looked pretty good. Tony Gonzalez made a couple of great catches in the red zone, including a touchdown reception. Brent Grimes also made a nice leaping interception in the end zone towards the end of scrimmage.

The first-team defense looked a little shaky, but that was probably due to not going full-blow.

[infrared41]

Seems like a good time to review the rule changes for this year. I don't get the wedge thing - that's going to really change kickoffs. Should be interesting to watch. This is taken from an article on nola.com:

===

There are five major new rules that are being implemented:

--> The initial force of a blindside block can't be delivered by a helmet, forearm or shoulder to an opponent's head or neck. An illegal blindside block will bring a 15-yard penalty.

--> Initial contact to the head of a defenseless receiver also will draw a 15-yard penalty.

--> On kickoffs, no blocking wedge of more than two players will be allowed. A 15-yard penalty will go to a violating team. Johnson said Saints special teams officials were especially inquisitive about this rule.

-->Also on kickoffs, the kicking team can't have more than five players bunched together pursuing an onside kick. Breaking this rule would draw a 5-yard penalty.

-->On kickoffs, there will be no re-kick for a failed onside effort. The receiving team can choose between the first point of contact or a 5-yard penalty and receiving the ball at that point.

There is no change in the so-called Brady rule, on the type of play that disabled New England quarterback Tom Brady last season, but it is a point of emphasis. Johnson said the "onus is on the (rushing) player to avoid contact."

Brady's knee was injured last season when a defensive lineman who had been blocked to the ground lunged for Brady and hit him at the knee. The point of emphasis this season will be to protect the quarterback by penalizing any low hit.

"You can swipe at the quarterback," Johnson said. "But you can not lunge at the knee."

Being blocked into the quarterback is no longer a defense. <<< Um, how do you avoid being blocked into the QB?

===

As for Crabtree, he's evidently lost his freakin' mind.

What's next? Flag Football? Geez.

[BBTV]

Eagles stud MLB Stuart Bradley out for the year with torn ACL.

Star rookie-TE Cornelius Ingram out for the year with torn ACL.

Same ACL he tore before his senior season (2008) at Florida. One day from the one-year anniversary of that injury. Everyone was shocked that the Eagles were able to get a player like that in the 5th round. This is why.

Eagles going with Joe Mays at MIKE baker, and are signing players off the street to backup Brent Celek at TE. Add this to the loss of Jim Johnson, and it's not looking good for the team that by most accounts was the favorite in the NFC (along with the Giants.)

[BlueSky]

Occurred to me (yeah, I'm slow...) that tonight's HOF game features Bills vs. Titans, the same matchup (in name at least) that opened the Bills' inaugural season in 1960 (obviously they played the team now known as the Jets). It's pretty weird that the former Oilers chose a name in Tennessee that was also used by one of the original AFL clubs.

[Viper]

Occurred to me (yeah, I'm slow...) that tonight's HOF game features Bills vs. Titans, the same matchup (in name at least) that opened the Bills' inaugural season in 1960 (obviously they played the team now known as the Jets). It's pretty weird that the former Oilers chose a name in Tennessee that was also used by one of the original AFL clubs.

Is this also why they've broken with the usual NFC vs. AFC format for the HoF Game this year?

[FiddySicks]

A few things I've noticed about today's game.

Lendale White has trimmed down quite a bit, but he didn't lose any weight. He just gave it to Algee Crumpler. As Curt said to me earlier, dude looks like he ate Mike Vick.

At first I liked the idea of the Titans wearing Oliers gear, but the more I see it the more out of place it looks. It just isn't right for a team called the Tennessee Titans to be wearing HOUSTON Oilers caps on the sideline. And The Houston Texans got doubley slapped this season with the Chiefs wearing Texans gear. Add that to the Jets wearing Titans uniforms, the whole throwback thing just looks dumb.

Vince Young just doesn't want to play football anymore. There's no other explanation that makes sense to me.

[NEW.ERA]

A few things I've noticed about today's game.

Lendale White has trimmed down quite a bit, but he didn't lose any weight. He just gave it to Algee Crumpler. As Curt said to me earlier, dude looks like he ate Mike Vick.

At first I liked the idea of the Titans wearing Oliers gear, but the more I see it the more out of place it looks. It just isn't right for a team called the Tennessee Titans to be wearing HOUSTON Oilers caps on the sideline. And The Houston Texans got doubley slapped this season with the Chiefs wearing Texans gear. Add that to the Jets wearing Titans uniforms, the whole throwback thing just looks dumb.

Vince Young just doesn't want to play football anymore. There's no other explanation that makes sense to me.

So much for him wanting to be in the Hall of Fame then, There's always coaching

[HedleyLamarr]

This is where preseason games get long and ugly....when the 3rd- and 4th-stringers and beyond are playing in the game. All sorts of false starts, holding, and blocking-in-the-back calls to make a guy fall asleep.....

[Cujo]

At first I liked the idea of the Titans wearing Oliers gear, but the more I see it the more out of place it looks. It just isn't right for a team called the Tennessee Titans to be wearing HOUSTON Oilers caps on the sideline. And The Houston Texans got doubley slapped this season with the Chiefs wearing Texans gear. Add that to the Jets wearing Titans uniforms, the whole throwback thing just looks dumb.

Agreed. With all the moving around that's gone on over time, it's kind of hard to do the AFL Legacy-thing in a way that it satisfies everyone. On top of that, if the NFL really wanted the HOF Game to be a fitting tribute to the AFL, they would have matched up the only two original teams who have haven't moved or changed nicknames over the past 50 years, the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos.

[BlueSky]

There's been nothing mentioned on the national outlets that I know of - surprising in this day and age - but Drew Brees' mother died the other day. He's away obviously for a while. She was an attorney and they apparently had a falling out when he turned pro because he declined to have her represent him. Then she ran for office in Texas and was using ads featuring Drew without his consent, so he asked her to pull them. Seems it got pretty contentious. Sad story. I wish him and his family the best.

[zmspartans]

A few things I've noticed about today's game.

Lendale White has trimmed down quite a bit, but he didn't lose any weight. He just gave it to Algee Crumpler. As Curt said to me earlier, dude looks like he ate Mike Vick.

At first I liked the idea of the Titans wearing Oliers gear, but the more I see it the more out of place it looks. It just isn't right for a team called the Tennessee Titans to be wearing HOUSTON Oilers caps on the sideline. And The Houston Texans got doubley slapped this season with the Chiefs wearing Texans gear. Add that to the Jets wearing Titans uniforms, the whole throwback thing just looks dumb.

Vince Young just doesn't want to play football anymore. There's no other explanation that makes sense to me.

So much for him wanting to be in the Hall of Fame then, There's always coaching

Im assuming this is sarcasm, right?

[CAB]

As for Crabtree, he's evidently lost his freakin' mind. blink.gif

Or was it already lost?

[chestnutz]

Good God the Eagles have the be the unluckiest team this pre-season. Lose our starting MLB, one that could have been a pro bowler, Stewart Bradley for the year. Cornelius Ingram, a game changing TE I was really looking forward to seeing play is down for the year, DeSean Jackson is battling a knee injury, and now backup QB Kolb sprained his knee and possible pro browl DE Trent Cole sprained his shoulder. Damn, this is just brutal.

[rainmaker17]

There's been nothing mentioned on the national outlets that I know of - surprising in this day and age - but Drew Brees' mother died the other day. He's away obviously for a while. She was an attorney and they apparently had a falling out when he turned pro because he declined to have her represent him. Then she ran for office in Texas and was using ads featuring Drew without his consent, so he asked her to pull them. Seems it got pretty contentious. Sad story. I wish him and his family the best.

Yeah that story is a pretty big deal here (Brees is from Austin). There are a lot of differing opinions on Mina Brees as you can see in the comments section of this article:

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news.../0809brees.html

I actually met her once around five years ago and found her to be fairly unpleasant. Either way I feel sad for Drew and his family.