Nfl

[Sussex Shrimper]

I would love for you to be right - but I can't see that happening. There was a lot of talk about 'taking games from the home fans' being the problem with regular season NFL games happening in London - if they took the most heated rivalry in the NFL away from two of the best supported teams (Washington's home games are sold out for the next fifty years or something ridiculous like that), there would be uproar. I think we need to be content with less glamourous fixtures, and hope they produce spectacles like we saw yesterday.

Just passing on what I heard from a group of guys who seemed pretty knowledgeable and spoke with a fair degree of certainty about it - I haven't a clue one way or the other.

I guess it may come down to fans vs. money again, as with the dreaded "game 39". The marketing opportunities over here must be huge, and while all sporting organisations will wax lyrical about the fans coming first do we really believe a word of it any more?

 

[Pubey]

How brilliant was that Wembley game? One of the best sporting events I've ever been to, absolutely fantastic!

agreed.. absolutely amazing!!!

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Just passing on what I heard from a group of guys who seemed pretty knowledgeable and spoke with a fair degree of certainty about it - I haven't a clue one way or the other.

I guess it may come down to fans vs. money again, as with the dreaded "game 39". The marketing opportunities over here must be huge, and while all sporting organisations will wax lyrical about the fans coming first do we really believe a word of it any more?

I wasn't questioning what you may have heard fella, and I think you have a damn good point when you mention that the league will not be that bothered about 'putting fans first'. In purely pragmatic terms, the NFL knows that they can sell out Wembley stadium with any two teams so why rock the boat by sending one of the marquee match-ups overseas?

 

[steveo]

agreed.. absolutely amazing!!!

Meanwhile, I took the long drive from Port Charlotte to Miami to seethe Bills. We hit the car park about 11 am in our 12 seater van. Opened the back and got a few sandwiches and a couple of bottles of beer out of the cool box, and did of course feel totally inadequate with all the tailgate parties going on.

This was only my second NFL game. The atmosphere was fantastic, Bills - Dolphins has been a long standing rivalry, which for me unfortunately turned out the wrong way with the Dolphins winning 26-15.

If you have not been to one of these in the states, you should go, even if you are not a fan. Its amazing how 80,000 fans can drink such vast quantities of beer, and sit together - there are loads of upstate New Yorkers in Florida - all with their team shirts on, just getting on with some great banter and having a good time. Puts us to shame really.

They do advertise a number around the stadium. If you see a fan behaving in an "unruly manner" you can text the number with his seat number, and they will moniter him and throw him out if needs be. Despite this, I didnt see on cop in the stadium the whole day.

Something else of note, before the kick off some fans carried a massive USA flag onto the pitch. Everyone stood, removed their hats, and sung the National Anthem. As soon as the last note finished, two F15's, flew, really low across the stadium.

A lot of people knock the yanks, but they certainly know how to put on an event

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

The Redskin Rule

In losing to the Steelers on Monday night, the Redskins have ensured an Obama win, or so history tells us. If the Redskins win prior to an election, the incumbent party wins, but Jason Campbell's passing streak with no interceptions ended against the tough Steel Curtain defense - and that should mean a Democrat victory. Did Campbell no about this historical precedent? Was his aim deliberately off to ensure that it would be 'bros before hoes'?

 

[Irish_Shrimper]

Losing to the Colts, for me, is on a par with the feeling of stabbing myself in the eye with a pointy straw. Now, off to the supermarket i go...

Bah Humbug. :(

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

What's going on with Dolphins ? 4-4 over the season, including wins over the Patriots, the Bills and the Broncos. I thought they were supposed to be worse than Col U :)

 

[steveo]

What's going on with Dolphins ? 4-4 over the season, including wins over the Patriots, the Bills and the Broncos. I thought they were supposed to be worse than Col U :)

They were rubbish against the Bills but a horrible interception thrown by Edwards turned the game on its head. If you haven't heard it Miami play a truly awful song when they score.

 

[jassyfa1]

Meanwhile, I took the long drive from Port Charlotte to Miami to seethe Bills. We hit the car park about 11 am in our 12 seater van. Opened the back and got a few sandwiches and a couple of bottles of beer out of the cool box, and did of course feel totally inadequate with all the tailgate parties going on.

This was only my second NFL game. The atmosphere was fantastic, Bills - Dolphins has been a long standing rivalry, which for me unfortunately turned out the wrong way with the Dolphins winning 26-15.

If you have not been to one of these in the states, you should go, even if you are not a fan. Its amazing how 80,000 fans can drink such vast quantities of beer, and sit together - there are loads of upstate New Yorkers in Florida - all with their team shirts on, just getting on with some great banter and having a good time. Puts us to shame really.

They do advertise a number around the stadium. If you see a fan behaving in an "unruly manner" you can text the number with his seat number, and they will moniter him and throw him out if needs be. Despite this, I didnt see on cop in the stadium the whole day.

Something else of note, before the kick off some fans carried a massive USA flag onto the pitch. Everyone stood, removed their hats, and sung the National Anthem. As soon as the last note finished, two F15's, flew, really low across the stadium.

A lot of people knock the yanks, but they certainly know how to put on an event

I watches the 49ers vs the Skins back in the 99/00 season at Candlestick Park. it was the late Sunday night game, which the skins won in O/T, which I believe got them into the playoffs.
Must admit the pregame atmosphere in the car park was amazing.
I also use to watch the London Monaches and went to all their home games in the 1st season watching them beat the Bacalona Dragons with Libertine (from this site) at wembley. also went to Frankfurt to watch them get stuffed. That is one long coach job.
Im also into the college football and follow Boise State, mainly due to their blue grass and USC. with neither of these teams goin gto the National championship thi syear im rooting for Alabama to get there as Penn State just don't seem interestin genough and Texas Tech won't go unbeaten

 

[Irish_Shrimper]

What a game against the Jets tonight. Cassel just pulled a 2 point conversion out of the bag to make it a 3 point ball game going into the 4th.

Come on you Patriots :)

 

[steveo]

Sky Plussed the Browns v Bills which ended in another disaster for the Bills.

The Bills kicked a field goal with the last kick off the 3rd, and kicked off the 4th. The browns ran the kick off back for a touchdown and duly kicked off for the Bills to run that kick off back for a TD.

The commentators didnt make a big deal of it, but i've never seen back to back kick off returns for TD's before. Is it a common occurrence?

The promising Edwards is now playing so badly at QB. Three interceptions on his first 3 possessions. Terrible.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

The Skins are obviously not the team they looked to be in beating Philly and Dallas on the road - I don't see them snagging one of the Wild Card spots in the NFC.

As a neutral then, I'm really hoping that the Titans and Giants meet in the Super Bowl, because that will be a great game of smash mouth football.

 

[steveo]

Ive watched the Titans a few times on Sky this year and I cant help thinking they just are not a good 10 and 0 team. Seems most of the opponents do everything they can to lose.
Do you really think they can win the big prize?

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Do you really think they can win the big prize?

Not if they meet the Giants!!! :p

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Chad Ocho-Cinco has been suspended by the Bungles from tonight's grudge match against the overrated Steelers.

I can see this being incredibly ugly as Cincy were already without Carson Palmer and the entire left-hand side of their offensive line. Two offensive linesman making their first starts against the sack happy Steelers and James Harrison in particular, plus missing your star QB and WR and this is going to be painful to watch.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Ive watched the Titans a few times on Sky this year and I cant help thinking they just are not a good 10 and 0 team. Seems most of the opponents do everything they can to lose.
Do you really think they can win the big prize?

I agree with this, but you can't argue with the record. They find a way to win. The Giants are definitely a better team, but surely the Pats were the best team last year?

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Chad Ocho-Cinco has been suspended by the Bungles from tonight's grudge match against the overrated Steelers.

I can see this being incredibly ugly as Cincy were already without Carson Palmer and the entire left-hand side of their offensive line. Two offensive linesman making their first starts against the sack happy Steelers and James Harrison in particular, plus missing your star QB and WR and this is going to be painful to watch.

The OL held up better than I thought. Collins needs to play left-tackle for the rest of the season to see whether he's worth the job next season, or whether the Bengals need to go left-tackle with the 3rd pick of the 2009 draft.

What was depressing was the complete lack of pass-rush. I could have looked good for the Steelers, Roethlisburger was given so much time despite being protected by arguably the one pass-protection in the NFL worse than the Bungles.

Collins' success does however beg the question why the hell he'd only featured in 6 snaps all season before the ****burgh game, and why he was inactive last week. At 1-8 why aren't the kids in there? Caldwell admittedly has been injured a fair bit, but he picked up his first professional catches. PLAY THE KIDS! Oh and when you are 13 points down with 6 minutes left on the clock, go for it on 4th and 4.

 

[steveo]

Oh and when you are 13 points down with 6 minutes left on the clock, go for it on 4th and 4.

And in the Bills case, when you are faced with a 48 yard field goal into the wind but you have time on the clock and its first down, don't run three times for no yards, especially as the third time you run wide.
At least make one pass attempt and gain some yards.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Very interesting day in the NFL yesterday, but nothing seems any clearer.

The Giants handily beat the Cards in Arizona, which for the first season I can remember, is a reputation-enhancing achievement. Arizona are a one-dimensional team in a weak division, but Kurt Warner and his receivers make that one dimension something truly dangerous. To win the game on the road without your number one running back was what you want to see from a Championship team, the Giants look a very good bet to repeat as Champs.

Carolina were totally exposed by the Falcons, and despite the impressive records, I'm not convinced of the strength of the NFC South. The Bears look to be hitting their stride in the Central, and with Romo back behind center, the Cow*******s are back on track. I hate to say it, but the Skins' 7-4 record flatters them. They may not even make the play-offs.

In the AFC, it's all about the Jets after their defeat of the Titans. The established powers in New England, Indy and Pittsburgh are looking ominously good too.

My new Superbowl match-up projection (it changes every week):

A re-match of last year.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Mwahahahaha

My Bungles are beating Rusty's Racist Mascots.

Just thought I better get my gloat in early, before normal service is resumed.