2016 NFL THREAD - Super Bowl 51 - Patriots' Day: V - Screw Goodell

[Shooters1221]

Vegas is a sports betting capitol.  Should be business as usual.  Not much of a change at all.

Agreed, but I think the NHL team is more likely to struggle.  Hockey in the heat hasn't been terribly popular in the past and with 41 home games, that's a lot more seats to sell than an NFL team.

Well, they do have SJ, LA, Phoenix, Dallas, and a couple of Florida teams. They seem to be doing ok in the heat. I think Vegas is a different type of city though, it's gonna be interesting to see.

Out of all those, I believe LA is the only one doing well.  Phoenix is a disaster.  I'm not saying it'll fail, but I think it'll be more difficult than the NFL team.

SJ does well too. Yes, I agree that the NFL will be an easier sell with fans just due to the number of home games.

[mikeyd23]

Vegas is a sports betting capitol.  Should be business as usual.  Not much of a change at all.

Agreed, but I think the NHL team is more likely to struggle.  Hockey in the heat hasn't been terribly popular in the past and with 41 home games, that's a lot more seats to sell than an NFL team.

Well, they do have SJ, LA, Phoenix, Dallas, and a couple of Florida teams. They seem to be doing ok in the heat. I think Vegas is a different type of city though, it's gonna be interesting to see.

Out of all those, I believe LA is the only one doing well.  Phoenix is a disaster.  I'm not saying it'll fail, but I think it'll be more difficult than the NFL team.

Bingo. I'm more curious to see if the NHL team sells well there. SJ is doing well because the team is good. LA does well because it's a long standing franchise with recent success. Phoenix is horrible, and the FL teams have started to catch on because they have actually started to compete.

I don't see the Vegas expansion team competing right away, so I'm curious to see how the franchise does when the new car smell wears off.

Also - @ Dublagent66 being a betting town doesn't necessarily mean they will support those franchises with ticket, merch, etc... sales and TV ratings. It might translate or it might not.

[Dublagent66]

Yeah, I don't see the NHL getting as much support simply because it's not nearly as popular as the NFL.

[pogoowner]

I don't know much details about Oakland. Were they unable to get a new stadium deal there like San Diego?

Yup. They've been trying forever, because the Coliseum, while charming in some ways, is very old, and it's a total dump by today's standards.

[bosk1]

It's a shame they couldn't get the money approved to do a new stadium in the same location.  That neighborhood isn't great.  But in terms of access, it is terrific.  But yeah, the stadium itself is bad.  Oracle, as old as it is, is decent, IMO.  But the outdoor stadium...no.

[mikeyd23]

I don't know much details about Oakland. Were they unable to get a new stadium deal there like San Diego?

Yup. They've been trying forever, because the Coliseum, while charming in some ways, is very old, and it's a total dump by today's standards.

By trying do you mean trying to get the taxpayers to fund the development? I'm asking honestly because I don't know.

[bosk1]

My understanding is that they have been trying for the better part of the last four decades to get finding and approval through just about every means possible, and keep getting stonewalled.  That fight has been going on since before they left Oakland the first time.

[mikeyd23]

My understanding is that they have been trying for the better part of the last four decades to get finding and approval through just about every means possible, and keep getting stonewalled.  That fight has been going on since before they left Oakland the first time.

Ah gotcha, thanks!

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Damn... I feel so bad for this young man. A promising career cut way too short.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Zach Orr, the team's leading tackler this season, has retired at age 24 because of a congenital neck and spine condition, the team announced Friday.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18517245/baltimore-ravens-lb-zach-orr-retire

[Shooters1221]

My understanding is that they have been trying for the better part of the last four decades to get finding and approval through just about every means possible, and keep getting stonewalled.  That fight has been going on since before they left Oakland the first time.

I lived out there from late 80's - late 90's and it was always bad, worse than the 'stick' and that's long gone.

[bosk1]

My understanding is that they have been trying for the better part of the last four decades to get finding and approval through just about every means possible, and keep getting stonewalled.  That fight has been going on since before they left Oakland the first time.

I lived out there from late 80's - late 90's and it was always bad, worse than the 'stick' and that's long gone.

Me too (well, I got there before the late '80s, but was still there during the time you mention).  In fact, my first concert ever was Quiet Riot/Whitesnake/Kick Axe at what is now Oracle Arena.

[Dream Team]

I like the Falcons, something like 34 - 30.

The second game . . . everyone knows BB is a defensive guru, they've never won the SB without a good to great defense. For me this is a match between Todd Haley and BB. Will Haley be creative and dynamic with his play calling? Or will they go no-huddle like they did against Balt when they scored 3TDs in the fourth quarter? On defense, I think they need to focus on limiting those easy throws to a Edelman and take a chance with man coverage on the outside receivers.

As Cowherd said yesterday, instead of getting completely wrapped up in results, take a moment just to enjoy these games and QB matchups. Some of them may not happen again.

[KevShmev]

Damn... I feel so bad for this young man. A promising career cut way too short.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Zach Orr, the team's leading tackler this season, has retired at age 24 because of a congenital neck and spine condition, the team announced Friday.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18517245/baltimore-ravens-lb-zach-orr-retire

Bummer for the team, but hopefully he got out before being disabled for life.

As Cowherd said yesterday, instead of getting completely wrapped up in results, take a moment just to enjoy these games and QB matchups. Some of them may not happen again.

Yep, I saw his take on that, too.  Hard to believe this is only the second time NE has played Pittsburgh in the Roethlisberger era (2004-present). 

We were spoiled to get five Peyton/Brady playoff games.

[King Postwhore]

No Kev, I've been spoiled.  I wondered how The Steelers, SF, and Dallas did it in 3 decades growing up?

I've lived 15 years of "having a chance" every year.

[KevShmev]

What's really crazy is that every AFC Super Bowl team since 2003 has had Peyton, Brady or Roethlisberger at QB, except the 2012 Ravens.  And this year it is guaranteed to be one of them again.

[Cool Chris]

By trying do you mean trying to get the taxpayers to fund the development? I'm asking honestly because I don't know.

My understanding is that they have been trying for the better part of the last four decades to get finding and approval through just about every means possible, and keep getting stonewalled.  That fight has been going on since before they left Oakland the first time.

So yes, multimillionaires are having trouble getting taxpayers to pay for their buildings.

[splent]

I like the Falcons, something like 34 - 30.

Reverse the scores and you get my thinking, although I think it'll be packers 38 falcons 28.

[pogoowner]

I'm taking the home teams for the 3rd straight week.

[PowerSlave]

Damn... I feel so bad for this young man. A promising career cut way too short.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Zach Orr, the team's leading tackler this season, has retired at age 24 because of a congenital neck and spine condition, the team announced Friday.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18517245/baltimore-ravens-lb-zach-orr-retire

It's sad that a young man won't be able to live his dream, and use his talent in the prime of his life. However, thank the deity of your choice that he wasn't seriously injured. Hopefully he did well in college and took his studies seriously.

[King Postwhore]

Well Irsay's drug haze finally wore off and he fired Grigson.  He is the main reason Luck has regressed.

[pogoowner]

Well Irsay's drug haze finally wore off and he fired Grigson.  He is the main reason Luck has regressed.

I don't know why he waited, rather than make the move when more candidates were available (several of the guys SF was going after already got raises to stay at their current teams, for instance). Or why he kept Pagano, who'll likely get fired after yet another middling season.

Of course it seems very likely that he just promotes the in-house candidate, Jimmy Raye III.

[King Postwhore]

Should have been done last year!

[TAC]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/pat-mcafee-has-savage-subtweets-about-ryan-grigson-then-takes-on-dan-dakich/ar-AAm5PpG?li=BBnb7Kz

[DragonAttack]

^
The NFL has really done well with social media in the last week

More on Zachary Orr
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-ravens-zachary-orr-will-announce-retirement-today-because-of-neck-injury-20170120-story.html

It's worth the couple of minutes.  An undrafted free agent out of North Texas becomes the Ravens' leading tackler, a 2nd team All-Pro, and then his career is over at 24.  A well spoken young man from a great family.  You won't hear about these players on the Jerry Springer-ish type sports shows. 

fwiw, taking the Pats and Falcons.

[pogoowner]

Good for Pat McAfee. Everyone's been thinking it for a few years anyway.

[TAC]

Belichick at it again!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/fans-blame-%e2%80%98cheat%e2%80%99-patriots-after-3-am-evacuation-of-steelers-hotel/ar-AAm72LR?li=BBnbfcL

[King Postwhore]

 

Lock that dumb kid up.  Btw, the kid tweeted Scott Zolak that he did it.

[Prog Snob]

I haven't watched a game all year. Something tells me not to start today because the Steelers will give me more anxiety than I feel like dealing with.

[KevShmev]

Belichick at it again!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/fans-blame-%e2%80%98cheat%e2%80%99-patriots-after-3-am-evacuation-of-steelers-hotel/ar-AAm72LR?li=BBnbfcL

Shit like that happens in sports all the time. 

I still remember the stories about how Lawrence Taylor would pay a hooker to go keep a player up all night the night before a big game, and always the player he was most worried about on the offensive line.

[Dublagent66]

NE and ATL in SB.

[TheCountOfNYC]

I'm definitely rooting for whoever come out of the NFC to win it all since Pittsburgh and New England are by far my two least favorite teams in the league. I'm not making any actual predictions for today since I'm very superstitious (cue clavichord) and I don't want to jinx anything, but as far as what I want, I would love for the Steelers to win a hard fought and physical game so that they're beat up (not injured but very sore) for the Super Bowl and then for Atlanta to beat Green Bay. I obviously want the Falcons to win the Super Bowl and the reason is because I want someone different. The other three teams have 14 Super Bowls and 21 conference titles between them while Atlanta is 0-1 in the big game. It would just be nice to see a different city get a parade for once.

[KevShmev]

I think Atlanta will win today.  GB has too many injuries in the secondary to stop the Atlanta offense, and while Rodgers can still be all-world, Nelson and Adams not being close to 100 percent really hurts them.  Plus, Atlanta is just really good; better than most realize.

[King Postwhore]

I think Atlanta will win today.  GB has too many injuries in the secondary to stop the Atlanta offense, and while Rodgers can still be all-world, Nelson and Adams not being close to 100 percent really hurts them.  Plus, Atlanta is just really good; better than most realize.

I was thinking this as well.

[RoeDent]

Just locking in my predictions for the Championship games. I'm going for Packers and Patriots wins tonight. I'm hoping for lots of points in the Packers-Falcons game.

I'm 6-2 for playoff predictions after last week's games, so at least I'm guaranteed a winning record even if I get all 3 remaining games wrong.

[Dublagent66]

I'm definitely rooting for whoever come out of the NFC to win it all since Pittsburgh and New England are by far my two least favorite teams in the league. I'm not making any actual predictions for today since I'm very superstitious (cue clavichord) and I don't want to jinx anything, but as far as what I want, I would love for the Steelers to win a hard fought and physical game so that they're beat up (not injured but very sore) for the Super Bowl and then for Atlanta to beat Green Bay. I obviously want the Falcons to win the Super Bowl and the reason is because I want someone different. The other three teams have 14 Super Bowls and 21 conference titles between them while Atlanta is 0-1 in the big game. It would just be nice to see a different city get a parade for once.

I agree with all of this except, I don't want to see Pitt go to the SB.  If that happened, they just might get their 7th world championship and I definitely don't want to see that.  However, I don't think they get through NE.