Nfl 2013 (3 Viewers)

[lancer]

For better or for worse, nothing stays the same. Football is not what it was because it is there to make money. More money is made if everyone has a chance at the brass thing. Hence, parity. The NFL is image conscious. Hence, trying to make the game less violent. Less violence might mean less lawsuits. People like scoring. Hence, the rules change. It's all about the money. If people stop watching and stop spending money buying jerseys and paraphernalia, the NFL might change and go back to yesteryear. However, they're making more money than ever. It's all about the money. As the late great George Young used to say, when people say it's not about the money, it's about the money and the NFL is about the money.

Next.

Very true and deep down, I know it. Sad truth is, I'm a product of the 60's, good and bad. :wink2: -- Al

 

[Louis Badolato]

Change is one thing; ruining the game is another.

Read what Louis wrote, the parity and rule changes are ruining the game, pure and simple, end of story.

I had a nice chat with Tom Dubel today, he said parity had lead to mediocrity.

Talk about spot on.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees that change for the wrong reasons or no good reason is bad. Football is an inherently dangerous sport like boxing or hockey. The owners, and their puppet Roger Goodell have pretended to change the game for the health of the players, but the real reason for the rule changes is transparent: protecting the big name high-profile players (Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers) who generate the most publicity and money for the league, and generate higher scores to satisfy the "fantasy football" generation. Notice none of the rule changes protect the mostly faceless defensive players, only the guys schilling for the league. There are a lot of far more dangerous jobs, that do not pay nearly as well, where people who develop just as serious debilitating conditions have no right to sue their employer (like coal miners, oil roustabouts, fishermen, iron workers, firemen, police officers and military men, to name a few), who still go to work every day. NFL players, who make millions, should do the same.

And the reason for "parity" is equally transparent: poorly run perennially bad franchises, like the Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals and San Diego Chargers, who wasted top draft picks year after year, wanted to water down the rest of the league so their teams could drag themselves out of the doldrums. Model franchises, run like the Pittsburg Steelers of the 70's and 2000's, the Dallas Cowboys of the 70's and 90's, the San Francisco 49ers of the 80's, the Oakland Raiders of the 70's and 80's, the Dallas Cowboys of the 70's and 90's, the New York Giants of the 80's and 2000's, and the New England Patriots of the 2000's should be the model franchises other franchises should emulate: building champions through hiring a great GM, a great coach, and drafting well. Vince Lombardi, Chuck Knoll, Don Shula, Bill Walsh, Tom Landry, Bill Parcels, Bill Belichick, Jimmy Johnson . . . these are the coaches that constructed dynasties for their teams, with help from great general managers like George Young. Championship teams are supposed to be built over a period of 4-5 years of skillful drafting, player development and coaching, not a month of hot play. A team built that way should be permitted to remain intact for another 4-5 years and build a dynasty, not broken up because of the salary cap. That's why, to me the true model franchises of the last 15 years, the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts, are so impressive. Despite drafting low every season, because they always seem to win at least 12 games, they have managed to reload and stay on top in this era of "parity" (read mediocrity).

 

[Warrior]

For better or for worse, nothing stays the same. Football is not what it was because it is there to make money. More money is made if everyone has a chance at the brass thing. Hence, parity. The NFL is image conscious. Hence, trying to make the game less violent. Less violence might mean less lawsuits. People like scoring. Hence, the rules change. It's all about the money. If people stop watching and stop spending money buying jerseys and paraphernalia, the NFL might change and go back to yesteryear. However, they're making more money than ever. It's all about the money. As the late great George Young used to say, when people say it's not about the money, it's about the money and the NFL is about the money.

Next.

Another great post.

This all started after the 2003 AFCCG, when the Colts went and whined to the league about the way the Patriots manhandled the Colts receivers in that game, they beat them up down one side of the field and down the other.

The next year, rules where changed, it became a pass happy no defense league, the Colts set all sorts of offensive records and got their ***** handed to them in the playoffs once again by the Patriots.

The rules kept getting changed the more that overstuffed gas bag Polian whined to the league; todays game is the result.

Awesome job Colts.

 

[Louis Badolato]

It's the truth, ain't it? All the offensive fireworks over the last 15 years and I still would pick Unitas at Qb, Brown at Fb, Sayers at Hb, Lombardi at Head Coach, and I'd take on all comers.^&cool -- Al

Okay, Al, give me Bill Walsh as coach, Lawrence Taylor at OLB, Reggie White as DE, Mike Singletary at MLB, Joe Montana at QB, Walter Payton at Fb, Barry Sanders at halfback, an Jerry Rice at WR, and your on!:wink2:

 

[Warrior]

Louis makes another great point; these fantasy football geeks and how the league now caters to them.

When I'm sitting there watching a game with several friends and they continually babble about "Awesome, I benched Brady today and put in Manning, look at how great he's doing" and the scroll at the bottom of the screen shows each player and how many fantasy points he was worth that day, I want to get up, rip the tv off the wall and fire it through the window.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Louis makes another great point; these fantasy football geeks and how the league now caters to them.

When I'm sitting there watching a game with several friends and they continually babble about "Awesome, I benched Brady today and put in Manning, look at how great he's doing" and the scroll at the bottom of the screen shows each player and how many fantasy points he was worth that day, I want to get up, rip the tv off the wall and fire it through the window.

I'm with you, brother!

 

[jazzeum]

The sport changes but remains the same. When I was a kid, I had a collection of baseball writing. Think it was authored by Charles Einstein, a great writer.

In it was Rolfe Humphries' Polo Grounds, part of which contained the following:

"Time is of the essence. The shadow moves
From the plate to the box, from the box to second base,
From second to the outfield, to the bleachers.

Time is of the essence. The crowd and players
Are the same age always, but the man in the crowd
Is older every season. Come on, play ball!"

The sport changes but remains the same. It's still fun to watch. It's still a running back hitting the line, a pitcher battling the hitter, a drive to the hoop. The sport changes but the game remains the same.

 

[lancer]

Okay, Al, give me Bill Walsh as coach, Lawrence Taylor at OLB, Reggie White as DE, Mike Singletary at MLB, Joe Montana at QB, Walter Payton at Fb, Barry Sanders at halfback, an Jerry Rice at WR, and your on!:wink2:

^&grin That would be a game worth watching! -- Al

 

[lancer]

The sport changes but remains the same. When I was a kid, I had a collection of baseball writing. Think it was authored by Charles Einstein, a great writer.

In it was Rolfe Humphries' Polo Grounds, part of which contained the following:

"Time is of the essence. The shadow moves
From the plate to the box, from the box to second base,
From second to the outfield, to the bleachers.

Time is of the essence. The crowd and players
Are the same age always, but the man in the crowd
Is older every season. Come on, play ball!"

The sport changes but remains the same. It's still fun to watch. It's still a running back hitting the line, a pitcher battling the hitter, a drive to the hoop. The sport changes but the game remains the same.

It was a sad day when I realized that I had watched Cal Ripken's entire career, from beginning to end and it seemed like an eyeblink. The game goes on. -- Al

 

[Louis Badolato]

The sport changes but remains the same. When I was a kid, I had a collection of baseball writing. Think it was authored by Charles Einstein, a great writer.

In it was Rolfe Humphries' Polo Grounds, part of which contained the following:

"Time is of the essence. The shadow moves
From the plate to the box, from the box to second base,
From second to the outfield, to the bleachers.

Time is of the essence. The crowd and players
Are the same age always, but the man in the crowd
Is older every season. Come on, play ball!"

The sport changes but remains the same. It's still fun to watch. It's still a running back hitting the line, a pitcher battling the hitter, a drive to the hoop. The sport changes but the game remains the same.

Very poetic, Brad, and I am glad you feel that way. However, I no longer enjoy watching NFL Football. I still watch my Giants some weeks, I think I have watched two full Giants games this season, and bits of others. I used to watch every minute of football that was televised, plus all of the pre and post game shows and highlight shows. I used to go to at least two games every year, plus playoff games, and I once bought my friend's season tickets and went to every home game that season. I don't anymore. The watered down, high-scoring, no defense, "defenseless receiver" version of the NFL they put on the field today does nothing for me.

John Madden used to refer to big hits as "slobber-knockers." That is why I loved watching, and as a high school kid, playing football, big hits. Separating a receiver from the ball. Needing real courage to try to catch a ball over the middle. Alligator arms. Strip-sack fumbles. Linebackers and strong safeties filling in the box and stuffing running backs in the hole. Watching a quarterback slowly pick himself up after Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, Bruce Smith, Richard Dent, Howie Long or a blitzing Ronnie Lott knocked him into next week. The Bears forty-six defense. The Big Blue Wrecking Crew with the only group of linebackers (Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson, Pepper Johnson and Carl Banks) that could legitimately be compared to the Steelers linebackers of the 70's. The perennially fantastic 49ers defense led by the hardest hitting safety of my lifetime, Ronnie Lott, and former Giant nose tackle Jim Burt. Even the Jets got in the act with the Sack exchange. This pretty-boy, baby the quarterback and wide receivers, penalize any defender who dares cover a receiver or sack a QB version of the NFL is going to go the way of boxing and horseracing and become a second rate sport.

 

[Warrior]

The NFL is image conscious. Hence, trying to make the game less violent. Less violence might mean less lawsuits..................the NFL is about the money.

Next.

Again, I do agree the NFL is all about the money.

They are not image conscious; the only reason they've tried to legislate the violence out of the league is because it was costing them money with the law suits.

The NFL could give a **** about player safety, they just got tired of being sued.

Again, all about the money.

They should be ashamed.

 

[Panzer ace]

Again, I do agree the NFL is all about the money.

They are not image conscious; the only reason they've tried to legislate the violence out of the league is because it was costing them money with the law suits.

The NFL could give a **** about player safety, they just got tired of being sued.

Again, all about the money.

They should be ashamed.

Great posts all around.

The most important point I think is the money. Somewhere the NFL went from a sport meant to entertain to entertainment based on a sport. If you look back at the last 25 years you will see it.

From the players right up to the owners it is all about money now. I read in Forbes where the son of one of the owners said that you used to buy a team to win now you buy one to make a profit.

 

[Warrior]

Great posts all around.

The most important point I think is the money. Somewhere the NFL went from a sport meant to entertain to entertainment based on a sport. If you look back at the last 25 years you will see it.

From the players right up to the owners it is all about money now. I read in Forbes where the son of one of the owners said that you used to buy a team to win now you buy one to make a profit.

Don't forget about the fantasy league geeks, it's all about those nerds too.

I hope New York gets two feet of snow the day of the Super Bowl.

 

[jazzeum]

I hope so too. That's the way football should be played. Bear weather!

 

[lancer]

So you all want snow for the SB? Anyone remember when the Eagles beat the Chicago Cardinals in a game long heavy snowstorm to take the NFL title, 7-0? Neither do I as it was in 1948! I'm sure someone on the forum remembers it and maybe even saw it as it was the first televised NFL title game. Philly legend Steve van Buren scored the only Td in the 4th quarter. An SB blizzard would be a real test for any team and maybe even make the ground game important for a change. -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

Very poetic, Brad, and I am glad you feel that way. However, I no longer enjoy watching NFL Football. I still watch my Giants some weeks, I think I have watched two full Giants games this season, and bits of others. I used to watch every minute of football that was televised, plus all of the pre and post game shows and highlight shows. I used to go to at least two games every year, plus playoff games, and I once bought my friend's season tickets and went to every home game that season. I don't anymore. The watered down, high-scoring, no defense, "defenseless receiver" version of the NFL they put on the field today does nothing for me.

John Madden used to refer to big hits as "slobber-knockers." That is why I loved watching, and as a high school kid, playing football, big hits. Separating a receiver from the ball. Needing real courage to try to catch a ball over the middle. Alligator arms. Strip-sack fumbles. Linebackers and strong safeties filling in the box and stuffing running backs in the hole. Watching a quarterback slowly pick himself up after Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, Bruce Smith, Richard Dent, Howie Long or a blitzing Ronnie Lott knocked him into next week. The Bears forty-six defense. The Big Blue Wrecking Crew with the only group of linebackers (Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson, Pepper Johnson and Carl Banks) that could legitimately be compared to the Steelers linebackers of the 70's. The perennially fantastic 49ers defense led by the hardest hitting safety of my lifetime, Ronnie Lott, and former Giant nose tackle Jim Burt. Even the Jets got in the act with the Sack exchange. This pretty-boy, baby the quarterback and wide receivers, penalize any defender who dares cover a receiver or sack a QB version of the NFL is going to go the way of boxing and horseracing and become a second rate sport.

Those days are long gone. Players today are bigger and faster and the resulting contact more dangerous. LT was about 240 during his playing days. Heck, cornerbacks weigh that much these days. The NFL has tried to make the game less violent and more of an aerial show because they don't want the negative publicity. Negative publicity affects the bottom line. However, on top of that all the violence is creating unsafe working conditions. You may laugh but if the NFL does nothing, they will get sued and they're trying to manage the fallout from CTE, a problem that will get worse. As a result of the Dolphin situation you will see many new work rules. The Union also wants to see safer working conditions. That is why no two-a-days anymore during training camp.

You and others may like these big hits but it's creating problems for the NFL and the bottom line. And that is the bottom line.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Those days are long gone. Players today are bigger and faster and the resulting contact more dangerous. LT was about 240 during his playing days. Heck, cornerbacks weigh that much these days. The NFL has tried to make the game less violent and more of an aerial show because they don't want the negative publicity. Negative publicity affects the bottom line. However, on top of that all the violence is creating unsafe working conditions. You may laugh but if the NFL does nothing, they will get sued and they're trying to manage the fallout from CTE, a problem that will get worse. As a result of the Dolphin situation you will see many new work rules. The Union also wants to see safer working conditions. That is why no two-a-days anymore during training camp.

You and others may like these big hits but it's creating problems for the NFL and the bottom line. And that is the bottom line.

Sadly true. Which is why I have started to watch NHL hockey, which still resembles the game I watched as a kid. I stopped watching it when I moved to Texas as a teenager (there were no Dallas Stars then, they were still the Minnesota Northstars), and never started again when I moved back north. With the NFL turning into the DTFL (Don't Touch Football League), I am turning back to Hockey to watch a real contact sport.

 

[Warrior]

Took the words right out of my mouth, been to several Bruins games so far this year, it's hockey and baseball for me from here on out...............

 

[jazzeum]

Sadly true. Which is why I have started to watch NHL hockey, which still resembles the game I watched as a kid. I stopped watching it when I moved to Texas as a teenager (there were no Dallas Stars then, they were still the Minnesota Northstars), and never started again when I moved back north. With the NFL turning into the DTFL (Don't Touch Football League), I am turning back to Hockey to watch a real contact sport.

Took the words right out of my mouth, been to several Bruins games so far this year, it's hockey and baseball for me from here on out...............

So, where is the hockey thread?

 

[sammy719]

Wow a barn burner in NE, 24-0 broncos, just wondering if the pats can fumble for double digits in one game??....Sammy