NFC North / NFL Thread 2017-18

[Pakuni]

For example, even if there is the slightest bit to the head no matter how small, they are required to go into a dark room off the field for 10 minutes before coming back on.

If you send a football player to a dark room for 10 minutes after every slight hit to the head, you'll have nobody left on the field but kickers, punters and QBs midway through the first quarter.

[wadesworld]

Do they have the Lombardi Trophy in Minneapolis yet? Is it somewhere where the public can go check it out? I don’t know how these things work. But if it is available for public viewing Vikings fans may consider taking a look now. This might be the only time one of those trophies is ever in the state of Minnesota.

[🏀]

Do they have the Lombardi Trophy in Minneapolis yet? Is it somewhere where the public can go check it out? I don’t know how these things work. But if it is available for public viewing Vikings fans may consider taking a look now. This might be the only time one of those trophies is ever in the state of Minnesota.

They'll get to host the super bowl again.

[nyg]

Wow. KC trades Alex Smith to Redskins.  Looks like Kirk Cousins not getting tagged again and he ends up in?  Denver, Both New York teams, Arizona, lots of teams will want him now that it appears Skins have given up and he will make a boatload of cash.  Will also effect the draft. 

[GGGG]

And the Skins gave Smith a four year extension.  I don't get this.  Why f*ck around with Cousins for the last few years only to trade for Smith and give him an extension?

[nyg]

Mmmm,.....
Jets fire OC Morton after one year.
Promote Jeremy Bates to OC last week
Cousins likes Bates and has some sort of connection. 
Maybe some backdoor deal going on here.

Still believe he goes to Denver though. 

[DegenerateDish]

I'm not sure trading for a 33 year old Alex Smith is the answer for Washington. Seems very lateral to me.

If I were the Browns, I'd go all in on Cousins.

[nyg]

I'm not sure trading for a 33 year old Alex Smith is the answer for Washington. Seems very lateral to me.

If I were the Browns, I'd go all in on Cousins.

Bring out the armored cars with the cash. 

[DegenerateDish]

I've said on here before that you always need to take QB salaries as an outlier in pro sports, but 4 years and $71 million guaranteed for 33 year old middle of the road Alex Smith is something.

Curious to see how Rodgers reacts once Brees and Cousins get locked up.

[GB Warrior]

If someone can  give me a compelling argument for the Redskins to make this deal, I'd like to hear it.

[nyg]

If someone can  give me a compelling argument for the Redskins to make this deal, I'd like to hear it.

Cousins a free agent and told them he isn’t signing. 
Redskins not going to tag him for 34 million and Gruden said no more one year deals, need continuity.
Redskins not high enough in draft to get young QB, leaving them with Colt McCoy
But Smith at that price, strange.  But gives them a QB for few years, no worry about a starting QB status

[Pakuni]

If someone can  give me a compelling argument for the Redskins to make this deal, I'd like to hear it.

They get a reliable, above average QB for four years at a reasonable cost (a 3rd and a slot corner).
That's compelling enough.

[Jockey]

Cousins will be 30 at the start of the season and has yet to win a playoff game. Very Cutler-esque. At 30, Jay had one playoff win, but only because he was lucky enough to play a sub .500 team.

Some stupid GM is going to give this guy a long term deal somewhere in the  $25 -$30 million per year range..

[DegenerateDish]

This trade is a lot more than just Smith for a 3rd rounder (which is essentially a wash because Wash will get a third round comp for Cousins leaving in 2019) and Fuller.

You have to take into account Washington's asset/cap management while Cousins was there. As they could be going into the final year of the 3 yr/$40 mil deal that Cousins agent proposed (Cousins got 2 yrs/$44 mil under the tag).

Fuller is the key to this deal, he's a young/good (potentially very good) slot corner, still with 2 years on his rookie deal.

I don't understand the rush from Washington's perspective. I can't imagine the price to acquire Smith going up before the league year starts. Maybe Cleveland made an offer, but Dorsey would also realize there's zero rush. The Chiefs were no way keeping Smith. I don't think Smith being Washington's QB is curious, but the when/how they got to this point is.

[DegenerateDish]

Cousins will be 30 at the start of the season and has yet to win a playoff game. Very Cutler-esque. At 30, Jay had one playoff win, but only because he was lucky enough to play a sub .500 team.

Some stupid GM is going to give this guy a long term deal somewhere in the  $25 -$30 million per year range..

Cousins will easily get at least $28, probably $30, but the number shouldn't matter. When was the last time a QB like Cousins hit the open market? Brees? The QB market resets every year based on who's deal is up and the cap increasing. I've said before, if I were Rodgers, I'd sign 1 year deals from here until retirement.

[Jay Bee]

Do they have the Lombardi Trophy in Minneapolis yet? Is it somewhere where the public can go check it out? I don’t know how these things work. But if it is available for public viewing Vikings fans may consider taking a look now. This might be the only time one of those trophies is ever in the state of Minnesota.

#14Wins

The trophy is currently a block from my place at the Super Bowl Experience. Costs $$$ to get in, so it's only available for the *paying* public.

Lots of tanks and guns out on the streets of downtown this weekend. Have felt the area (my place is also a block from Super Bowl Live) get more and more busy, with the out of towners joining the fold in greater numbers. I expect to see some interesting things the next few nights.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

#13 Championships

[Hards Alumni]

#14Wins

The trophy is currently a block from my place at the Super Bowl Experience. Costs $$$ to get in, so it's only available for the *paying* public.

Lots of tanks and guns out on the streets of downtown this weekend. Have felt the area (my place is also a block from Super Bowl Live) get more and more busy, with the out of towners joining the fold in greater numbers. I expect to see some interesting things the next few nights.

Stay safe, those Eagles fans are... unpredictable.

[GGGG]

#14Wins

The trophy is currently a block from my place at the Super Bowl Experience. Costs $$$ to get in, so it's only available for the *paying* public.

Lots of tanks and guns out on the streets of downtown this weekend. Have felt the area (my place is also a block from Super Bowl Live) get more and more busy, with the out of towners joining the fold in greater numbers. I expect to see some interesting things the next few nights.

And according to the national media, it gets cold in Minnesota in January and February.  I'm shocked by this.

[GGGG]

Fox gets Thursday night NFL games reportedly paying higher price than the NFL was getting from NBC/CBS.

So much for the decline in ratings meaning something.  So much for Thursday night football being bad. 

[MU82]

Fox gets Thursday night NFL games reportedly paying higher price than the NFL was getting from NBC/CBS.

So much for the decline in ratings meaning something.  So much for Thursday night football being bad.

Well, as a casual NFL viewer, I do think Thursday night football has been bad. The games generally have been of poor quality the past few years, and it can't be good for these athletes to have to play another violent game so soon after the one before. No league that claims to care about player safety should want Thursday games; and players who claim to care about their own safety should be willing to accept a little less salary so they don't have to play on Thursdays.

But your overall point is correct - the product apparently is attractive enough for it to bring in record rights fees.

Once again, the reports of the NFL's death have been greatly exaggerated.

[GGGG]

Well, as a casual NFL viewer, I do think Thursday night football has been bad. The games generally have been of poor quality the past few years, and it can't be good for these athletes to have to play another violent game so soon after the one before. No league that claims to care about player safety should want Thursday games; and players who claim to care about their own safety should be willing to accept a little less salary so they don't have to play on Thursdays.

But your overall point is correct - the product apparently is attractive enough for it to bring in record rights fees.

Once again, the reports of the NFL's death have been greatly exaggerated.

I meant being bad enough to affect ratings and rights fees.

I also don't know how much it impacts player safety though.  Are players more likely to be injured on Thursdays?  Is that counter-balanced by having ten days off afterwards?  I mean, Detroit has played on Thursday afternoon for decades and I never recall hearing player safety issues being brought up.  I tend to think a team playing one Thursday a year isn't that big a deal from a safety stand point.

I do think the overall problem with Thursdays is more of a lack of time to prepare issue.

[Pakuni]

I meant being bad enough to affect ratings and rights fees.

I also don't know how much it impacts player safety though.  Are players more likely to be injured on Thursdays?  Is that counter-balanced by having ten days off afterwards?  I mean, Detroit has played on Thursday afternoon for decades and I never recall hearing player safety issues being brought up.  I tend to think a team playing one Thursday a year isn't that big a deal from a safety stand point.

I do think the overall problem with Thursdays is more of a lack of time to prepare issue.

Ask and ye shall receive:

The NFL released its injury data for the season and it showed a year-over-year increase in injuries during Thursday night games. According to the league, an average of 6.9 injuries were reported during Thursday games compared to 5.3 injuries per game last year. Moreover, the 6.9 is higher than the 6.3 injuries reported per game for Sunday and Monday games.

http://buffalonews.com/2018/01/29/data-shows-more-injuries-reported-in-thursday-night-nfl-games/

From interviews I've read and heard with several players (anecdotal evidence, obviously) the issue isn't just injury risk, but that they physically aren't as ready to perform on a Thursday following a Sunday game, i.e. the shortened period of recovery negatively impacts their ability to perform.

[GGGG]

Well there ya go.  Thanks.

[MerrittsMustache]

It wouldn't be that difficult to schedule teams to play on Thursday night coming off their bye. I'm sure the players would welcome a 10-day layoff, a game then another 10-day layoff. The obvious problem is that byes only go from Week 5-12 so, if you include the SB champs opening on a Thursday, that would only be 9 weeks of Thursday games.

I know the NFL is all about player safety but I'm sure there's a logical reason why they don't do it...