NFC North / NFL Thread 2017-18

[#UnleashSean]

I disagreed with the first one, but on the second I thought it was clear he had become a runner. The guy took three steps.

Dez took around 7 

[MerrittsMustache]

"We really care about the health of our players."

No flag on a head to head hit that knocks a guy out of the game.

That wasn't a penalty. Cooks was a runner.

Patrick Chung, however, was knocked unconscious and returned the game without even going into the lockerroom for evaluation.

[lawdog77]

My favorite was Al Michaels stating..."once again the Super Bowl ends on the last play of the game". I know what he meant, but still.

[muwarrior69]

Since my Giants stunk thus season I have not watched many games. This SB was entertaining, but wow it seems they make the rules as they go along. My cousin is a Steelers fan and he said a very similar play by the Steelers was ruled not a touchdown. Come on! Whether he is a receiver or a runner should not matter. If you can or cannot  hold onto the ball is what matters.

[GooooMarquette]

Dez took around 7 

The officials blew that call, but got it right last night. I'd rather see the calls improve than see a bad call repeated.

And face it, the rule is stupid. If you have possession of the ball when you break the plane of the goal line, it should be a touchdown.

[naginiF]

Since my Giants stunk thus season I have not watched many games. This SB was entertaining, but wow it seems they make the rules as they go along. My cousin is a Steelers fan and he said a very similar play by the Steelers was ruled not a touchdown. Come on! Whether he is a receiver or a runner should not matter. If you can or cannot  hold onto the ball is what matters.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000894690/Jesse-James-go-ahead-TD-overturned-ruled-incomplete-pass
This is what you are talking about.

And though i 100% agree that the NFL should view both of those as catches the difference is that the Eagle player had become a runner vs. the Steeler player who was still in the act of catching.  Much like the hit that KOed the Patriot receiver wasn't illegal because he established himself as a runner i.e. no longer in the act of catching.  IMHO the hit should be illegal and both of those catches should be TD's.

[MU82]

Using MLK to sell a truck. Anything to make a buck, I guess.

I voiced the exact same disdain to Mrs. 82. Really a pathetic commercial.

We very much liked the Eli/Odell ad, as well as the Doritos/Dew side-by-side ads.

And of course I enjoyed the anti-Orange ad about inclusion ... but I would!

[mu03eng]

I voiced the exact same disdain to Mrs. 82. Really a pathetic commercial.

We very much liked the Eli/Odell ad, as well as the Doritos/Dew side-by-side ads.

And of course I enjoyed the anti-Orange ad about inclusion ... but I would!

The RAM commercial was universally panned at our Superbowl party...really really poor taste.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

The RAM commercial was universally panned at our Superbowl party...really really poor taste.

Paul Harvey is one thing, with the God made the farmer add from a few years ago.  He was a broadcaster/entertainer.
MLK and using his speech is a whole different story and really, really bad by Dodge.

[lawdog77]

Tide commercials get my vote

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Brady is the GOAT, this idea earlier that Rodgers is (and I think he is fantastic) is crazy.

I'm not sure how the patriots do it, but I'd like to see how Rodgers operates in a system where he can stand immobile in the pocket and survey the field and almost never seem to have any pressure on him.

[CTWarrior]

I'm not sure how the patriots do it, but I'd like to see how Rodgers operates in a system where he can stand immobile in the pocket and survey the field and almost never seem to have any pressure on him.

...and then throw to a guy with no defender even near him.

[GooooMarquette]

I'm not sure how the patriots do it, but I'd like to see how Rodgers operates in a system where he can stand immobile in the pocket and survey the field and almost never seem to have any pressure on him.

Yep. How many times was Brady even touched last night? Maybe twice?

[GGGG]

The officials blew that call, but got it right last night. I'd rather see the calls improve than see a bad call repeated.

And face it, the rule is stupid. If you have possession of the ball when you break the plane of the goal line, it should be a touchdown.

But you don't have possession until you complete the catch, and you don't complete the catch until you fall to the ground and have control.

I understand the NFL's issue.  If it is simply two feet down with possession of the ball, and a defender hits the receiver at the right time, plays that seem obviously incomplete become fumbles.  I don't like the "possession to the ground."  I like possession with a football move.  Ertz would have been obvious.  So would the Steeler catch earlier.

[MU82]

I'm not sure how the patriots do it, but I'd like to see how Rodgers operates in a system where he can stand immobile in the pocket and survey the field and almost never seem to have any pressure on him.

That's the thing about using the GOAT label in any team sport, especially one in which the guys who get considered for that label - mostly QBs and a few RBs - are so dependent on others around him.

I'm not going to revisit the whole Brady-Rodgers thing again, but until Rodgers has more postseason success, he simply can't be viewed the way Brady is by those who judge these things. I know Rodgers fans don't like that, but them's the facts.

[GGGG]

Yep. How many times was Brady even touched last night? Maybe twice?

He was hit pretty often in the first half.  That being said, his receivers are very quick.  They don't use the big, physical wideouts that they used to have. They place a premium on speed.  And if they want physicality, they just spread Gronk out wide.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

but until Rodgers has more postseason success, he simply can't be viewed the way Brady is by those who judge these things. I know Rodgers fans don't like that, but them's the facts.

I totally agree with this. I just find it amazing that Brady can drop back to the exact same point in the pocket on every pass play and stand there immobile.

I will say that the Patriots have benefited greatly from playing in a division where their rivals have been almost universally bad for more than a decade.  Who was the last consistent top 10 QB on any of the Jets, Dolphins, or Bills?

[MUBurrow]

I understand the NFL's issue.  If it is simply two feet down with possession of the ball, and a defender hits the receiver at the right time, plays that seem obviously incomplete become fumbles.  I don't like the "possession to the ground."  I like possession with a football move.  Ertz would have been obvious.  So would the Steeler catch earlier.

The fumble thing makes it really hard. I would prefer to see fumbles largely legislated out when in close proximity to catches. I compare it to a foot slipping off the base on a close baseball play. Take the Geronimo Allison fumble at the end of Packers-Panthers. Without a horse in that race, I don't want that to be a fumble, because its not like Allison could have done anything differently there. There's no way you can sufficiently secure that ball that close to a "catch" to prevent it from getting punched out. When that's the case, I just want it to be an incomplete pass and a good pass defensed. I would be cool with a more lenient catch rule, and then a blanket rule that says that a ball has to be possessed for a full second, two seconds, idk, before anything can be ruled a fumble.

[MerrittsMustache]

I totally agree with this. I just find it amazing that Brady can drop back to the exact same point in the pocket on every pass play and stand there immobile.

I will say that the Patriots have benefited greatly from playing in a division where their rivals have been almost universally bad for more than a decade.  Who was the last consistent top 10 QB on any of the Jets, Dolphins, or Bills?

Couldn't you say basically that same thing about the Packers?

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Couldn't you say basically that same thing about the Packers?

Other than Stafford (and one season of Favre), you make a good point.

[mu03eng]

But you don't have possession until you complete the catch, and you don't complete the catch until you fall to the ground and have control.

I understand the NFL's issue.  If it is simply two feet down with possession of the ball, and a defender hits the receiver at the right time, plays that seem obviously incomplete become fumbles.  I don't like the "possession to the ground."  I like possession with a football move.  Ertz would have been obvious.  So would the Steeler catch earlier.

The possession to the ground only applies if he is going to the ground as part of the catch. Ertz was clearly not going to the ground as part of the catch there for the control through the process of the catch("going to the ground") is not applicable. Ertz took three steps prior to any move that would invoke going to the ground.

Bottom line, the catch rule is garbage.

[muwarrior69]

So who will quarterback for Phily next season?

[MerrittsMustache]

So who will quarterback for Phily next season?

Wentz. Without a doubt. The timetable for his return may result in Foles (or another #2) beginning the season as the starter but Wentz is their guy.

[MerrittsMustache]

Panthers' D gets picked apart by the Saints in the Wild Card Round: DC gets hired by the Cardinals as Head Coach.

Chiefs put up an awful 2nd half offensively in the Wild Card Round: OC gets hired by the Bears as Head Coach.

Titans win their Wild Card Game: Head Coach gets fired.

Vikings put up an awful game offensively in the Conf Champ Game: OC gets hired by the Giants as Head Coach.

Patriots' D gets torched by a back-up QB in the Super Bowl: DC gets hired by the Lions as Head Coach.

NFL coaching hires! You gotta love 'em!


(Yes, I know most of these were decided prior to the postseason games being played, but still)

[#UnleashSean]

Panthers' D gets picked apart by the Saints in the Wild Card Round: DC gets hired by the Cardinals as Head Coach.

Chiefs put up an awful 2nd half offensively in the Wild Card Round: OC gets hired by the Bears as Head Coach.

Titans win their Wild Card Game: Head Coach gets fired.

Vikings put up an awful game offensively in the Conf Champ Game: OC gets hired by the Giants as Head Coach.

Patriots' D gets torched by a back-up QB in the Super Bowl: DC gets hired by the Lions as Head Coach.

NFL coaching hires! You gotta love 'em!


(Yes, I know most of these were decided prior to the postseason games being played, but still)

If it was a good idea to hire or fire someone based off one game scoop would be the top gm of all time.