2024-25 NFL Thread

[GB Warrior]

Josh Sweat and Milton Williams made themselves a lot of money tonight

[tower912]

Not mine, but I like it...

If Mahomes had Allstate instead of State Farm, he would have had protection from mayhem like that.

[Uncle Rico]

Not sure what it says, but the Eagles winning Super Bowls with Nick Foles and Jalen Hurts is something.

Since Rodgers won the Super Bowl, here is the list of QBs not named Brady or Mahomes to win:

Eli, Flacco, Wilson, Corpse of Peyton, Foles, Stafford and Hurts.

Other QBs to start in said Super Bowls:

Kaepernick, Goff, Newton, Ryan, Garoppolo, Purdy, Burrow

I think my takeaway is, make sure you win the trenches and surround the non-HOF QB with as many playmakers as you can get?

[tower912]

The parallel takeaway is that even the best QBs look bad if the defense is able to pressure with 4, particularly up the middle.

[Uncle Rico]

The parallel takeaway is that even the best QBs look bad if the defense is able to pressure with 4, particularly up the middle.

Yeah, that's why I think you have to win the trenches.  Chiefs season long liability was o-line play.  And the Eagles have a great front four.

Saying that, it's easier said than done on the defensive side of course but the Browns should have watched that game and said, two first rounders and two second rounders, please

[tower912]

They probably did.

[tower912]

Offseason questions for the NFC Noth fans....
Who wins the battle for Garrett?
Who is the QB in Minnesota?
Can Ben Johnson transfer his magic in the Big chair?  Is Caleb the answer?
Does GB spend any money on an impact FA?
How will the transition to new coordinators go in Detroit?  How many of their injured still won't be back by week 1?   

3 of the 4 are drafting late.  What do you think can realistically be addressed in the draft?

[Billy Hoyle]

Offseason questions for the NFC Noth fans....
Who wins the battle for Garrett?
Who is the QB in Minnesota?
Can Ben Johnson transfer his magic in the Big chair?  Is Caleb the answer?
Does GB spend any money on an impact FA?
How will the transition to new coordinators go in Detroit?  How many of their injured still won't be back by week 1?   

3 of the 4 are drafting late.  What do you think can realistically be addressed in the draft?

Philly had two first year coordinators and it turned out ok. I'm going to keep reminding myself of that during the off-season.

McNeil will not be back by week 1. Hutch will be though. I'm wondering if we've seen the last of Derrick Barnes in the Honolulu Blue and Silver. I'd like to see them go all in on Josh Sweat instead of Garrett.

[tower912]

Philly had two first year coordinators and it turned out ok. I'm going to keep reminding myself of that during the off-season.

McNeil will not be back by week 1. Hutch will be though. I'm wondering if we've seen the last of Derrick Barnes in the Honolulu Blue and Silver. I'd like to see them go all in on Josh Sweat instead of Garrett.

Exactly on McNeil.  Probably Rodriguez, too.  I would like Barnes back, but I can see him following Glenn.

[WhiteTrash]

Offseason questions for the NFC Noth fans....
Who wins the battle for Garrett?
Who is the QB in Minnesota?
Can Ben Johnson transfer his magic in the Big chair?  Is Caleb the answer?
Does GB spend any money on an impact FA?
How will the transition to new coordinators go in Detroit?  How many of their injured still won't be back by week 1? 

3 of the 4 are drafting late.  What do you think can realistically be addressed in the draft?

Mostly due to lack of talent, but no longer woeful lack of talent, the Bears are a year away at best. $80M of cap space helps but that can be eaten up quickly and they have many holes to fill.

I saw enough good from Caleb to still believe he is the answer.

[MU82]

Lots and lots (and lots) of Eagles fans wanted Sirianni fired when the team went into the bye week with a 2-2 record. Sounds like a bunch of 4elders root for the Eagles.

[JWags85]

Philly had two first year coordinators and it turned out ok. I'm going to keep reminding myself of that during the off-season.

To be fair, one of those first year coordinators is 65 and has been an elite DC in the NFL for 20+ years.  And the other was a highly thought of OC who has been in some rough situations but still has gotten HC buzz in recent years.  Neither were unproven promotions of position coaches or the like.  I don't think the Lions new coodinators are analogous at all.  Sheppard is a huge question mark given his relative coaching inexperience, but he could be great.  Morton is a guy with a spotty track record but he's walking into a prime situation for an OC so who knows.

He's terrible. And this rambling he's doing now is why he's bad. Just annoying. Not clever. Not funny.

Not only was he bad, it was made even worse by how apparent it is that Fox is trying to make Brady into some sort of personality they center their coverage around.  Like "Fox Football with Tom Brady".  Its already well beyond what they did with Romo at the height of his popularity as an announcer.  Like I still don't buy the draw of Brady as an announcer bringing excess eyeballs.  I know multiple diehard Pats fans that couldn't care less about him calling a game.

[The Sultan]

Not only was he bad, it was made even worse by how apparent it is that Fox is trying to make Brady into some sort of personality they center their coverage around.  Like "Fox Football with Tom Brady".  Its already well beyond what they did with Romo at the height of his popularity as an announcer.  Like I still don't buy the draw of Brady as an announcer bringing excess eyeballs.  I know multiple diehard Pats fans that couldn't care less about him calling a game.

And he's just got this strange intensity about everything. Just calm down Tom.

This is why I really have grown to appreciate Troy Aikman. He's smart and knows his stuff, but he's also funny, self-effacing and can be critical at times as well. Tom is like 100 mph all the time and its just off-putting.

[Billy Hoyle]

To be fair, one of those first year coordinators is 65 and has been an elite DC in the NFL for 20+ years.  And the other was a highly thought of OC who has been in some rough situations but still has gotten HC buzz in recent years.  Neither were unproven promotions of position coaches or the like.  I don't think the Lions new coodinators are analogous at all.  Sheppard is a huge question mark given his relative coaching inexperience, but he could be great.  Morton is a guy with a spotty track record but he's walking into a prime situation for an OC so who knows.

The phrase I should have used was that I would "try to convince myself of that" or "/s" instead of "reminding myself of that."

I remember reading about Kellen Moore's recruiting visit to Boise State. They went into the film room and he started breaking down the BSU playbook to the coaches and analyzing video for them. They offered him on the spot. I know what the Lions are getting. Moore is a savant.

[MUBurrow]

And he's just got this strange intensity about everything. Just calm down Tom.

This is why I really have grown to appreciate Troy Aikman. He's smart and knows his stuff, but he's also funny, self-effacing and can be critical at times as well. Tom is like 100 mph all the time and its just off-putting.

Yup. I can see how that helped him be successful as an NFL QB, but someone has to explain to him that the audience is watching this for fun with their leisure time.  He harshes my buzz.

[JWags85]

And he's just got this strange intensity about everything. Just calm down Tom.

This is why I really have grown to appreciate Troy Aikman. He's smart and knows his stuff, but he's also funny, self-effacing and can be critical at times as well. Tom is like 100 mph all the time and its just off-putting.

Yup. I can see how that helped him be successful as an NFL QB, but someone has to explain to him that the audience is watching this for fun with their leisure time.  He harshes my buzz.

Exactly.  Romo was entertaining early on cause his obsessiveness came off earnestly and kind of football nerdy with a dash of excitement.  Manningcast is great cause its got splashes of heavy football, but its goofy, self deprecating, and capturing the essence of sitting around watching the game. 

Brady doesn't have that.  I mean, Kobe probably would have been an awful analyst for the same reason.  Its part of what made them legends, but it doesn't translate to casual viewing.  Maybe he figures it out in the offseason, but I wouldn't bet on it.  We said it before this all began, never in his career did Brady or his persona seem like this would be a fit.

I'm trying to think of an athlete who didn't give the vibe he'd be a good commentator or analyst who proved otherwise.  There are some who are better or more likable than expected (A-Rod) or who chilled out a big post retirement (JJ Watt from insufferable to pleasant), but not the 180 Tommy would need.

[Shaka Shart]

[MU82]

The best one can say about Brady as an analyst is that he's not horrible.

He's just there. Milquetoast. Rarely offers any insight beyond the obvious.

As I asked back when Fox signed him to that contract: "Will he really bring in even one more viewer who wouldn't watch the game anyway?" I'm pretty sure the answer has been no.

Not that I feel sorry for multimillionaires, but it does suck that Greg Olsen - who is an immeasurably better analyst that Brady is - got demoted. I'd rate Aikman and Olsen as the two best out there right now.

[Jockey]

One of the immutable rules of rich guys:

If you are good at one thing, you are good at everything.

[WhiteTrash]

One of the immutable rules of rich guys:

If you are good at one thing, you are good at everything.

Just like I don't blame players who start but stink, I don't blame Brady. Management has to do their job.

[Pakuni]

Way more rookies are Caleb Williams than Jayden Daniels.
Brady will be fine. Expecting him to be Aikman, who's been doing this for 20+ years, or even Olsen, is unrealistic.

[MU82]

Way more rookies are Caleb Williams than Jayden Daniels.
Brady will be fine. Expecting him to be Aikman, who's been doing this for 20+ years, or even Olsen, is unrealistic.

I've been neither a QB nor a TV analyst, but I'm guessing it's far easier to improve as an analyst over the course of a rookie season than it is to improve as a QB. For one thing, no edge rushers trying to decapitate you.

Brady had 5 months to improve, with no defenses to read and no diva WRs to worry about. Did he?

But you might be right about him being "fine." Some might say he already is, if "meh" is a synonym for "fine."

Maybe $375M only buys you "fine" these days.

[forgetful]

Way more rookies are Caleb Williams than Jayden Daniels.
Brady will be fine. Expecting him to be Aikman, who's been doing this for 20+ years, or even Olsen, is unrealistic.

The problem with Brady, is in addition to his flaws, he is not a likable individual. You can't fix that at his age. Not saying he is a bad person or anything, just not remotely fun or likable.

[Jockey]

The problem with Brady, is in addition to his flaws, he is not a likable individual. You can't fix that at his age. Not saying he is a bad person or anything, just not remotely fun or likable.

You hit the nail on the head. There is no way around the ick factor with Brady.

[Pakuni]

The problem with Brady, is in addition to his flaws, he is not a likable individual. You can't fix that at his age. Not saying he is a bad person or anything, just not remotely fun or likable.

And yet ...