2025-26 NFL Thread

[JWags85]

You both make solid points. I certainly wouldn't bet on the Chiefs vs the field as I'm not much of a gambler ... but what wades said about the Chiefs being "the team to trust."

I'll definitely revisit this in a month, but as of today I'd be surprised if Mahomes & Co. aren't in the Super Bowl again.

You both make solid points. I certainly wouldn't bet on the Chiefs vs the field as I'm not much of a gambler ... but what wades said about the Chiefs being "the team to trust."

I'll definitely revisit this in a month, but as of today I'd be surprised if Mahomes & Co. aren't in the Super Bowl again.

I guess my point is I don't know if they are the team to trust anymore. They certainly aren't the Chiefs of 2022 and 2024, and I don't even think they are the Chiefs of 2023.  Obviously Mahomes is still only 30 and has years of prime left, but they lost some pieces in the offseason (Thuney, DHop, Reid) and didn't replace with anything of note.  That plus Kelce is slowing down rapidly, Pacheco has looked stymied so far this year, etc...

Former Jets star Nick Mangold died at 41 from kidney disease. Watching and listening to Rex Ryan talk about him brought a few tears to my eyes.

Just an awful story.  Crazy that it went from him asking for help with a donation and revealing how long he had been battling to losing that fight within 2 weeks.  The dysfunction of the Jets towards the end of his tenure kind of overshadowed what an absolute rock and mainstay he was at the position.

Also just a great personality.  If he hadn't been ill for many years after he retired, he would have done more media I'm sure.  The spots he did do were great.  He was quick and funny and super down to earth and relatable. 

He and Ryan clearly had a great relationship to.  I saw the clip of Rex Ryan worrying how the huge extension Mangold signed would effective him.  And then later that night he was in the drive thru at Taco Bell and Mangold was in the car in front of him, and he realized nothing would change 

[CreightonWarrior]

How else are you going to have a halftime wedding with Travis in uniform and Badbunny officiating?

most of that wedding party will be attending the other halftime show.

[tower912]

Carson Wentz, shoulder dislocation and torn labrum.  Played another 2 games.  Heroic, or malpractice by the Vikings medical staff?

[MU82]

Carson Wentz, shoulder dislocation and torn labrum.  Played another 2 games.  Heroic, or malpractice by the Vikings medical staff?

I vote the latter.

I get that tough athletes - especially football and hockey players - gain glory by playing through injuries. But sometimes the team and its doctors have to step up and say, "This is bad for our athlete, and we have to make the decision for him."

My wife, an RN, couldn't believe the Vikings kept him out there: "This isn't just managing a little pain. He's obviously in SEVERE pain every time he gets touched and every time he hits the ground. Shame on the Vikings."

[StillAWarrior]

Carson Wentz, shoulder dislocation and torn labrum.  Played another 2 games.  Heroic, or malpractice by the Vikings medical staff?

I vote the latter.

I get that tough athletes - especially football and hockey players - gain glory by playing through injuries. But sometimes the team and its doctors have to step up and say, "This is bad for our athlete, and we have to make the decision for him."

My wife, an RN, couldn't believe the Vikings kept him out there: "This isn't just managing a little pain. He's obviously in SEVERE pain every time he gets touched and every time he hits the ground. Shame on the Vikings."

I am still pissed at the Browns for what they did to Baker Mayfield his last season here. He tore his labrum week two and played the remainder of the season. Someone should have put a stop to it. Instead, they let him continue and then jettisoned him at the end of the season.

I'm happy he's doing so well in TB. The Browns did him dirty; he deserves better.

I think in some of these cases it's more like malfeasance than malpractice.

[Billy Hoyle]

speaking of injuries, the Cam Skattabo injury was gruesome to see live and reading about it made me cringe. I had no doubt this is a dude who will come back at 100%.

The open fracture means the bone penetrated the skin. That made it a medical emergency and required Skattebo to remain in Philadelphia for surgery that night.

Skattebo's ankle also suffered ligament damage. The deltoid ligament is on the inside of the ankle joint and needs reparations when ruptured.

[Uncle Rico]

Lions are toast after giving Hutchinson that much money

[tower912]

They will definitely have salary cap issues going forward.   Jealous of the Dodgers.  The 'problem' is that they hit on so many draft picks.  Whom do you jettison?    Hutchinson, Sewell, Branch, Gibbs, LaPorta, Campbell, Joseph.  Eventually, they get to their second contract.

[Billy Hoyle]

They will definitely have salary cap issues going forward.   Jealous of the Dodgers.  The 'problem' is that they hit on so many draft picks.  Whom do you jettison?    Hutchinson, Sewell, Branch, Gibbs, LaPorta, Campbell, Joseph.  Eventually, they get to their second contract.

They have the flexibility to restructure deals like Goff's. I can see Decker not playing out the remaining three years of his deal. On your list, I see LaPorta as the most likely to not get a second contract from the Lions.

[WhiteTrash]

They will definitely have salary cap issues going forward.   Jealous of the Dodgers.  The 'problem' is that they hit on so many draft picks.  Whom do you jettison?    Hutchinson, Sewell, Branch, Gibbs, LaPorta, Campbell, Joseph.  Eventually, they get to their second contract.

It is a problem you hope for, but a problem nonetheless. The Blackhawks went through the same issue 10-12 years ago. It cost them a Cup or two.

[MU82]

They have the flexibility to restructure deals like Goff's. I can see Decker not playing out the remaining three years of his deal. On your list, I see LaPorta as the most likely to not get a second contract from the Lions.

Also, the NFL cap has gone up pretty substantially year after year.

All in all, too much talent is a pretty darn good problem to have. The Brady-era Patriots managed a similar situation about as well as possible.

[The Sultan]

It is a problem you hope for, but a problem nonetheless. The Blackhawks went through the same issue 10-12 years ago. It cost them a Cup or two.

Kind of a poor analogy. NFL contracts are way easier to manage because you can end them at anytime and you can spread out the cap-hit of the guaranteed money. Getting rid of the Hutchinson contract, as long as he is healthy, would be a one year cap hit that they can move around other contracts to manage.

[Pakuni]

most of that wedding party will be attending the other halftime show.

I mean, there aren't that many Mahomes. And a couple of them might not be allowed to leave their home state.

[Pakuni]

It is a problem you hope for, but a problem nonetheless. The Blackhawks went through the same issue 10-12 years ago. It cost them a Cup or two.

Would have been different if Dale Tallon understood how to work a fax machine.

[jesmu84]

speaking of injuries, the Cam Skattabo injury was gruesome to see live and reading about it made me cringe. I had no doubt this is a dude who will come back at 100%.

The open fracture means the bone penetrated the skin. That made it a medical emergency and required Skattebo to remain in Philadelphia for surgery that night.

Skattebo's ankle also suffered ligament damage. The deltoid ligament is on the inside of the ankle joint and needs reparations when ruptured.

I love that he was severely injured by a hip drop tackle. The same defensive play that was in the spotlight recently. The same defensive play that was to be emphasized as a penalty by refs this season.

No flag

[GB Warrior]

I love that he was severely injured by a hip drop tackle. The same defensive play that was in the spotlight recently. The same defensive play that was to be emphasized as a penalty by refs this season.

No flag

Officiated about as well as the tush push

[MU82]

Panthers OL is badly banged up, and it turns out that Dalton played most of the blowout loss to Buffalo with an injured thumb on his passing hand. Weird that he was kept in the game after it became obvious the Panthers had zero chance - Canales must have that little confidence in third-stringer Hendon Hooker.

Not sure about Bryce Young's status for Sunday's game. But whether or not he is, given all the above Packers -13.5 would seem awfully attractive if I were a betting man. Lots and lots and lots of sacks to be had for Parsons & Co. and probably multiple takeaways, too.

[tower912]

Nobody has confidence in Hendon Hooker.

[The Sultan]

Panthers OL is badly banged up, and it turns out that Dalton played most of the blowout loss to Buffalo with an injured thumb on his passing hand. Weird that he was kept in the game after it became obvious the Panthers had zero chance - Canales must have that little confidence in third-stringer Hendon Hooker.

Not sure about Bryce Young's status for Sunday's game. But whether or not he is, given all the above Packers -13.5 would seem awfully attractive if I were a betting man. Lots and lots and lots of sacks to be had for Parsons & Co. and probably multiple takeaways, too.

Young has been a full participant in practice, so the assumption is that he will play this week.

[MU82]

Young has been a full participant in practice, so the assumption is that he will play this week.

Thanks. I just saw that now. Although his passing numbers have improved somewhat, he has continued to be very loose with the football. The crux of my previous post stands.

[tower912]

Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard was asked if Detroit was going to look for opportunities to rest Hutchinson a little more and bring him below 90% of the defensive snaps.

We just paid him half the building.  He had better play 90+% of the snaps.

[tower912]

Lions are toast after giving Hutchinson that much money

Hey, Sheila!  Call Chris Ilitch.

[CreightonWarrior]

Jaire and a 7th to the eagles for a 6th.

[GB Warrior]

Jaire and a 7th to the eagles for a 6th.

Packers should one-up them and sign Nnamadi Asomugha

[CreightonWarrior]

Pretty silly week not to have a euro game.