2025-26 NFL Thread

[jesmu84]

Its preseason, so who really cares.  But Williams looked great on his drive and I really liked what I saw from Johnson's offense.  Couple of small things like some of the crossing route trees, motion before a few running plays, just a few wrinkles that looked VERY different than the past few years.  Nice to have some sort of optimism going into the season with tempered expectations.

Ya. But Caleb missed the net during throwing practice

[Jay Bee]

Alexander Mattison -- do we know what surgery he had? I can't find any real news ... "neck surgery" isn't helpful... I'm guessing he may have had a single-level ACDF.. curious if so, and where.

There are examples of athletes coming back after ACDF and doing well.. Peyton Manning at QB.. Mike Alstott at FB.. and me at PB... but... a little unnerving to first take on contact after the surgery.. hope he's all good next season, but really wondering what procedure(s) he had done.

[GB Warrior]

Ya. But Caleb missed the net during throwing practice

Nets provide stiffer resistance than whatever the Bills threw out there

[MU82]

Nah, the Seahawks whooped the Chiefs in pre-season, they are now the favorites for the Super Bowl. 

Darnold and Seattle's first-string offense looked every bit as sharp during their stint this weekend as Williams and the Bears' offense did. And the Chiefs actually had most of their defensive starters on the field.

But I know this is your schtick, so run with it!

I won't bet you that the Seahawks will make the Super Bowl, but you and I will probably making some kind of wager on them in the weeks ahead. Hopefully it goes as well as the Marquette-Xavier bet that I won! How about who will win more games, Seattle or Green Bay?

[PointWarrior]

Darnold and Seattle's first-string offense looked every bit as sharp during their stint this weekend as Williams and the Bears' offense did. And the Chiefs actually had most of their defensive starters on the field.

But I know this is your schtick, so run with it!

I won't bet you that the Seahawks will make the Super Bowl, but you and I will probably making some kind of wager on them in the weeks ahead. Hopefully it goes as well as the Marquette-Xavier bet that I won! How about who will win more games, Seattle or Green Bay?

"There also was no Chris Jones (K.C.'s three-time All-Pro defensive tackle) as well as two of K.C.'s starting linebackers and neither starting cornerback." 

They did whip up on 6/11 of the KC starting defense.

I will take that bet   GB more wins than Seahawks.   Another beer?

[MU82]

"There also was no Chris Jones (K.C.'s three-time All-Pro defensive tackle) as well as two of K.C.'s starting linebackers and neither starting cornerback." 

They did whip up on 6/11 of the KC starting defense.

I will take that bet   GB more wins than Seahawks.   Another beer?

6/11 starters is pretty typical for the second preseason game. The Seahawks only started 7 of their 11, and those starters only played 2 series.

Sure, I like that bet. Though I already owe you a beer (because you bought me one last time just out of the goodness of your heart - thanks!), so it's more of a double-or-nothing wager!

[tower912]

Wait, teams play their starters in the preseason?

Detroit is being very protective.   Which they should, considering all of the depth that has gotten injured, as well as leftover injuries from last season.

[Billy Hoyle]

The Browns are reportedly keeping four QBs on the roster. So basically they have no QBs

[tower912]

The Browns are reportedly keeping four QBs on the roster. So basically they have no QBs

If Goff gets hurt, neither does Detroit.

[Billy Hoyle]

If Goff gets hurt, neither does Detroit.

Facts

[MU82]

If Goff gets hurt, neither does Detroit.

If (insert starting QB's name here) gets hurt, neither does (insert name of injured QB's team here).

[JWags85]

The Browns are reportedly keeping four QBs on the roster. So basically they have no QBs

I truly have no idea whats going on in Cleveland with their QBs.  Sanders has done everything right, looked good in practice, and played well in his start.  Gabriel has been banged up, had some TERRIBLE practices, and looked meh in his start.  But he's still competing for the backup job with Pickett and Sanders is behind.

Two of my friends who follow the Browns closely can't remember seeing any blogger/beat reporter praising any single Gabriel practice and said everytime they see him mentioned he's been struggling or hurt.  Neither of them understood the pick at the time and thought it was horrible, and both think it feels like CYA to make it seem like Stefanski/the GM didn't completely mess that pick up.

Also wild that they had a successful experienced back up in Huntley that seemingly won't be in the 4 QBs.  Makes way more sense to have him in the QB room and have one of the rookies on the PS.

[Pakuni]

Anthony Richardson must be pretty bad to lose his job to the guy that lost his job to Tommy Cutlets.

[Billy Hoyle]

Anthony Richardson must be pretty bad to lose his job to the guy that lost his job to Tommy Cutlets.

Richardson will go down as one of the great draft blunders of all time. The Colts drafted him based on athleticism, not results, accuracy or QB skills. He also has a poor work ethic. He's better off as a receiver.

[GB Warrior]

Richardson will go down as one of the great draft blunders of all time. The Colts drafted him based on athleticism, not results, accuracy or QB skills. He also has a poor work ethic. He's better off as a receiver.

He's no Tim Tebow

[Billy Hoyle]

He's no Tim Tebow

For all of Teblow's faults as a pro QB, at least he led his team to the playoffs.

[BM1090]

For all of Teblow's faults as a pro QB, at least he led his team to the playoffs.

"Led"

[Uncle Rico]

For all of Teblow's faults as a pro QB, at least he led his team to the playoffs.

Tebow should have been a FB

[RJax55]

Richardson will go down as one of the great draft blunders of all time. The Colts drafted him based on athleticism, not results, accuracy or QB skills. He also has a poor work ethic. He's better off as a receiver.

Not really. Pass on Richardson for Will Levis? Or Hendon Hooker? Or Aiden O'Connell? The '23 draft was a horrible QB draft after Stroud.

The Colts had been kicking the can down the road since the Luck the retirement. They desperately needed a young QB, especially after the Matt Ryan disaster. They were in position with the #4 pick and gambled on Richardson due his measurables. Obviously hasn't worked, but I do get the thinking. And, again, it's not like they drafted Richardson and passed on a Mahomes, Josh Allen or Lamar.

[Billy Hoyle]

Not really. Pass on Richardson for Will Levis? Or Hendon Hooker? Or Aiden O'Connell? The '23 draft was a horrible QB draft after Stroud.

The Colts had been kicking the can down the road since the Luck the retirement. They desperately needed a young QB, especially after the Matt Ryan disaster. They were in position with the #4 pick and gambled on Richardson due his measurables. Obviously hasn't worked, but I do get the thinking. And, again, it's not like they drafted Richardson and passed on a Mahomes, Josh Allen or Lamar.

you're comparing the #4 pick to second round and later picks? You have to nail the #4 pick and by blowing this one on a guy who during his only season as a starter completed 53% of his passes and was known to have a questionable work ethic, the Colts set themselves back years.

[GB Warrior]

For all of Teblow's faults as a pro QB, at least he led his team to the playoffs.

Trent Dilfer led the Ravens to a Super Bowl

[The Sultan]

you're comparing the #4 pick to second round and later picks? You have to nail the #4 pick and by blowing this one on a guy who during his only season as a starter completed 53% of his passes and was known to have a questionable work ethic, the Colts set themselves back years.

There was no other quarterback available really. And the best player available was likely Jalen Carter, and then??? I know we are only two years in, but that doesn't look like a great draft class.

They took a flyer and it didn't work. At least they are cutting bait and moving on.

[Shaka Shart]

There was no other quarterback available really. And the best player available was likely Jalen Carter, and then??? I know we are only two years in, but that doesn't look like a great draft class.

They took a flyer and it didn't work. At least they are cutting bait and moving on.

Hope they learned their lesson on drafting someone from Dayton.

[JWags85]

Anthony Richardson must be pretty bad to lose his job to the guy that lost his job to Tommy Cutlets.

That was honestly a pretty savvy signing by Ballard.  I don't think Jones is ever gonna be a top 10 QB, but he was coming off a major knee injury on a team that just let their best player go and had their offense skill position relying on rookies and nobodies and with a coach who lost the locker room.  He was terrible but so was everything there.

He needed a change of scenery and Indy could be it.  I wouldn't be shocked to see him have a decent year.

[MU82]

There was no other quarterback available really. And the best player available was likely Jalen Carter, and then??? I know we are only two years in, but that doesn't look like a great draft class.

They took a flyer and it didn't work. At least they are cutting bait and moving on.

Maybe draft a great player who isn't a QB and who can be a stalwart for you for a decade?