NFL and NCAA football

[Hal Jordan]

Rams beat the Bucs 30-27 right on full time, after a typical Brady inspired 2nd half fightback just about gets them to OT.

I was intending to go to bed at a reasonable hour last night, but thought I would check the score to see if bloody Brady had done it again. Imagine my surprise when it was Rams 27-13 Bucs.

Imagine my lack of surprise when it was then 27-20, and then the idiot Rams running back doesn't hold the ball in two hands, allowing the strip, and it's 27-27.

However, although I think Cooper Kupp's reception and beeline to get out of bounds was probably more important as it ate the yards but not the clock, the pass to set up the spike for the field goal was a thing of absolute beauty. The replay was a ground level down the field shot, Stafford had to throw and then turn his body away to avoid getting monstered in the same motion.

[Biffer]

Another cracking evening of football. This stretch of playoff games has been astonishing.

[Biffer]

Burrow has now had nine must win games in his career across college and NFL.

v Alabama to win the SEC West, v Georgia in the SEC title game, v Oklahoma in the CFP semifinal, v Clemson in the CFP National Chamiponship game, v Ravens week 16 2021, v Chiefs week 17 2021, v Raiders in the Wild Card, v Titans in the divisional playoff and v Chiefs in the AFC Championship.

He's 9-0, passed for 3700 yards+, with 31 TDs and 2 Ints.

He now also has the chance to become the first QB to win the Heismann, the CFB National Championship and the Superbowl.

It's pretty astonishing.

[Jim Lahey]

Can anyone recommend me some decent books/films/documentaries on football?

This is my first year semi-following the sport. Listened to the audiobooks of The Dynasty and The System by Jeff Benedict which I enjoyed, and am working my way through the All or Nothings/Last Chance U.

[Gumboot]

Burrow has now had nine must win games in his career across college and NFL.

v Alabama to win the SEC West, v Georgia in the SEC title game, v Oklahoma in the CFP semifinal, v Clemson in the CFP National Chamiponship game, v Ravens week 16 2021, v Chiefs week 17 2021, v Raiders in the Wild Card, v Titans in the divisional playoff and v Chiefs in the AFC Championship.

He's 9-0, passed for 3700 yards+, with 31 TDs and 2 Ints.

He now also has the chance to become the first QB to win the Heismann, the CFB National Championship and the Superbowl.

It's pretty astonishing.

It sure is. He's an amazing player - that stat of 31 TDs against just 2 interceptions really stands out.

Beating the Titans while getting sacked 9 times in the division final was quite remarkable. Would be great to see him win the SB.

[FalseBayFC]

Can anyone recommend me some decent books/films/documentaries on football?

This is my first year semi-following the sport. Listened to the audiobooks of The Dynasty and The System by Jeff Benedict which I enjoyed, and am working my way through the All or Nothings/Last Chance U.

A Football Life by NFL Films is great. So far there are 116 biographies of legends of the game throughout history. I've been watching NFL and a bit of College football over the last few years.
Thought I'd check if there was a gridiron thread before Super Bowl weekend. Game is 01h30 Monday morning here. Local Murican mates host an all-nighter every year with the most ridiculous amount of food.
I'll be supporting the Bengals.

[Hal Jordan]

Can anyone recommend me some decent books/films/documentaries on football?

This is my first year semi-following the sport. Listened to the audiobooks of The Dynasty and The System by Jeff Benedict which I enjoyed, and am working my way through the All or Nothings/Last Chance U.

America's Game. Tells the story of each Superbowl winning team using the amazing NFL Films archives, and has 3-4 key players (and sometimes coaches) giving talking heads colour commentary.

What's good is that they got the 60s and 70s (and 80s) guys before they got too old, too demented or too dead to tell their tales, so you can hear Bart Starr tell you just what he said to Lombardi before the game winning quarterback sneak in the Ice Bowl.

The ones about the older games are also a fascinating look into how the games was and how it was played.

You also can't go wrong with the NFL YouTube channel which swings from individual player highlights to 40 minute explorations of the evolution of the quarterback position, and everything inbetween.

[Biffer]

Can anyone recommend me some decent books/films/documentaries on football?

This is my first year semi-following the sport. Listened to the audiobooks of The Dynasty and The System by Jeff Benedict which I enjoyed, and am working my way through the All or Nothings/Last Chance U.

America's Game. Tells the story of each Superbowl winning team using the amazing NFL Films archives, and has 3-4 key players (and sometimes coaches) giving talking heads colour commentary.

What's good is that they got the 60s and 70s (and 80s) guys before they got too old, too demented or too dead to tell their tales, so you can hear Bart Starr tell you just what he said to Lombardi before the game winning quarterback sneak in the Ice Bowl.

The ones about the older games are also a fascinating look into how the games was and how it was played.

You also can't go wrong with the NFL YouTube channel which swings from individual player highlights to 40 minute explorations of the evolution of the quarterback position, and everything inbetween.

The ones on the older games are much better than the modern ones. The guys who are talking are quite often many years distant from the time, so are more open and honest, and there are some terrific stories.

[Hal Jordan]

The Baltimore Colts one is a hard watch because certainly Bubba Smith and Mike Curtis seemed obsessed with the loss to the Jets in Superbowl 3 (one day we'll get there again) to the extent that they seemed to find no joy in remembering that they did win it two years later. Bill Curry seems less twisted about it (and he also got dumped by Lombardi after Superbowl 1), but he seems to be a pretty positive guy, like an ideal school teacher who always encourages and takes an interest.

[Biffer]

It’s the guys who are clearly batshit crazy that are most entertaining.

I particularly enjoyed the old Dolphins one where they talk about Larry Csonka getting a penalty for unnecessary roughness where he, as the running back, hit the guy trying to tackle him too hard.

[Slick]

Well, the Bengals used to be my team when I followed this. Been a while. Although I have enjoyed a couple of the Wembley games.

[Fonz]

I know it's just a meme but I definitely think these teams are at least very close in capability. Bengals have a good front seven (namely Hendrickson, flies under the radar in the age of the Watts and Bosas but very good player) and statistically Rams' defense was only ranked two spots higher in the regular season.

I used to be rather high on McVey but he's had some nervous panic moments that have given me second thoughts. On the other hand I can't even remember the name of the Bengals guy but he's really impressed me these playoffs; in this day and age when coaches pull shit you used to only see kids do when playing Madden on Playstation (like going for it on fourth when the situation doesn't call for it), this dude bucked the trends and told the analytics nerds to go fuck themselves and called a nice conservative game, including *gasp* taking the points on offer in the form of field goals and trusting his defense. And lo and behold, it worked, and they beat the two top teams in the AFC in their own buildings.

Meanwhile the Rams just barely squeaked out a win against the Niners (who were good but not great) and frankly should have lost against the Bucs had Stafford and Kupp not pulled one out of their ass. I think the performance of those two guys will largely determine the Rams' fortunes on Sunday by the way. Kupp is actually for real, might be a legit top 5 player in the game right now.

Also I'll be pretty surprised if the crowd is not mostly Bengals fans.

[Hal Jordan]

It’s the guys who are clearly batshit crazy that are most entertaining.

I particularly enjoyed the old Dolphins one where they talk about Larry Csonka getting a penalty for unnecessary roughness where he, as the running back, hit the guy trying to tackle him too hard.

I never understood why Shula didn't get a really top tier running back to complement Marino. Yes, you have a guy who can paint the sky brown with the ball, but all great teams have the dual threat. Bob Griese may have been tarred as just handing off to one of the three backs, but he could throw it with the best when needed. If the 80s Dolphins had a running game worth it, no way is Marino remembered as the best QB who didn't win the big one.

[Biffer]

It’s the guys who are clearly batshit crazy that are most entertaining.

I particularly enjoyed the old Dolphins one where they talk about Larry Csonka getting a penalty for unnecessary roughness where he, as the running back, hit the guy trying to tackle him too hard.

I never understood why Shula didn't get a really top tier running back to complement Marino. Yes, you have a guy who can paint the sky brown with the ball, but all great teams have the dual threat. Bob Griese may have been tarred as just handing off to one of the three backs, but he could throw it with the best when needed. If the 80s Dolphins had a running game worth it, no way is Marino remembered as the best QB who didn't win the big one.

Tony Nathan was a good RB, it’s just that they operated a pass first offense. I always thought it was their D that was the reason they didn’t win a Super Bowl.

[Gumboot]

Super Bowl LVI kicking off in about 10 minutes.

Bengals by 5.

[Gumboot]

Rams ahead 13-10 at HT.

[Gumboot]

Rams win it 23-20.

[Hal Jordan]

Hard not to feel happy for Stafford, he had the crap kicked out of him for years at the Lions so he can (eventually) ride off into the sunset with his career fulfilled.

Burrow will be back, but needs a better O Line.

Cooper Kupp is some player.

[Uncle fester]

Numbering them by Roman numerals is so pretentious.

[Biffer]

We get to this time of year and see the combine, a joint evaluation of college talent

This guy, Trevor Oenning is an offensive lineman, one of the big fat guys up the front who push others out of the way

He’s 6’7” (203cm), 325lbs (147kg].

He ran 40 yds in less than 5 seconds.

And squats 625lbs or 284 kg

[Hal Jordan]

Calvin Ridley of the Falcons cops a year's ban for betting on games. Several wide receivers have jumped up their draft places, and free agency just got harder for the teams (Jets get stiffed on recruitment again).

[Biffer]

Calvin Ridley of the Falcons cops a year's ban for betting on games. Several wide receivers have jumped up their draft places, and free agency just got harder for the teams (Jets get stiffed on recruitment again).

A year for betting $1500, but you only get a couple of games for beating up a woman. Seems fair.

[Hal Jordan]

And the owner of the Dolphins will probably get off scot free.

[Biffer]

Huge trade.

Russell Wilson trade from the Seahawks to the Broncos. Seahawks get two first round picks, two second round picks, a fifth round pick, QB drew lock, TE Noah Fant, and a DT whose name I forget. Broncos get Wilson and a fourth round pick.

Good deal for Seattle I think. They still have big talent; a Great WR pair, maybe the best safety pairing in the league, pro bowlers at OL and LB, and I think Fant is a damn good TE. So they don’t need a world beater at QB, if I was GM I’d look for a free agent pickup and then use the draft where they have three picks in the top 50 this year and then four more in the first two rounds next, to draft OL, edge rush, shutdown corner. There are some possible QBs that are likely available early in the second that might be worth a shot this year if they want to go that way though.

AFC West now loaded with QBs. Mahomes, Herbert, Wilson and Carr.

[Big D]

Seattle either through gameplan or Russ haven't really used a TE so this indicated they plan to.

It really shows how awful the Adams trade was.

If I were a Denver fan I would hate this deal. They're aren't a QB away from a run at the SB, have given away 2 1sts including a top 10 pick this year and when Wilsons deal is up.in 2 years they'll have to pay whatever he asks because of what they gave up to get him. Paying a 35/36 year old Wilson 40m+ won't be smart business.

They might benefit from the harder schedule the Chiefs have.

[Fonz]

If I were a Denver fan I would hate this deal. They aren't a QB away from a run at the SB, have given away 2 1sts including a top 10 pick this year and when Wilsons deal is up.in 2 years they'll have to pay whatever he asks because of what they gave up to get him. Paying a 35/36 year old Wilson 40m+ won't be smart business.

This is the bottom line IMO.

Moreover, while he's definitely a very good QB, he's not the type of guy that singlehandedly can change a team's fortunes overnight. He was one of the best caretaker QBs of all time (and there is NOTHING wrong with that), but most of his team's success was due to having the best defense and running game in the league and him just taking care of the football. Unfortunately he'll retire with half as many rings as he should have because he forgot that essential truth in the final seconds of that SB against the Pats...

For the record, Flyin Ryan on the other bored is a Broncos fan and he seems ambivalent at best.

Anywho I hope my fellow Missouri Tiger Drew Lock gets another chance in Seattle. I actually thought he had a good chance of success in the NFL, whereas every Mizzou fan fell over laughing when people who'd clearly never seen Blaine Gabbert play kept insisting he was a first round talent a decade ago.

[Big D]

If I were a Denver fan I would hate this deal. They aren't a QB away from a run at the SB, have given away 2 1sts including a top 10 pick this year and when Wilsons deal is up.in 2 years they'll have to pay whatever he asks because of what they gave up to get him. Paying a 35/36 year old Wilson 40m+ won't be smart business.

This is the bottom line IMO.

Moreover, while he's definitely a very good QB, he's not the type of guy that singlehandedly can change a team's fortunes overnight. He was one of the best caretaker QBs of all time (and there is NOTHING wrong with that), but most of his team's success was due to having the best defense and running game in the league and him just taking care of the football. Unfortunately he'll retire with half as many rings as he should have because he forgot that essential truth in the final seconds of that SB against the Pats...

For the record, Flyin Ryan on the other bored is a Broncos fan and he seems ambivalent at best.

Anywho I hope my fellow Missouri Tiger Drew Lock gets another chance in Seattle. I actually thought he had a good chance of success in the NFL, whereas every Mizzou fan fell over laughing when people who'd clearly never seen Blaine Gabbert play kept insisting he was a first round talent a decade ago.

He's a very good QB. Also very definitely the 3rd best in his division.

In the AFC the schedule is going to play a part because of the way it is determined (divisional standings have an impact) that is why the Broncos may do better in the division than one might think. The Chiefs will have a harder schedule.

My Bills basically play all the best teams in thr NFL next year (Rams, Chiefs, Titans, Ravens, Bengals, Packers etc).

[Gumboot]

Tom Brady has just un-retired and will play another season for the Bucs.

[Biffer]

Tom Brady has just un-retired and will play another season for the Bucs.

A few days after someone paid half a million dollars for his last NFL touchdown football

[Hal Jordan]

Seattle either through gameplan or Russ haven't really used a TE so this indicated they plan to.

It really shows how awful the Adams trade was.

Not for the Jets.

[Big D]

D Adams to Vegas for 5 years and 142m. Huge trade. No clear what the trade is for but looking like 2 x 22picks and maybe a player.

[Biffer]

D Adams to Vegas for 5 years and 142m. Huge trade. No clear what the trade is for but looking like 2 x 22picks and maybe a player.

Oh yeah.

Just Win Baby.

[Biffer]

Let’s all laugh at Cleveland.

[Big D]

Let’s all laugh at Cleveland.

The contract being structured to avoid losing any real money through suspension whilst understandable through his eyes leaves a bit of a bad taste.

[Big D]

Big week for some young men about to change their (and their families) lives.

[Biffer]

Big week for some young men about to change their (and their families) lives.

Yeah

Very unfortunate for David Ojabo. Looked to be the first Brit ever drafted in the first round (born in Nigeria, raised in Aberdeen, last few years of school in the US, considers Scotland home). Was being projected in the top ten - tore his Achilles on his pro day doing routines for the NFL scouts.

Likely still going to be late first round or early second, but the tear has cost him a few tens of millions.

[Biffer]

Also, I think Seattle are waiting to see who falls to them in the draft for a QB. If they don’t get the guy they want, I think they put the call in to Baker Mayfield.

No idea which guy they want. QB class is not strong this year. They might be looking at Willis and thinking he’s similar to Wilson, or they may be eyeing Pickett. One of them will likely be there at pick 9, but who knows. It’s not a great class all round this year, but there’s lots of good edge rushers and o linemen. Several potentially very good WRs as well.

[Big D]

Also, I think Seattle are waiting to see who falls to them in the draft for a QB. If they don’t get the guy they want, I think they put the call in to Baker Mayfield.

No idea which guy they want. QB class is not strong this year. They might be looking at Willis and thinking he’s similar to Wilson, or they may be eyeing Pickett. One of them will likely be there at pick 9, but who knows. It’s not a great class all round this year, but there’s lots of good edge rushers and o linemen. Several potentially very good WRs as well.

I think the Panthers pick might dictate the way the draft goes. If they pass on a QB in round 1 then the QB slide could be on.

[Gumboot]

NFL Draft kicking off in 10 minutes.

[Gumboot]

Jags take Trayvon Walker at No.1.