The Weird, Wacky and Awesome World of the NFL - General Banter thread

HigginsJ

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

I think they'll definitely tag him but I don't know who would trade for him though.

Ah there would be a market for him ok (assuming the price is not too high) The usual suspects (Raiders, Jags)

Son Of A Vidic

HigginsJ wrote: »

Ah there would be a market for him ok (assuming the price is not too high) The usual suspects (Raiders, Jags)

The usual suspects are likely candidates alright, but I just have a gut feeling that if the Bears are looking for a trade. They might be surprised by the general lack of interest.

Paully D

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

I think they'll definitely tag him but I don't know who would trade for him though.

Browns would make the most sense for me. Vikings also but they're not going to trade him in-division.

They'll be looking for a 1st plus a conditional apparently.

Billy86

Paully D wrote: »

Browns would make the most sense for me. Vikings also but they're not going to trade him in-division.

They'll be looking for a 1st plus a conditional apparently.

Any team who accepts that doesn't deserve to be allowed pick in the first round anyway.

Paully D

The Pro Bowl selections have been named. It's just a popularity contest at this stage, but Pro Football Focus have released their selections which is always much closer to the mark in terms of who actually deserves to be there:

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/12/24/pff-pro-bowl-team-2014/

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Peyton Manning (DEN) and Philip Rivers (SD)

Backups: Russell Wilson (SEA), Drew Brees (NO), Matthew Stafford (DET) and Tom Brady (NE)

We decided to be controversial and go with Manning as a starter. He’s had a pretty decent year however you break it down. The other starter, Rivers, is one of three players with a better adjusted accuracy percentage and has been reborn with an offense that gets the ball out of his hands quicker. Of the backups they all picked themselves but it was the inadequacy of others that cemented the selection of Stafford. He’s been poor recently but should we forget his fine start to the year?

Running Back: LeSean McCoy (PHI) and Jamaal Charles (KC)

Backups: Eddie Lacy (GB), DeMarco Murray (DAL), Adrian Peterson (MIN) and Marshawn Lynch (SEA)

Slightly boring that we’ve gone with the two running backs with the most yardage, but there’s a reason why they’re leading that category and it owes a lot to their own ability. Again on the backup front we’ve gone with guys who can run the ball chiefly, so Darren Sproles might feel slighted in that regard for his fantastic work as a receiver.

Full Back: Anthony Sherman (KC) and Mike Tolbert (CAR)

Sherman is our top ranked pure lead blocker, and by some distance. We initially scoffed when the Chiefs brought him in but it’s been a masterstroke. We felt uncomfortable giving Tolbert the nod given his good work as a running back, but there was no outstanding candidate to give us another option.

Wide Receiver: Antonio Brown (PIT), Calvin Johnson (DET), Brandon Marshall (CHI) and Andre Johnson (HOU)

Backups: DeSean Jackson (PHI), Alshon Jeffrey (CHI), Jordy Nelson (GB) and Josh Gordon (CLE)

Talk about competitive. We could have gone any number of ways here so we’ll understand fans of Anquan Boldin, A.J. Green and Demaryius Thomas siding against this. As it is can you really argue against any of those selections?

Tight End: Jimmy Graham (NO) and Vernon Davis (SF)

Backups: Jason Witten (DAL) and Tony Gonzalez (ATL)

If only Rob Gronkowski had featured a little more. His 390 snaps were far too few to be considered which is a shame because there isn’t a receiving weapon like him. That left us scrambling to find three guys to fit next to the ever excellent Jimmy Graham. In the end Davis gets the start over Gonzalez for his superior blocking, while Witten is really the best all rounder out there in something of a down year for tight ends.

Tackle: Joe Thomas (CLE), Andrew Whitworth (CIN), Demar Dotson (TB) and Phil Loadholt (MIN)

Backups: Jordan Gross (CAR) and Joe Staley (SF)

Damn our own system. The truth is the standard of left tackle play has been much higher than that on the right side, but we’re committed to playing left and right tackles which means we had a very difficult choice between Zach Strief, Loadholt and Dotson. It was an even tougher task separating the left tackles where Trent Williams and Jake Long can consider themselves extremely unlucky to miss out. Special mention for Whitworth who filled in when his team needed him at left guard most admirably, with our good selves opting not to hold that against him.

Guard: Evan Mathis (PHI), Josh Sitton (GB), Louis Vasquez (DEN) and Larry Warford (Det)

Backups: Brandon Fusco (MIN) and Travelle Wharton (CAR)

You know the drill with Evan Mathis, who for a third year is our top ranked guard by some distance. Perhaps this is the year he gets his due with a trip to Hawaii. Sitton has done exceptionally well moving over to the left side of the line while our right guards really picked themselves with rookie Warford a revelation and Vasquez well worth the money. The biggest point of contention then came down to picking between Wharton and Matt Slauson, with the former Jet surprising everyone with his play in Chicago. In the end the more consistent Wharton won out.

Center: Alex Mack (CLE) and Chris Myers (HOU)

Backups: John Sullivan (MIN) and Jason Kelce (PHI)

A lot of teams are going to be monitoring the contract situation of Mack very closely. Centers like him rarely hit free agency but he’s nearing it. He’s having a fine year. Myers got the nod over Kelce … just. The logic being that when Myers was bad (see Week 16), he wasn’t nearly as bad as Kelce (see Week 5). The last spot was fought out by three men, with Travis Frederick bowing out courtesy of his poor pass blocking and John Sullivan winning due to his superior consistency over Manny Ramirez.

DEFENSE

Defensive End: Robert Quinn (SL), J.J. Watt (HOU), Calais Campbell (ARZ) and Cameron Jordan (NO)

Backups: Greg Hardy (CAR) and Cameron Wake (MIA)

We’ve been a bit creative with our ends and tackle picks to ensure we get as many of the best guys in as possible. That means while Campbell and Watt spend a lot of time playing between the tackles we’ve put them in as ends, with their performance never a question mark. Quinn was the obvious choice to start with his grade a positional record on the year, which left us with a dilemma on the backups. On one hand we love what Michael Bennett has done, and the run defense of Michael Johnson has been phenomenal. But weighed against the more complete every down efforts of Hardy we had to go for the Panther.

Defensive Tackle: Gerald McCoy (TB), Ndamukong Suh (DET), Jurrell Casey (TEN) and Kyle Williams (BUF)

Backups: Dontari Poe (KC) and Marcell Dareus (BUF)

There are a lot of players who might feel wronged here. The nose tackle types who only play on early downs like Damon Harrison and Brandon Mebane are victims of their own limitations despite their excellent work against the run, while there simply wasn’t the room for Randy Starks or Jason Hatcher. It’s been a tremendous season for the DT spot, with us treating Kyle Williams as one because it’s the role that most closely resembles his on field work.

Inside Linebacker: NaVorro Bowman (SF) and Patrick Willis (SF)

Backups: Derrick Johnson (KC) and Karlos Dansby (ARZ)

The big controversy. Have we forgot about Luke Kuechly? Not so and while the world likes to pin the success of a unit on one player, the truth is the Panthers’ defense is more about the collective than any one individual. So while Kuechly has played well, we’re not going to let the hype do the 49ers duo, the excellent Johnson and the criminally underrated Dansby out of a spot. Kuechly, Kiko Alonso, Sean Lee and Stephen Tulloch were all considered for the final spot, but the playmaking of Dansby (he leads his position with eight sacks and 10 pass break ups) made our minds up for us.

Outside Linebacker: Lavonte David (TB), Justin Houston (KC), Robert Mathis (IND) and Vontaze Burfict (CIN)

Backups: Brian Orakpo (WAS) and Thomas Davis (CAR)

We considered Elvis Dumervil, but given he’s a purely situational player we went in a different direction, instead trying to balance out with three 4-3 guys and three 3-4 ones. That meant the pass rushing terrors of Houston, Mathis and Orakpo got the nod while it wasn’t difficult picking David, Davis or Burfict. Granted it would have been easier if Burfict wasn’t flagged 12 times but we digress.

Cornerback: Darrelle Revis (TB), Brent Grimes (MIA), Richard Sherman (SEA) and Patrick Peterson (ARZ)

Backups: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (DEN), Keenan Lewis (NO), Vontae Davis (IND) and Joe Haden (CLE)

Some selections were easy, some less so. The easy ones are the guys you see starting, with us happy to look past Patrick Peterson’s besting at the hands of Kendall Wright to see a cornerback who doesn’t just man up with a team’s top receiver, but quiets them down. Picking the backups however was a tad harder and in the end Haden and Lewis, who don’t have the best PFF grades in the world, gets the due because the job they’re asked to do is so much harder than pretty much any cornerback out there. In that regard our grades always need a little context and it’s why they make it over Tramaine Brock despite his excellent play that has seen him promoted to the starting lineup recently.

Strong Safety: Eric Berry (KC) and T.J. Ward (CLE)

This was really a case of two from three, and the choice came down to Ward or Donte Whitner. The stinker of a game Ward had against the Jets almost had us changing course, but in the end he’s in with Whitner the first alternate.

Free Safety: Devin McCourty (NE) and Earl Thomas (SEA)

McCourty looks at home as the deep safety in New England, up to the tests of whatever comes his way that sees him top our overall grades for safety. Joining him is Thomas who makes the kind of plays few can. That was enough for us to look past some of the more negative plays he makes.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker: Nick Folk (NYJ) and Justin Tucker (BAL)

These two know a thing or two about making game winning kicks.

Returner: Cordarrelle Patterson (MIN) and Golden Tate (SEA)

You get the impression something is going to happen every time these two get the ball in the open field.

Punter: Shane Lechler (HOU) and Johnny Hekker (SL)

A big year from Lechler who tops our punter grading from Hekker, with Thomas Morstead and Pat McAfee not far from making the list.

Special Teamer: Justin Bethel (ARZ) and Jeremy Lane (SEA)

Simply put there isn’t another special teamer like Bethel and our look at special teams units in more detail this year has really bore that out. Lane may not have been the selection for his team but he just edges out Robert Golden who was nominated initially before being bumped .

SameOleJay

I'm sorry but Kuechly is about the first name in. End of story.

The Rams have an absolute stud in Quinn- he's just obliterated offences all season. It was interesting watching the Colts Rams Sounds FX footage and Pagano is just repeating "Don't let him spoil the game" . To no avail of course.

Son Of A Vidic

Spot on there Paully with the Pro Bowl now being nothing more than a popularity contest. I'm sure most of us could find overlooked candidates for our own team. For me two jump out. Gostkowski has had a great season and certainly kicked more clutch kicks that anyone else and gets overlooked. Edelman has had a huge step up in performance this season and with all the turnover & injuries at offense, at times he single handedly was the receiving corp. Known for being injury prone, but this season when it mattered most he has been ever present on the field.

GoldFour4

Ridiculous that Kuechly isn't in that Pro Football focus list. He's the anchor of that Panthers defense and is one of the best defenders in the league. He doesn't stop on any play. Anyone who's watched a quarter of a Carolina game this year could tell he's one the top guys in the league.

mikemac1

I like the pick of Warford at guard.

A rookie from the 3rd round and he has been impressive on a poor Lions offensive line

adrian522

Scott Hansen's cheat sheet for the NFC playoff scenarios. 64 different possibilities:

Itssoeasy

adrian522 wrote: »

Scott Hansen's cheat sheet for the NFC playoff scenarios. 64 different possibilities:

128 different possibilities on the AFC one he put up. It's on two cards. I hope he goes to the jacks before he goes on tomorrow.

Paully D

Texans are working on a deal to bring Bill O'Brien (Penn State) in as head coach:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10205777/bill-obrien-penn-state-nittany-lions-coach-working-deal-become-houston-texans-head-coach

Bill O'Brien has emerged as the overwhelming favorite to become the next coach of the Houston Texans, and the two sides are working to get a deal in place within the next week, league sources told ESPN.

O'Brien met with the Texans this week after Christmas at his home in Cape Cod, resulting in intensified discussions they hope will culminate with a finalized contract, the sources said.

The Texans had been doing due diligence on O'Brien, including his six-year stint with the New England Patriots. The feedback has been strong in his favor, sources said, which motivated Houston to commence negotiations to get a deal in place.

O'Brien, 44, just finished his second season at Penn State, where he was the Big Ten coach of the year in 2012, followed by a 7-5 season this year while playing with a freshman quarterback (Christian Hackenberg) and amid heavy sanctions placed on the Nittany Lions after the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

O'Brien was a New England assistant from 2007 until 2012. He eventually became the offensive coordinator for a Patriots team that lost to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.

After O'Brien interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns last offseason, he returned to Penn State. But his interest in any prominent NFL head coaching job is not a secret.

As a condition to returning to Penn State for 2012, O'Brien and the school agreed to an amended contract that lowered his buyout to join an NFL team from $19.33 million to $6.48 million. There had been conversations to further reduce the NFL buyout.

The Texans will have either the first or second overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft and are expected to target a quarterback for the future.

The Texans, who will enter Sunday's season finale with a 2-13 record, are searching for a replacement for Gary Kubiak, who was fired earlier this month.

Greg Schiano has apparently had his eye on the Penn State job for a long time according to Charlie Campbell of Walter Football who worked with Schaino's agent before:

Charlie Campbell ‏@DraftCampbell 2m
I worked for Greg Schiano's agent in 2004-2005. He always had his eye on the Penn State job. I bet his agent has already called PSU.

HigginsJ

Paully D wrote: »

Texans are working on a deal to bring Bill O'Brien (Penn State) in as head coach:
:

He had done a great job for Penn State & it's a pity for them as they have a bright future with Hackenberg in place at QB.

Lionbacker

mikemac1 wrote: »

I like the pick of Warford at guard.

A rookie from the 3rd round and he has been impressive on a poor Lions offensive line

Actually the offensive line is one of the Lions biggest strengths at the moment. 3 new starters in there this year (Reiff LT, Warford RG, Waddle RT) have all acquitted themselves better than anyone expected. The new improved line has created huge running lanes for Bell & Bush to go through & Stafford is the least sacked QB in the NFL!

The real issues with this team are a defensive line can't get to the QB, the secondary is a never-ending problem, there is only one decent receiver on the team & Stafford along with the RB's can't stop turning the ball over.

Silver-Tiger

Browns last game today

adrian522

Currently on sale in Seattle, hopefully it all blows up in their face

Son Of A Vidic

^ ^ ^

Christ, everyone must be on drugs in that place.:pac:

GoldFour4

That's just asking for results to go against them tbh

Realt Dearg Sec

They should ask the kerryfootball team about their 5 in a row t shirts. Those are collectors items in Offaly, these things could be selling like hot cakes in st Louis tomorrow.

mikemac1

Reminds me of Tipp blowing up Kilkenny's five in a row :cool:

davyjose

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

^ ^ ^

Christ, everyone must be on drugs in that place.:pac:

In fairness, they probably will make it, and stuff like this has to be ready to hit the shelves ASAP.

Realt Dearg Sec

mikemac1 wrote: »

Reminds me of Tipp blowing up Kilkenny's five in a row :cool:

Hold your horses we never made t shirts! And while I don't like the rams, they aren't 'Tipperary bad'

Son Of A Vidic

davyjose wrote: »

In fairness, they probably will make it, and stuff like this has to be ready to hit the shelves ASAP.

Yes I know, but I just couldn't resist.

Billy86

Remind me of this little cracker!

Realt Dearg Sec

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

They should ask the kerryfootball team about their 5 in a row t shirts...

Think that was some private individual, don't think it was official merchandise afair.

Realt Dearg Sec

Deleted User wrote: »

Think that was some private individual, don't think it was official merchandise afair.

I know but the truth should never interfere with a good story.

me89

The Texans are on the clock.

Who saw that coming at the start of the season :eek::eek:

Red Crow

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Hold your horses we never made t shirts! And while I don't like the rams, they aren't 'Tipperary bad'

me89

Red Crow wrote: »

Poor old Tipp, one title every ten years :D:D

adrian522

Lads, check out this link to carry on this conversation:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=269