NFL

[layzie 33,879]

1 hour ago, Gorgoroth said:

Jimmy G to the Raiders

 Hargrave from Eagles to Niners… that D is going to be fun to watch.

Rodgers to Jets looking very likely

Big move, $40 mil guaranteed is a lot of cash especially considering Bosa is about to get $30 mil plus. Not sure about pouring all our money into defense but Hargrave is worth it for sure. 

[layzie 33,879]

RT Mike McGlinchey reportedly joins the Broncos on a 5 year $87 million dollar deal. Are they mad?

The bloke has not been a good run blocker since we made the SB, we run to the left now as much as anyone in the league. All the best but gee wiz. 

[Gorgoroth 12,976]

5 hours ago, layzie said:

Big move, $40 mil guaranteed is a lot of cash especially considering Bosa is about to get $30 mil plus. Not sure about pouring all our money into defense but Hargrave is worth it for sure. 

But if it nets you a SB then it’s all worth it and then you cut everybody and rebuild.

[layzie 33,879]

1 hour ago, Gorgoroth said:

But if it nets you a SB then it’s all worth it and then you cut everybody and rebuild.

100%. Just hope we have something left for the O-line!

[Gorgoroth 12,976]

1 hour ago, layzie said:

100%. Just hope we have something left for the O-line!

Niners D should put their O in good positions, that’s what ours did, pats use to do, chiefs do and Eagles did this year. 
Your biggest worry is still QB1.

Which considering how they have been solid early in their careers it’s not that bad as they should improve. 
I hate to say it but the Niners are the team to beat in the NFC.

[Gorgoroth 12,976]

This from Jourdan Rodrigue

Rams cap space (Over the Cap) 2023 as of now: $10.1M Dead money 2023: $52.7M Cap space 2024 (w/no further player movement): $58.5M Dead money 2024 (w/no further player movement): $0

 

so prob lots of pain for the Rams and a set up year the next? That’s a lot of cap space and if Kupp, AD and Stafford are all playing well the full tilt will happen again in a one year throw at the stumps. 

[Gorgoroth 12,976]

Way the Rams are going at the min we won’t be able to field a side. I read somewhere that 9 of our best D11 are gone this year.

[layzie 33,879]

6 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Way the Rams are going at the min we won’t be able to field a side. I read somewhere that 9 of our best D11 are gone this year.

What's going on? Were you really in that much cap hell?

[Gorgoroth 12,976]

1 hour ago, layzie said:

What's going on? Were you really in that much cap hell?

Not this much. We would be well under now. 
I reckon they decided to re set, this year will be a write off, but one last tilt with Staf, Kupp and AD. Get big money squared aside this season and rookie up, year after try and buy the world.

[Macca 17,022]

The end of an era at the Packers

Aaron Rodgers departs after a stellar career.  And the right time too as the team needs to reset

Been fantastic to watch with that amazing arm and he'll do well at the J.E.T.S ... @Dr. Gonzo and @beelzebub will be well pleased!!

Super Bowls are hard to win and to get one is a real achievement. Many teams never taste that ultimate success

But I can't help but think that with a great coach like Belichick the Packers could have won 3+ with Aaron at the helm

Been saying for years that the club needed to build a better overall game to compliment Rodgers fantastic passing ability

But without Rodgers building a decent playoff team might take some time

Interested in the thoughts of others

And the AFC East just got really interesting with Buffalo up and running along with Belichick still about

[Dr. Gonzo 24,237]

9 hours ago, Macca said:

The end of an era at the Packers

Aaron Rodgers departs after a stellar career.  And the right time too as the team needs to reset

Been fantastic to watch with that amazing arm and he'll do well at the J.E.T.S ... @Dr. Gonzo and @beelzebub will be well pleased!!

Super Bowls are hard to win and to get one is a real achievement. Many teams never taste that ultimate success

But I can't help but think that with a great coach like Belichick the Packers could have won 3+ with Aaron at the helm

Been saying for years that the club needed to build a better overall game to compliment Rodgers fantastic passing ability

But without Rodgers building a decent playoff team might take some time

Interested in the thoughts of others

And the AFC East just got really interesting with Buffalo up and running along with Belichick still about

It will be interesting to see how this works out in NY - Jets have obviously gone all-in for a ring while they have Gardner, Wilson, Hall etc on rookie contracts. And why not, they haven't had a competent QB let alone a championship calibre QB for a long long time despite multiple goes at the top end of the draft. We didn't give up too much for Rodgers all things considered but if it doesn't work out and he's retired in 12 months Joe Douglas and Saleh will be out the door.

Our weakness is still our o-line I think and with a veteran QB that never bodes well so hopefully Rodgers doesn't get belted from pillar to post and has time to make his throws. We don't want him getting hit and we don't want him scrambling otherwise it may be a short honeymoon period.

But at the end of the day if the Jets can get to the playoffs it will be a success the bar is that low - 13 years and counting since I cemented my allegiance to the Ryan/Sanchez rollercoaster with that divisional playoff win in Foxboro and 13 years and counting since they've been back to the playoffs. 

One thing is for sure Rodgers will at least be able to make those checkdown/slant routes that Zach Wilson just couldn't seem to master. Seeing how he goes twice a year against a Belichick defense will be interesting too, if we can sweep the Pats that would be almost worth it.

[layzie 33,879]

The best QB the Jets have had since Namath. 

There's so much to like about the way the Jets are doing things at the moment. I do wonder how their O-line will fare, you do need at least a competent one in front of Rodgers as he hangs onto the ball longer than most. Having said that he does extend plays by being evasive.

 

[Gorgoroth 12,976]

On 4/30/2023 at 12:31 PM, Macca said:

The end of an era at the Packers

Aaron Rodgers departs after a stellar career.  And the right time too as the team needs to reset

Been fantastic to watch with that amazing arm and he'll do well at the J.E.T.S ... @Dr. Gonzo and @beelzebub will be well pleased!!

Super Bowls are hard to win and to get one is a real achievement. Many teams never taste that ultimate success

But I can't help but think that with a great coach like Belichick the Packers could have won 3+ with Aaron at the helm

Been saying for years that the club needed to build a better overall game to compliment Rodgers fantastic passing ability

But without Rodgers building a decent playoff team might take some time

Interested in the thoughts of others

And the AFC East just got really interesting with Buffalo up and running along with Belichick still about

Seriously Packers should have won multiple with Rodgers behind centre. 
You had a great defence, great QB, decent receivers. Horrible head coach.

[Macca 17,022]

3 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Seriously Packers should have won multiple with Rodgers behind centre. 
You had a great defence, great QB, decent receivers. Horrible head coach.

I wouldn't say horrible ... just average or reasonably good.  Lot's of playoff appearances

He did coach 1 SB win and they aren't easy to win

Not sure about the great defence ... average I'd say.  Biggest weakness was our running game under McCarthy ... we were ok but never very good.  Run defence - below average

Too reliant on Rodgers in my view

As for le Fluer ... more of the same.  A bit beige?

Edited May 11, 2023 by Macca

[Gorgoroth 12,976]

You never had a running game.

And I rated your D, I reckon 2 years there when Hawk and Matthews were flying around you were very good.

[Macca 17,022]

1 hour ago, Gorgoroth said:

You never had a running game.

And I rated your D, I reckon 2 years there when Hawk and Matthews were flying around you were very good.

Yeah 2 years ... and in 1 of those years we won the SB

Overall - defence was average at best

The standout part of our game was Rodgers and his great arm

But we put all our eggs on one basket which is not the fault of Rodgers

And my view has been consistent for a number of years ... we should not have been a one-man team

The management was at fault

And there's a long road back ... dare I say it, we need a decent QB!!

[layzie 33,879]

On 5/11/2023 at 10:24 PM, Macca said:

Yeah 2 years ... and in 1 of those years we won the SB

Overall - defence was average at best

The standout part of our game was Rodgers and his great arm

But we put all our eggs on one basket which is not the fault of Rodgers

And my view has been consistent for a number of years ... we should not have been a one-man team

The management was at fault

And there's a long road back ... dare I say it, we need a decent QB!!

Yeah probably never an elite defence but as Gorg said they did have a few serious ballers who could make plays along the journey, but the magic was definitely with the QB. 

Mccarthy to me was a reasonable coach but not much more and I'm clutching at straws here but I always felt that because he was part of the group in SF that 'passed over' Aaron in the 2005 draft, it could have made for an awkward relationship in GB (at least at the start). Certainly wasn't a match made in heaven. 

Ted Thompson was always in my view one of the better GMs going round but there are plenty of questions over their roster decisions in that time. 

As for the running game under Mccarthy, I can't even think off the top of my head who the running backs were in his time. Lacy? Grant? That's all I got right now. 

Edited June 5, 2023 by layzie

[layzie 33,879]

John Demonic posted this on the footy boards but I've watched it about 10 times this week in between periods of lamenting our inaccuracy.

DB had such an uncomplicated and fluid kicking motion and the ball stays still throughout the run up. So good.

 

Edited July 6, 2023 by layzie

[Macca 17,022]

Less than a month before the preseason starts

7Mate will continue to cover 2 games on a Monday

Edited July 10, 2023 by Macca

[Macca 17,022]

2023 NFL season: 10 fascinating storylines to follow at mandatory minicamps

 

We say it every year: There is no offseason in the NFL.

This offseason, though, felt particularly breathless. Understandable when one of the biggest stars in the game joins a new team and another one of the biggest stars in the game ends a two-year contract staredown by making himself the highest-paid player in the league -- with both developments occurring just before the 2023 NFL Draft.

The NFL, we promise, really does quiet down soon. For about a month -- from mid-June to mid-July -- players scatter, coaches leave the facility, even the league office briefly eases off the gas.

Before everybody takes a much-needed breather, though, there is the matter of mandatory minicamps. It's an opportunity to get an early look at how teams are coming together -- just enough to whet our appetites for training camp and the season to come.

Here are 10 things we can't wait to see during minicamps.

1) Aaron's acclimation. The biggest question for the New York Jets: How fast can Aaron Rodgers, the offense and new faces get on the same page? Rodgers, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb have the advantage of familiarity with one another, but there are still questions about other facets of the offense. How will Hackett, who did not call plays for Rodgers in Green Bay, bounce back from a rough one-year head-coaching stint in Denver? What iteration of the offensive line will the Jets use? And, most critically, how is Rodgers' rapport with Garrett Wilson, the Jets' No. 1 receiver?

2) Green Bay redux. Finally, we will get an extended view of what the Packers saw in Jordan Love to convince them to move on from Rodgers. Love looked promising in limited 2022 regular-season action, but this is the first time he will get all the starter's reps, the first time the offense will be tailored to him, the first time Rodgers' long shadow is not cast on him. And, also, the first time Matt LaFleur is calling plays for someone who is not already a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

3) The return of Sean Payton. Payton has had his fingerprints all over virtually every part of the Broncos operation since taking the head job in January, but what everyone wants to know is what his offense will look like and how a noticeably slimmed-down Russell Wilson will fit in. Payton has been unsparing in his critique of the Broncos' offense last season, and his early moves -- shoring up the offensive line and signing running back Samaje Perine and fullback Michael Burton -- point to Payton's desire to run the ball to ease some of the pressure on Wilson. There won't be any sacred cows with Payton, so the early returns on this relationship will be fascinating.

4) The Ravens' new look. The Ravens have gone all in on surrounding Lamar Jackson with the best wide receiving group he's had in the NFL. Let's see how Odell Beckham Jr. looks now that he appears to be fully recovered from his second knee surgery. Let's see what first-round draft pick Zay Flowers does. And Nelson Agholor. And let's see what new offensive coordinator Todd Monken has in mind for this offense, which was 28th in passing last season. During OTAs, Jackson said he was loving Monken's offense. This is expected to be one of the most extreme makeovers in the NFL -- and, given the contract investment in Jackson, one that has some of the highest expectations attached to it.

5) The Anthony Richardson timeline. After the Colts made Richardson the fourth overall draft pick, team owner Jim Irsay made it clear he believes a raw talent like Richardson, who started just 13 games and attempted only 393 passes in college, needs to play to develop. Irsay also said head coach Shane Steichen will develop an offense that Richardson can operate while he learns. We'll at least get hints on what that offense looks like -- and how quickly Richardson can improve -- in minicamp.

6) The Dolphins' defense. The Dolphins finished 24th in scoring defense and 27th in passing D last season. Enter revered defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey. At Fangio's introductory press conference, he said he spent 2022 -- his year off from coaching -- studying other defenses, and he now has a few new tactics he wants to try. One thing to watch: How much will the Dolphins, who have been one of the most frequent blitzing teams in recent years, dial down the blitz with Fangio, who has not typically leaned on it? And in what positions will Fangio put Ramsey, who is coming off a down season but is now paired with Xavien Howard to form one of the league's elite cornerback duos. How Fangio deploys players who were not originally drafted to fit his scheme will tell us plenty about how quickly this defense can come together for a team that should contend in the AFC.

7) The Bengals' offensive line and secondary. It's been a multi-year project to improve the line, and how this group comes together will play a big part in the Bengals' championship hopes. Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. was one of the most significant free-agent signings of the offseason. And though Jonah Williams wanted a trade after he was moved to right tackle, the Bengals have held onto him and -- assuming he reports for the mandatory minicamp -- Williams will be on the right side. In the secondary, the Bengals lost both starting safeties (Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell) in free agency. How defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo fills those spots with currently unproven commodities is worth watching for one of the league's stingiest defenses (No. 6 in scoring D in 2022) and a very real Super Bowl contender.

8) The Cowboys' offense. Yes, the Cowboys got speedster Brandin Cooks, but the intrigue this offseason is how much different the offense will look with Mike McCarthy taking over play-calling duties and Brian Schottenheimer functioning as the offensive coordinator. McCarthy insists he wants to run more, and Schottenheimer says he wants the Cowboys to play fast, while adding that the unit isn't broken. That's true: The Cowboys were the fourth-best scoring offense in the NFL in 2022. But how much better the unit can get, and how much further Dallas can push into the playoffs, will be, as always, season-long obsessions.

9) The Lions' new reality. Suddenly the darlings of the league -- they will play the Chiefs in the NFL Kickoff Game -- the Lions made one of the most intriguing selections of the 2023 NFL Draft, taking running back Jahmyr Gibbs 12th overall to join David Montgomery, who signed a three-year deal in free agency. Those two backfield additions should fit quite nicely with one of the best offensive lines in the league. Minicamp offers a first look at the reshaped Lions offense and how Gibbs will also be used as a receiver.

10) Life after Brady in Tampa. There is still talent on the Buccaneers' roster, and the NFC South remains a winnable division, so whether Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask appear to be up for the starting QB job has huge implications. Mayfield breathed new life into his career during his brief stint with the Rams, and Bruce Arians has always liked him. But minicamp should tell us plenty about whether the former No. 1 overall pick has a solid hold on the job. Can the Bucs reach the playoffs with either quarterback? Or could they be in the trade market for a signal-caller if they believe the rest of the roster is still good enough to be a postseason participant?

[JV7 2,351]

Anyone given the "Quarterback" series a go on Netflix ? I'm only a couple of episodes in but interesting to get an insight into the life of a QB. 

[Macca 17,022]

Week 1 of the practice games completed

So of our teams, the Falcons, Jags, Bears, Packers & Jets all won

49ers, Cowboys, Eagles & Rams all went down

Interesting that the Jets beat the Panthers 27-0 but Rodgers didn't suit-up

 

[Macca 17,022]

That came up quick!

Season starts next Thursday evening (Lions @ Chiefs)

Tipping comp is on again too ... I'll post up the games and points system over the next few days

[Macca 17,022]

@layzie @Gorgoroth @JV7 @DeeSpencer @Go the Biff @titan_uranus @BDA @Dr. Gonzo @Clintosaurus @DemonDave @Dee Zephyr @Dappa Dan @cowboy_from_hell @pantaloons @Strafford

Season starts next week!

Tipping comp should be a goer again with no need to change any of the rules ... remembering that a bonus point is always on offer if you are the only successful tipster in any given week

Weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, & 13 all worth 2 points

Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 & 14 all worth 1 point

Week 15 - 2 points

Week 16 - 2 points

Week 17 - 2 points

Week 18 - 3 points

Reigning champ is 'DeeSpencer' whilst the overall leader (combining both comps) is 'Go the Biff'

For those new to this thread to gain points all you need to do is pick 3 road winner from 3 picks in any given week (easy peasy!!) ... so join in anytime as there's no cut-off point

 

Edited September 3, 2023 by Macca

[Dr. Gonzo 24,237]

Jags, Philly, Cowboys