NFL

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,550]

I basically dislike all things Texan - including their teams. Nit a great wrap for the patriots either.

[Gorgoroth 12,750]

See Antonio smith took incognitos helmet off his head then swung it at his face!

Ha ha, gotta watch the next game they play against each other, last two games have had these two go each other.

The clip is on nfl.com

[Macca 16,661]

Antonio Smith getting rubbed out for the 2 remaining practice games could be looked upon as a blessing in disguise! Misses the first regular season game but he's lucky he didn't connect with Incognito (odd surname - only in America?)

In other news ... what's going on with the Seahawks 'NSC'?

... The Seahawks believe their kinder, gentler philosophy is the future of football

Then he starts guiding them: "Quiet your minds," "Focus your attention inwardly" and "Visualize success."

"We do imagery work and talk about having that innovative mindset of being special," Wilson says. "We talk about being in the moment and increasing chaos throughout practice, so when I go into the game, everything is relaxed."

We could try this stuff at the Demons! Something's gotta work

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,550]

Ha ha I had not seen that. Russell Wilson is a freak is all I'll say. Wish they would go back to their old uniforms. But id be very surprised if the hawks don't dominate their division and some of the off season.

the other team that looks switched on actually Houston so that got me worried.

Incognito is indeed a strange name - I guess the name suits miami's flashiness.

there are some utterly ridiculous names In the NFL. I can't remember the one we saw recently but it was hilarious.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,550]

The name was like Sunny Golden or something.

I really like watching the cardinals as well. Love Fitzgerald.

[Macca 16,661]

Time for some Preseason predictions

Division winners and wild-cards

NFC

Green Bay (though not with a great deal of confidence)

Atlanta

San Francisco

Dallas

Seattle (wild-card)

Minnesota (wild-card)

AFC

New England

Pittsburgh

Denver

Houston

Baltimore (wild-card)

Indianapolis (wild-card)

Wouldn't surprise me if 3 or 4 of the above don't make the playoffs, but which 3 or 4? Who knows?

Other teams to look out for - Bengals, Redskins, Giants, New Orleans, St Louis, Chicago and maybe Miami, San Diego and Detroit.

I really like the Saints as the next biggest mover besides Dallas (btw if the Cowboys don't make it, there will be another guaranteed 'Story' behind it)

The Ravens might fall back a little but they may not (they have lost a few players) It's so hard to predict any of the good teams coming back to the field but maybe Atlanta? (especially if the Saints get on a winning streak and pip the Falcons for the Division)

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

Time for some Preseason predictions

Division winners and wild-cards

NFC

Green Bay (though not with a great deal of confidence)

Atlanta

San Francisco

Dallas

Seattle (wild-card)

Minnesota (wild-card)

AFC

New England

Pittsburgh

Denver

Houston

Baltimore (wild-card)

Indianapolis (wild-card)

Wouldn't surprise me if 3 or 4 of the above don't make the playoffs, but which 3 or 4? Who knows?

Other teams to look out for - Bengals, Redskins, Giants, New Orleans, St Louis, Chicago and maybe Miami, San Diego and Detroit.

I really like the Saints as the next biggest mover besides Dallas (btw if the Cowboys don't make it, there will be another guaranteed 'Story' behind it)

The Ravens might fall back a little but they may not (they have lost a few players) It's so hard to predict any of the good teams coming back to the field but maybe Atlanta? (especially if the Saints get on a winning streak and pip the Falcons for the Division)

Ok I have spent as much time researching as it takes for the opposition to get a center clearance against us but here goes....

NFC

Green Bay (Again )

Seattle

Dallas

New Orleans

Atlanta(WIldcard)

San Fran (Wildcard)

AFC

Miami (Big call)

Cincinnati

Indianapolis

Denver

New England (wildcard)

Houston (wildcard)

Might be a bit off with Miami but I think it's more because I think Pats will slide a little. Green Bay are a easy pick and I think my Vikings aren't going to get as good a record as last year due to a tougher schedule. Bengals have to be ready to step up with Steelers and Ravens stepping down. Are the Jets close? Ha!

[Macca 16,661]

Ok I have spent as much time researching as it takes for the opposition to get a center clearance against us but here goes....

NFC

Green Bay (Again )

Seattle

Dallas

New Orleans

Atlanta(WIldcard)

San Fran (Wildcard)

AFC

Miami (Big call)

Cincinnati

Indianapolis

Denver

New England (wildcard)

Houston (wildcard)

Might be a bit off with Miami but I think it's more because I think Pats will slide a little. Green Bay are a easy pick and I think my Vikings aren't going to get as good a record as last year due to a tougher schedule. Bengals have to be ready to step up with Steelers and Ravens stepping down. Are the Jets close? Ha!

There's always a surprise or 3. Last year the Colts, Redskins, Vikings and Seattle made the playoffs after not making it the previous year. 3 gun QB's and a gun RB helped a lot of course!

Going to be interesting to see how the Sean Payton/Drew Brees combo works again. That division may come down to the head to head results of the Falcons/Saints games (they play each other first up in New Orleans)

At some stage the Patriots may slide but that Belichick/Brady partnership is hard to break down. They just keep winning games whilst their divisional rivals are often all over the place. Tannehill is a good QB though and I can see Miami having a winning season.

The other talking point is the possible targeting of the knees of the RB's and WR's. The QB's are protected and if we see a rash of knee injuries, they may clamp down hard (whether they'd change the rule 'in season' is another matter)

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

There's always a surprise or 3. Last year the Colts, Redskins, Vikings and Seattle made the playoffs after not making it the previous year. 3 gun QB's and a gun RB helped a lot of course!

Going to be interesting to see how the Sean Payton/Drew Brees combo works again. That division may come down to the head to head results of the Falcons/Saints games (they play each other first up in New Orleans)

At some stage the Patriots may slide but that Belichick/Brady partnership is hard to break down. They just keep winning games whilst their divisional rivals are often all over the place. Tannehill is a good QB though and I can see Miami having a winning season.

The other talking point is the possible targeting of the knees of the RB's and WR's. The QB's are protected and if we see a rash of knee injuries, they may clamp down hard (whether they'd change the rule 'in season' is another matter)

The Knee issue is a tough one. I would think that if a player is in the play then being tackled at the knees is fine. I have an issue with this which happened last week. http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/videos/Kevin_Williams_Injured_After_Low_Blow/f78469ce-fbc0-4388-9a27-036a6bf31f9b

It's a cheap shot and Williams is not in the play. Imagine the uproar if it were Brady,Rogers or another superstar. Jared Allen has been on about this for nearly a year after Texan Brian Cushing had his knee blown out in a game.

[Macca 16,661]

The QB's are protected to a certain degree - it's more about players like Fitzgerald and AP being targeted (now)

I reckon the NFL will have to address the issue before too long.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,550]

I'll think about my predictions. Think the chiefs might be big improvers.

hey you do you guys know where to get NFL clothing in AUS? Keep seeing green bay hats.

[Gorgoroth 12,750]

I got a heritage LA Rams hat from some store at Highpoint

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

I get my vikings gear from overseas. I found it impossible to find a store based in oz. There are plenty of dodgy websites from Asia that sell counterfit gear. It's cheap and whilst it isn't legit a guernsey is about $20 compared to $110. The quality obviously isn't as good as the real deal but I get the real stuff and some dodgy when my wife starts counting how many Adrian Petersons I have.

Edited August 29, 2013 by cowboy_from_hell

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,550]

Scweet! Ill find me a dodgy Asian then...

My predictions -

NFC Dominators:

- Seattle (ofcourse);

- Greenbay,

- Philli,

- Red Skins,

- San Fran

NFC improvers:

- Arizona and biggest surprise will be Detroit's improvement.

AFC Dominators:

- Houston Texans by a country mile for mine

- New England Pats

- Denver (for Payton alone though)

- Ravens will decline but still be tidy

AFC improvers:

- Kansas City will be massive improvers

- Miami maybe?? - nah probably not - their preseason games have looked soulless.

AFC duds:

- Buffalo.

[Gorgoroth 12,750]

Yeah I got my top from the official rams store

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,550]

I actually really like Miami's clothing - my mate bought a jacket from the NFL shop website and its so much cooler than most of the gear for Seattle for some reason.

I saw that Snoop Lion was at the last preseason game supporting the Seahawks with Beastmode's numbered Guernsey. As snoop dogg he supposedly supported the raiders. I can understand why you'd want to change but keep it 'west coast'.

Every preseason game ive watched the Texans have played as been intense. They are a great team to watch - I reckon they will go well this season. The other preseason game that was worth watching in round 4 was the Philli game. Some awesome sacks.

[Gorgoroth 12,750]

Can't wait, need to avoid Facebook all day so I don't get scores.

[pantaloons 2,019]

Has anyone tried Grantland's NFL Wins Pool before? I'm in the middle of a draft with some mates at the moment - superb.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/36155/you-should-have-an-nfl-wins-pool

[Macca 16,661]

Has anyone tried Grantland's NFL Wins Pool before? I'm in the middle of a draft with some mates at the moment - superb.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/36155/you-should-have-an-nfl-wins-pool

That sounds like a good idea, pantaloons ... gets the picks out early - which is ideal. We could do it here if we could get 10 starters. Was thinking of doing a weekly tipping thing but your idea is way better.

Apart from that, I'll usually post up the TV games on a Thursday evening but for this week, here they are ... (note that Foxtel aren't covering a late game in week 1 but that may change - I'll bump this post a couple more times before Monday)

Fri Sept 6

10.30am Baltimore at Denver (OneHD & ESPN)

Mon Sept 9

3.00am Atlanta at New Orleans (Fox1)

3.00am Minnesota at Detroit (OneHD)

6.15am Green Bay at San Francisco (OneHD)

10.30am NY Giants at Dallas (OneHD & ESPN)

Tues Sept 10

9.00am Philadelphia at Washington (ESPN)

12.15pm Houston at San Diego (ESPN)

... here are all the other games in week 1

For those interested in seeing how your team is rated for this season, here's a couple of podcasts from Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal, discussing the relative merits of each team in an 'overs and unders' format ... AFC (part 1) ... NFC (part 2)

Edited September 5, 2013 by Macca

[Gorgoroth 12,750]

So here is my division winners.

Pats

Ravens

Texans

Broncos

Cowboys (eagles my smokey! Strange choice I know..)

Bears

Buccs

Rams ( more likely Seattle or niners, but I'm a rams fan!)

I'm usually terrible at these

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

Are we doing the tipping this year Macca? I can't remember the format.

[pantaloons 2,019]

So here is my division winners.

Pats

Ravens

Texans

Broncos

Cowboys (eagles my smokey! Strange choice I know..)

Bears

Buccs

Rams ( more likely Seattle or niners, but I'm a rams fan!)

I'm usually terrible at these

Sadly, the Broncos should win our division easily. Mind you, there has never been a better time to follow a pair of two-win football teams!

[Macca 16,661]

'cfh' ... the tipping idea was to pick 3 'Away' winners in any given week with the proviso being that you only get 3 picks. 1 point to anyone who gets it right. Fairly straight forward comp that way.

We could start it off and if there are enough participants, we can keep it going. I'll do my tips tonight

Edited September 5, 2013 by Macca

[Gorgoroth 12,750]

My three away teams are

Seattle

Tampa Bay

Kansas

Do we pick points or winning margins?

[Macca 16,661]

My three away teams are

Seattle

Tampa Bay

Kansas

Do we pick points or winning margins?

Just the winners Gorgoroth - seems quite straight forward but it's trickier than one might think. There's always a few upsets and 'home' underdogs can get up when you least expect it.

I'll do my tips later today when I re-post the TV games but just looking at this week's games, it's not easy to see 3 sure-fire 'away' winners.

The next post will give a brief outline of the rules (don't ya just hate rules!)