On 29/09/2017 at 05:51, Macca said:

Yeah,  Rodgers missed a few games through concussion in that SB year ... but alliances aside,  I'm more viewing this from an overall league point of view. 

Sometimes there is a catalyst moment and today might have been that moment.  He's got full use of all his extremities but what if he'd ended up in a wheelchair?

We should never wait for the worst to happen before instigating change. 

I'm not necessarily pointing the finger at the Bear player either ... what he did doesn't carry enough consequences so like many others,  he and they will do whatever it takes.   Adjust the consequences and then change happens.

Leigh Matthews would have had to have changed the way he played in order to play the modern version of AFL.  And of course, he would have done that and still been anointed as a champion player.

Playing devils advocate here, as I agree with you philosophically. Don't you see plenty of those hits every year? DJax used to take one every few weeks nothing changed. Should it be policed? Sure. Will it be? I doubt it a lot. Not even any outrage really on Twitter etc which is where you usually see it. So yeah. I think you're right. It'll take a paraplegic or death to make a change.

  On 29/09/2017 at 05:54, Dappa Dan said:

Playing devils advocate here, as I agree with you philosophically. Don't you see plenty of those hits every year? DJax used to take one every few weeks nothing changed. Should it be policed? Sure. Will it be? I doubt it a lot. Not even any outrage really on Twitter etc which is where you usually see it. So yeah. I think you're right. It'll take a paraplegic or death to make a change.

Change will happen ... litigation might provide the conduit or vehicle for that change.  Money talks,  BS walks and all that Dappa.

And then we'd enter into the 'nanny-state' or 'political-correctness' sphere until the sensible outcomes (if reached) were acknowledged.

  On 29/09/2017 at 06:07, Macca said:

Change will happen ... litigation might provide the conduit or vehicle for that change.  Money talks,  BS walks and all that Dappa.

And then we'd enter into the 'nanny-state' or 'political-correctness' sphere until the sensible outcomes (if reached) were acknowledged.

Each to their own Macca, I guess.

There's about 50 things I think need changing in the NFL incidentally. We could do this topic for a long time. For now though... you must be a happy Packer.

  On 29/09/2017 at 06:08, Dappa Dan said:

Each to their own Macca, I guess.

There's about 50 things I think need changing in the NFL incidentally. We could do this topic for a long time. For now though... you must be a happy Packer.

Well ... with all due respect to the Bears,  I judge this team against the best teams.  Losing today's game would have been a diabolical outcome. 

As it stands,  our only real strength is at QB & WR so losing Adams is a blow (I'm assuming that he'll miss a few games at least)

We're at Dallas next up and that's a game I would really want to win ... we've already lost to Atlanta so we can't afford to lose too many of those head-to-head tie-break situations.  @ Big D is a toughie.

Just winning the NFC North is going to be a tough ask though.  We're at the Vikings in week 6 after @ Dallas.

As for the change needed in the NFL,  I'm generally quite happy with how it's all run.  Especially with the structures of the divisions, conferences and playoff procedures.   The sport itself is very exciting in it's own, unique way.

  On 29/09/2017 at 06:26, Macca said:

Well ... with all due respect to the Bears,  I judge this team against the best teams.  Losing today's game would have been a diabolical outcome. 

As it stands,  our only real strength is at QB & WR so losing Adams is a blow (I'm assuming that he'll miss a few games at least)

Yeah they get that part right. Don't tell anyone over on the main board though. NFL isn't a popular term there.

I think you'll be ok. Not enough respect given to the Dallas D. I know they're not perfect, and might only flirt with being top 10... but they've got good players there. Playmakers too. I think they'll be alright. I don't see Lions and Vikes being miles past them even on their best day. Bradford and Stafford aren't Rodgers. Lions D isn't all that great. Vikings probably the stiffest competition. You're right though, beating other potential wild card teams will go a long way. 3-1 though is a good place to be... and it's not like the one team they lost to are scrubs.

  On 29/09/2017 at 06:32, Dappa Dan said:

Yeah they get that part right. Don't tell anyone over on the main board though. NFL isn't a popular term there.

I think you'll be ok. Not enough respect given to the Dallas D. I know they're not perfect, and might only flirt with being top 10... but they've got good players there. Playmakers too. I think they'll be alright. I don't see Lions and Vikes being miles past them even on their best day. Bradford and Stafford aren't Rodgers. Lions D isn't all that great. Vikings probably the stiffest competition. You're right though, beating other potential wild card teams will go a long way. 3-1 though is a good place to be... and it's not like the one team they lost to are scrubs.

Unless Atlanta lose their way,  they can wrest control of home field advantage all the way to the SB.  They look like men on a mission.  They score freely and are strong at QB,  WR,  RB and their defence is better than decent.

They do have to go to New England & Seattle but they've got Dallas at home in the dome.  And the SB is being played indoors as well. 

  On 29/09/2017 at 06:58, Macca said:

Unless Atlanta lose their way,  they can wrest control of home field advantage all the way to the SB.  They look like men on a mission.  They score freely and are strong at QB,  WR,  RB and their defence is better than decent.

They do have to go to New England & Seattle but they've got Dallas at home in the dome.  And the SB is being played indoors as well. 

Yup. I have them #1. I still like Dallas to go a long, long way. Green bay is a top 4 side for mine though, even though they can't even spell Offensive Tackle right now.

Here are the games again for those who still need to do their tipping ... SNF (Colts @ Seattle) is an ordinary match-up with Luck not playing but MNF could be decent (Washington @ KC)

Pittsburgh/Baltimore are fierce rivals and Oak/Den,  Det/Min & the Rams/Cowboys could all be interesting. 

But finding 3 road winners?  There should be bonus points allocated

 

Just finishing the game now.

Had a mate come over so we headed to the pub and smoked cigars. Watching it now I’m glad I could fast forward the ads and break.

GB played exceptionally well considering their injuries.

Agree with you Macca, Romo is great as a special comments guy, always liked Jim and the two work well together.

Haven't seen any of the game so wont comment on that but I did see Trevanthan's hit, pretty poor stuff.. It was late and unnecessary on a defenseless player, a heavy fine isn't enough he should be rubbed out for at least a month. I'm not fully across the NFL system is it just financial consequences for these acts... They don't have suspension ? I've only seen players suspended for off field stuff. 

On Atlanta, we do seem like a team on a mission and our offense whilst it wont reach the heights of last year, it can stay a top level offense. Our defense improved in the back half of last year and has improved again so far... We did have a good run with injuries last year and have already lost Beasley for a motnh so if we can stay healthy I'm expecting us to be there abouts but who knows in this game, it's a long way back to the SB and a lot of things need to go your way

  On 29/09/2017 at 11:01, JV7 said:

Haven't seen any of the game so wont comment on that but I did see Trevanthan's hit, pretty poor stuff.. It was late and unnecessary on a defenseless player, a heavy fine isn't enough he should be rubbed out for at least a month. I'm not fully across the NFL system is it just financial consequences for these acts... They don't have suspension ? I've only seen players suspended for off field stuff. 

On Atlanta, we do seem like a team on a mission and our offense whilst it wont reach the heights of last year, it can stay a top level offense. Our defense improved in the back half of last year and has improved again so far... We did have a good run with injuries last year and have already lost Beasley for a motnh so if we can stay healthy I'm expecting us to be there abouts but who knows in this game, it's a long way back to the SB and a lot of things need to go your way

Seems there's some noise being made about it now. Often those are a big fine, like 5 figures.

Yeah the offense just moves it so smoothly. Very pretty to watch. Ryan is the same as he was last year.

Saints

Titans

Steelers

Joyner out for Rams this week. Massive loss For us. Ranked #4 of all safeties this year so far. 

Trevathan copped 2 game suspension.

  On 30/09/2017 at 21:20, Gorgoroth said:

Trevathan copped 2 game suspension.

Over there, that's seen as a somewhat hefty penalty.  So, by their standards,  he hasn't gotten off lightly. 

If we judged things by our standards, we might see it differently.  I know I do.

But again,  I'm not pointing the finger at the player but more so the actual indiscretion and the penalties involved. 

  On 01/10/2017 at 02:00, Macca said:

Over there, that's seen as a somewhat hefty penalty.  So, by their standards,  he hasn't gotten off lightly. 

If we judged things by our standards, we might see it differently.  I know I do.

But again,  I'm not pointing the finger at the player but more so the actual indiscretion and the penalties involved. 

TBH they usually fine them. So I agree, that 2 weeks for them is a big deal. 

I actually thought he would get a fine and play on.

Jags

Steelers

Bengals

  On 01/10/2017 at 02:00, Macca said:

Over there, that's seen as a somewhat hefty penalty.  So, by their standards,  he hasn't gotten off lightly. 

You picked it though. They're obviously going on the heavier end of the penalty, despite it being the first really bad one this year. 

  On 01/10/2017 at 08:48, Dappa Dan said:

You picked it though. They're obviously going on the heavier end of the penalty, despite it being the first really bad one this year. 

Not sure I picked it Dappa ... but I've given my thoughts previously so I'll leave it there. 

Your game kicks off at 7am ... you watching live? 

  On 01/10/2017 at 08:54, Macca said:

Not sure I picked it Dappa ... but I've given my thoughts previously so I'll leave it there. 

Your game kicks off at 7am ... you watching live? 

As in, I sort of assumed they might let it slide or give a fine tops... But you got it right. Good thing too. Tick, NFL.

Well. You know... I will try... but I have to be awake to set my side at 3:55am... SO I might not make it. lol I'm picking Eagles though.

  On 01/10/2017 at 08:57, Dappa Dan said:

As in, I sort of assumed they might let it slide or give a fine tops... But you got it right. Good thing too. Tick, NFL.

Well. You know... I will try... but I have to be awake to set my side at 3:55am... SO I might not make it. lol I'm picking Eagles though.

We haven't seen the end of these type of incidents though ... but, as previously noted,  players aren't used to being ousted for that type of indiscretion so there might be some easing up on field.

We'll find out soon enough.  The NFL media will probably be on the lookout for anything untoward.

  On 01/10/2017 at 09:08, Macca said:

We haven't seen the end of these type of incidents though ... but, as previously noted,  players aren't used to being ousted for that type of indiscretion so there might be some easing up on field.

We'll find out soon enough.  The NFL media will probably be on the lookout for anything untoward.

That's what was weird. They didn't really make a big deal at all during the game.

But yes. You'd expect if it's the new norm that players will finally get the message.

I’ll be up at 5, got to leave for work at 9 so I’ll get a good 3 1/2hrs of the games in until I get home.

??? Giants

????? Titans

????????????? Rams

This isn't an easy week, then again, I don't find any of them easy

Normally that Steelers/Ravens match-up produces fireworks.  It's one of the early games tomorrow and it's bound to be close.  And a little nasty (hopefully)