Macca

Yeah, I had a read of the article about Wilson in the latest SI mag. Interesting to say the least. Some of his teammates call him "The Robot" but that can be taken in a few different ways. The big pay day is coming his way in a year or so but it looks and sounds like he's making some decent dollars right now (apart from his current football salary) Got a bit of an entourage happening but that's ok - he's got the talent to back it up. What I like most about Wilson is how he goes in the big plays. All the best QB's have that skill. I picked the 49ers to win that division but only because I reckon the Seahawks might slip up a few times on the road. Could be 13 wins vs 12 wins with those 2 teams so every game dropped is so vital. I expect both teams to split their games against each other. It's gonna be loud tomorrow! Usually I'd be concerned about losing the season opener but lets face it, it's gotta be the toughest road game in sports (apart from when the Demons are at Subiaco ) ... Keith Olbermann's take on the week 1 games (with a difference)

Carolina New England Cincinnati As for tomorrow's game ... apparently the Seahawks are concerned about Lacy but I'm more concerned about Rodgers not getting crunched 8 times again (last time we visited Seattle, Rodgers was sacked 8 times) It will be interesting to see how Seattle come out ... a few of the experts are saying they might drop off a bit but with that home field advantage and with that line-up of players, it's hard to see them not challenging again. Away from home could be interesting for the Seahawks though. Looking through their schedule, they haven't got an "easy" road game ... Seattle's schedule

I am the world's worst tipster I basically tipped the same teams from last year to make the playoffs ... but, you can almost bank on at least 3 of those teams not making it and 3 other teams bobbing up from nowhere. Injuries play a major part also. Seattle could start off where they left off too ... could the NFL have squared things up a bit and played the first game at Lambeau? Grossly unfair scheduling

Bit late with my divisional tips but here goes ... NFC South - New Orleans North - Green Bay (if Rodgers was at any of the divisional rivals, I'd pick that team) East - Philadelphia West - San Francisco Wild-cards ... Seattle & Carolina AFC South - Indianapolis North - Pittsburgh East - New England West - Denver Wild-cards ... Cincinnati & KC Super Bowl 49ers to defeat Denver

I'm once again struggling to find 3 road winners and we've only just begun. In fact, I can't find one road team that I have any real confidence in. I can see it now ... Points tally 0 - Macca I need more time for greater analysis ... might be Sunday before I decide

TV games ... I'll add any other games if they appear on Fox1, Fox2 or Fox3 Friday 10.30am Green Bay at Seattle (7mate & ESPN) Monday 3.00am - 9.30am RedZone (ESPN ... "Every Touchdown From Every Game") 3.00am New Orleans at Atlanta (7mate) 6.25am San Francisco at Dallas (7mate) 10.30am Indianapolis at Denver (7mate & ESPN) Tuesday 9.10am NY Giants at Detroit (ESPN) 12.20pm San Diego at Arizona (ESPN) ... All the week 1 games

You may be right ... we'll find out soon enough. CBS in America are covering the first 8 or so Thursday night games I believe (except the first one it seems) so therefore, the quality of match-ups has improved quite a lot from previous years. In week 2 we get the Steelers @ Baltimore then Tampa are @ Atlanta in week 3, the Giants are @ Washington in week 4 and so on and so forth. A lot of divisional games obviously - in fact, all the Thursday night games are divisional games except for the week 14 match-up when Dallas are at Chicago. Anyway, here's a bit of listening material for those who may be interested ... The B.S Report podcast (Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal discuss the week 1 lines) ... Week 1 games

Good news ... just checked the TV guide and 7mate are covering at least this week's Thursday night game (Packers @ Seattle) 7mate are also offering up a number of other programs specific to the NFL. It pays to wait and see with the coverage of live NFL games though. At this stage, there doesn't appear to be any live games on Foxtel but that will probably change. Anyway, for those who don't have cable, there are 4 live games to be shown on 7mate in week 1. Good line up of games this week too - I hope they keep up the quality of games on an ongoing basis.

Rules of the 'Demonland' NFL tipping competition ... (the same as last year except a couple more bonus weeks have been added) * All participants get 3 picks only in any given week (but .. they must all be 'road' teams) * Anyone who correctly tips all 3 winners from their 3 picks receives 1 point (any number of people can win a point in any given week) * Bonus points are up for grabs in weeks 2, 5, 8, 11 and 14 (2 points to all winners) whilst week 17 carries 3 points to any given winner. * No margins or correct scores are required - just the straight winners. * If you miss a week or come into the comp later on, there is no penalty. You just simply miss the chance to win points for that week or weeks. You can join in the comp at any time. * Your tips must be in before the start of Monday's games (AEST) ... or before the Friday game if you include that game. All 3 tips must be included in your post (editing your tips is strictly forbidden ) * The person (or persons) with the most points at the end of the regular season wins. For those out there who just read this thread, feel free to join in the comp. It's just a bit of fun and we could do with a few more people on the thread anyway. Last year's notable point scorers ... 9 - Strafford, cowboy from hell (joint winners) 7 - pantaloons, Macca 5 - Gorgoroth

There aren't any games listed on foxtel for next Monday morning (yet) Has 7mate got exclusive rights for the early and late games I wonder? I know that ESPN are covering the Thursday night game as well as SNF, MNF and Redzone (which covers the early and late games on a Sunday in the States)

A bit of reading material for those who are interested ... go here & here for the latest issues. Both publications centre on the upcoming NFL season.

If you and others are thinking about how good Petracca and Brayshaw might be, fair enough. I'm not so enamoured with prospective draftees and never have been. If Frawley goes and we get pick 3 for him, the club might decide to trade that pick away in another Tyson/Salem type deal. If that scenario were to happen we'd probably use our pick 2 on either Petracca or Brayshaw (or someone else?) Salem is a natural footballer with footy smarts ... he just needs to get up to the speed of AFL. He's played on the HFF in the team for the most part and in our team ....

It's way too early to know with Kelly but if he turns out to be a top player, we might also end up with 2 top players from dealing that pick 2. If that happens, we easily win out on the deal. As it stands right now, we're ahead in the deal and only time will tell how it all ends up. I hope we take the chance again on a deal like that because right now, we need as many good players as we can get. Many are looking for A grade with draftees but "very good" ain't so bad. Tyson is very good and Salem could be very good. It should also be remembered that we may not have picked Kelly if we'd hung on to pick 2 and used it in that draft.

Right now he might be but what about in 3-4 years time? I was happy with the Tyson deal though and I won't change my mind in hindsight either. Whatever we say and think at the time can never be changed. I'd hazard a guess that the majority view amongst Demon supporters was that the Tyson/Salem deal was the right thing to do. It's doubtful that we'll ever get any new information in relation to that deal either. By the way, Petracca might only turn out to be an average or good (ish) player. There are no guarantees that he'll be a top player and he might just be another player who is only an excellent player at the level he's playing at right now. For his sake, I hope he's better than that but again, how can we be sure on how he's going to turn out?

Just as a sneak preview ... In week one, 7mate are covering the Saints @ Atlanta early game (3am) and the 49ers @ Dallas late game (6.25am) As well as covering an early and late game every Monday morning (our time) 7mate are covering SNF every week (in week 1, the Colts are at Denver in SNF)

NFL RedZone is not like pressing the red button with Foxtel, JV7. The broadcast literally takes you to where the action is in any of the games being played at the time. The NFL RedZone broadcast focuses on the offensive 20 yard line of an attacking team in any given game but other major plays are shown on a very short delay. All the early and late games are included in the RedZone broadcast If you want to watch the Falcons you're going to have to find the full broadcast or get the game pass.

This media release explains the new NFL RedZone to be broadcast on ESPN2 (or the main ESPN channel) in Oz. I knew about RedZone but didn't know it was going to be available here. RedZone is hugely popular in the States and now we get to chance to experience it here on cable. For those of us who have cable it's great news although it has been previously available on the game pass (and still is) The media release also mentions all the other games that ESPN will cover. Foxtel will probably do their 2 games as usual and as you indicated, 7mate are covering 3 games (all on Monday our time) although they might end up doing the Thursday night games (like OneHD used to do) Here's a youtube link that gives a small insight into NFL RedZone

That's awful luck

I'm tempted to feel that way about Brady but he's the best I've seen in modern times. Technically, Brady is just immense - he always looks in command and I'm glad he and the Pats are in the other conference. US sports are like no other with the way the divisions work - you've just gotta win enough games and have a match-up advantage to win your division. I reckon the NFL has the best structure in world sport. Interest is maintained for a whole bunch of reasons. Some divisions are tougher than others but once the playoffs start, it's a whole new ball game (unless a team has to play in Seattle in January!) The NFC West was scary good last year (42-22) That type of overall record could happen again this year in that division. Bridgewater had limited time today but threw 2 x TD's from 4/7. A reasonable strike rate

I've checked a few scores and not much else apart from catching up with the topical stories. Did notice that Harris did most our running and caught a few in our game against Oakland yesterday. Seems we're trying to have 2 strong strings to our bow and with Lacy and Starks ready to go, we might achieve that. Our weakness remains our defense against a really good offense. Mind you, we won a Super Bowl with a defense that had it's issues As usual, a lot will centre around Rodgers. I do believe our division will tighten up though - any major injury to any of the major players could be the difference though. Cassel doing ok today from the stats. Is he going to start game 1? * Bradford's ACL ok - according to sources

Welcome aboard JV7 - your whole division plays the NFC North this season and there's quite a few here who follow the Bears, Packers & Vikings. You're at Lambeau to play my team (Green Bay) in early December ... that could be a vital game if Atlanta can turn things around. Tough division you're in but there's quite a few tough divisions ... it'll be interesting to see how the Panthers go this year and the Saints with Brees will be tough to displace. Yeah, we come here for a bit of serenity ... best summed up here

More 80's ... 'Yes' with "Owner of a Lonely Heart" & 'The Romantics' with "Talking in your Sleep"

Watched a few highlights ... Had some flashback moments when I saw Tolzien & Flynn were used as the QB's for the Pack. Don't get hurt Rodgers. Just don't. Johnny football did a bit of running around and Rex is considering using Vick as part of a wildcat scheme. How is it that I'm not surprised by that? The Jets are always fun to watch though and it probably won't be any different this year. The Vikes Linval Johnson got hit in the calf muscle by a bullet in a club. Nothing like a good night out and a bit of dancing hey - later on you get shot at. Only in America. In all seriousness, it was lucky nobody was killed. 9 people were treated for injuries. 2 people for serious injuries.

That's an interesting development Not sure if ch7 or 7mate be will doing the Thursday night games like OneHD did but we'll find out soon enough. They are doing the 3 thanksgiving day games and 3 games every Monday (our time) so who knows? For those of us with cable not much has changed and we'll still get 7 live games all up (although Foxtel might decide to do what they've done in the past and not show an early or late game on a Monday for the first month or so) ... Seven the official NFL broadcaster

Just realised that pre-season match tomorrow is the Super Bowl replay (of sorts) Peyton & Wilson will probably only throw the ball 6-8 times max but I'll have a bit of a look at the game, all the same. All 32 teams are in action on the weekend and although the games don't mean a lot in terms of results, they do mean a fair bit in terms of how teams operate in their phases (either offensively or defensively) I'll be looking to see whether the Packers have improved with their defensive work.