Macca

Trying to avoid any of the scores is turning into an artform for me ... I've banned at least 3 people from texting or ringing me on a Monday (that is absolutely true by the way - I'm hard work sometimes) Other people I know who have a bit of an interest in the sport know not to blurt out results. Then there's the radio, work colleagues, internet, this thread, being extra careful with the TV .. it's hard work and it takes a great deal of concentration Anyway, here's Bill Simmons' latest column ... The Sports Guy’s Week 2 NFL Picks

So ... if we pass on Petracca and pick another player not rated in the top 5, those who want to go against the conventional way of thinking will be ok with that? (that would be a Toumpas/Wines type scenario by the way) Even to the point where if Petracca turns out to be an 'A' grader and the bloke we picked outside the top 5 turns out to be a 'C' grader? That's still ok? You see, this whole hype surrounding Petracca almost forces a team to pick him with their early pick. It's the same nearly every year. Kreuzer, Gibbs, Scully, Watts/Natanui etc etc. It must be remembered that Petracca is no guarantee to turn out to be an A grader despite what all the experts and pundits think. There's a lot of grey area here - it's confusing, chaotic & not all is what it seems. Where was the hype about Fyfe (20), Stevie J (24) Chapman (35) Robbie Gray (55) Goodes (43) Dangerfield (10)? There's a stack of other champs who were picked late.

... Poll mixed on Goodell keeping job and again, the TV games ... Monday 3.00am - 9.30am RedZone (ESPN ... "Every Touchdown From Every Game") 3.00am Detroit at Carolina (7mate) 6.30am Kansas City at Denver (7mate) 10.30am Chicago at San Francisco (7mate & ESPN) Tuesday 10.30am Philadelphia at Indianapolis (ESPN) ... All the week 2 games and ... The BS Report (podcast with Bill Simmons) The most interesting of the TV games for me is the Eagles/Colts match-up. I give KC a sneaky chance as well and if Detroit are going to step it up, they need to win games like these @ the Panthers. Me, I'm already hooked on redzone

Whilst I don't feel sorry for AP, I do feel for the Vikes fans such as yourself. I can only imagine how I would feel if it were Rodgers instead. Hopelessly conflicted and not wanting to believe it's true plus, the natural reaction is to try and play it down. The Rice thing complicates matters but if Rice had been dealt with properly at the time, this latest episode with AP would be a lot more clearer. As it stands, Peterson is in fair bit of strife, regardless. I don't always know how all these things work in the States ... First or 2nd time PED users carries with it only a 4 game penalty and a 2nd time marijuana user can cop a whole season.

It just gets worse ... Peterson facing arrest, deactivated

If Goodell has viewed the "2nd" video as early as April this year, he's in trouble. It would then almost certainly involve a cover-up and given the nature of the incident, it would be viewed as a terribly poor piece of judgement on his part. A lot of the lobby groups have a lot of strength in the US and rather than being sacked, I can see him resigning if the above scenario was to be proven. Goodell has come out and said that he hasn't viewed the video until now so not only might there have been a cover-up, the denials would be damning as well. Of course, if he hasn't seen the 2nd video until now, questions would have to be asked about why he hasn't seen the video previously. A man in his position can't afford to be negligent or incompetent considering what the 2nd video revealed. A lot is going to depend on whether the tape was actually sent to the NFL and whether it was viewed at the time (by the NFL) and this ... Sources: Rice told NFL he hit fiancee

Bonus points up for grabs this week (2 points) but I'll do well to trouble the scorers ... New Orleans Seattle Miami

TV games (unfortunately 7mate haven't got the Friday game listed) Another excellent line-up of live games, all the same ... Friday 10.00am Pittsburgh at Baltimore (ESPN) Monday 3.00am - 9.30am RedZone (ESPN ... "Every Touchdown From Every Game") 3.00am Detroit at Carolina (7mate) 6.30am Kansas City at Denver (7mate) 10.30am Chicago at San Francisco (7mate & ESPN) Tuesday 10.30am Philadelphia at Indianapolis (ESPN) ... All the week 2 games and ... The BS Report (podcast with Bill Simmons)

Yep, from memory, a few of us were sitting on between 1 and 4 points after 16 weeks last season! Strangely enough, about 5 of us all got 3 points in the last week (week 17 carries triple points) Anyway, as Demons, we're well used to shared pain. We haven't seen 'Strafford' back here yet ... him and 'cowboy from hell' were joint winners last season with a total of 9 points each.

Chargers should have won that ... a basic error cost them. Rivers would be kicking himself ... Arizona might challenge again although they are in the "group of death." The Lions won well but the Giants looked ordinary. After seeing the efforts of Washington, Dallas and the Giants, it's hard to see the Eagles not taking out the NFC East without too much fuss. As for Detroit, the jury is out until they can win a few against the big guns (they've got a tough road schedule) Anyway, here's the points tally in the tipping comp ... 0 - All of us Next week is the first of the bonus weeks in the comp so 2 points are up for grabs ... remembering that anyone can join in at any time and as you can see, you're not exactly starting behind the 8 ball Striker and Dappa are in so we're up to 8 participants so far ... NFL tipping comp rules (First post on the link) ... week 2 schedule

Good comeback by the Colts ... they never seem to be out of games regardless of the scoreline. Luck had another good game but he wouldn't be happy with the 2 interceptions. Peyton and the Broncos will challenge again you'd reckon. With a lot of the focus on the NFC it will be interesting to see who emerges out of the AFC. Apart from the Broncos, Colts, Pats and Bengals, there are any number of teams who might grab a playoff berth. What's the bet that the Jets are thereabouts again? (for a wild-card spot)

Yep, anytime. Last year we had about 7-8 regular participants but it's all very casual. Everyone is still sitting on zero but next week is the first of the bonus weeks (2 points up for grabs) Who do you like tomorrow? I fancy the Lions and maybe the Chargers. Surely Detroit will start showing something yeah? Excellent double-header and the Giants can always spring a surprise (especially on the road)

You can join anytime, Dappa ... details page 81 of this thread (first post) It's fairly basic - 3 tips only ... all have to be road teams and if you get all 3 right, you get a point for that week (we also have bonus weeks) .... Page 81 Only problem is ... it's damn near impossible to get a point! Bit of fun though, all the same.

Some quite interesting results today ... Pats go down and all the other teams in the AFC East had wins - who knew? The Vikings looked good, The Falcons and Texans might be back but Clowney may have torn his meniscus, Romo was Romo (again) and the Eagles scored 34 unanswered points with that fast paced offense. Buffalo win at Soldier Field - really? Pittsburgh beat the Browns for the umpteenth time in a row and Rex is happy with his Jets. The Panthers won without Newton which is great for them and Cinci won an important game. ...and I'm still working my way through redzone after putting in a 12 hour day at work. No chance of dozing off though - the action is frenetic. Redzone rules! And surprise, surprise ... no one scored a point in the comp ... we all sit on zero points Nice to see 'Striker' make an appearance here and welcome back Dappa!

It's too early to tell with the Packers. Let's see what happens with all the defensive players we've drafted in the last 2 years. Our running game is on the improve as well. The 2 teams in the West remain the biggest obstacles in the NFC, that much is true. A lot can happen during the regular season - especially with injuries. For now, all Green Bay would be concerned about is winning the division and if last year is anything to go by, it seemed that Chicago or Detroit both got "stage fright" when it mattered. Both teams choked it up big time down the stretch but that wasn't all that unexpected especially when considering how both Cutler & Stafford tend to melt down on occasions. Green Bay winning the division last season was really an indictment on the other 2 teams. Minnesota were trying to sort things out with the QB position so they were out of it early. To win the whole thing requires requires a good dose of luck and and sometimes a playoff bound team just needs to be playing well at the right time. Not all Super Bowl winners are "Super teams" ... it's Seattle's to lose but it's far from over just yet. Teams are going to come at them and they have to visit San Diego, Carolina, KC, Philadelphia, Arizona & San Francisco. If the Seahawks have got that "real" hunger again, they'll go close.

All 5 live games offer something but I'm gonna do the whole redzone thing and then do the 3 night games ... that's Monday morning, Monday evening and Tuesday evening taken care of!

Perhaps the Packers will win favour from a few here when we're at Soldier Field in a few weeks time ... it's been a happy hunting ground in the recent past for Green Bay. 5 wins from the last 6 trips (apparently) Reckon the Chargers might get up for you in your tips ... I've always had time for Rivers and when he's "on", San Diego are a dangerous opponent Anyway ... the TV games again ... 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

So far we've got 5 in the tipping comp ... don't forget that you can join in anytime For details go to the first post on the previous page.

With no disrespect to the Bears, Lions & Vikings, I wouldn't want to be in your division. Even trying to get a wild-card is a huge ask. Full credit to the Seahawks though - forget the crowd, they're just a tremendous team. And ... they look hungry again. Can I change my divisional tips

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