[2023-24] NFL Thread - Offseason. Chicago Bears are on the clock.

[Mark]

I remember that time when I was a teenager I was paid to be an Argonut.

Literally they paid for me to go to Argonauts games and gave me free apparel.

It didn't last long cause.. yeah.

Crazy the lengths an organization will go through to put asses in seats and build that illusion. They used to give away tickets to the indoor soccer league here.

 

[Spiner202]

I remember that time when I was a teenager I was paid to be an Argonut.

Literally they paid for me to go to Argonauts games and gave me free apparel.

It didn't last long cause.. yeah.

Oh man I wish I got free Argos stuff! Actually I was caught off guard today when I was walking outside and some guy complimented my Argos hat that I was wearing.

 

[The Eye in the Sky!]

Punting is an integral part of the sport and gaining the field advantage. One could argue that forcing teams to run a two point conversion is better than XP kicks, but forcing teams to go for it on 4th down is a bad idea. You gonna force a team go over it on 4th and 21 on their 1 yard line? I think not.

It was mostly a joke, I had Belichick's philosophy in every game and it does work to play the field position game.

Punts and FGs are a strategic part of the game, but I'm wholly convinced kickoffs need to be gone at this point. Or do what the XFL did, have all the players within a yard of each other at like the 20 yard line as the line of scrimmage. Kicker kicks from the 30 like the old days and the returner would have to take it out. The line of scrimmage prevents a running start from the blockers/coverage teams. The returner still comes in at speed, but he has to find a hole like a running back.

 

[TD]

I think there are two biggest obstacles of removing kickoffs entirely at this point. The first being that teams sometimes go out of their way for a return specialist. I know touchbacks are more and more common, but returns are some of the most exciting plays to watch. I loved Dante Hall and Devin Hester for example, although that was prior to rule changes.

The second part is the inevitable variable of squib kicks and onside kicks.

 

[Jon]

I think there are two biggest obstacles of removing kickoffs entirely at this point. The first being that teams sometimes go out of their way for a return specialist. I know touchbacks are more and more common, but returns are some of the most exciting plays to watch. I loved Dante Hall and Devin Hester for example, although that was prior to rule changes.

For every one exciting kickoff/punt return there are 100 touchbacks. It's just not worth it and kickoffs are not worth the injury risk. If you're specifically in the league as a return specialist, you shouldn't be in the league. Someone like Matthew Slater was one of my favorite players of all time. But even he had a handful of snaps as a WR. And he wasn't even the returner. It's not a position that is valuable. 95% of the time, the returner is either holding his arms out to indicate to not touch the ball, or he's waiving his arm to indicate a fair catch.

Not to mention kickoffs and punt returns are often handled by different players. Honestly, I watch them JUST to see a muff and the scramble for a loose ball after. It's not safe anymore and it's not eventful for a majority of the games.

The second part is the inevitable variable of squib kicks and onside kicks.

Which are used strategically. Squib kicks are often to kill more time on the clock (and keep the ball from the dangerous returner) and should not be a consideration here.

As for onside kicks, I would so much rather see them do something like a single play equivalent to a 4th and 25 from the 25 yard line. If you pick it up, you keep the ball and keep going. If not, the defense gets the ball where you failed. But maybe that's just me.

 

[Jon]

Proof this shit is overrated and we should just get rid of it.

 

[The Eye in the Sky!]

I am not impressed by much on a football field but kicking is always something I'm amazed by. I have tried punting up at the high school field near me, and the furthest I've ever punted is ~35 yards and if you count the 15 yards a punter stands back, that's a 20 yard punt. Guys out there doing 70 yards in the air almost every time. It's amazing.

Same with FGs. I brought a kicking tee once and the furthest FG I hit was 25 yards, so lining up at the 15 yard line. The distance kickers get is insane.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

I'm sure you all know, but just in case, there are not games tomorrow. They're both on Sunday.

 

[shortkut]

I am not impressed by much on a football field but kicking is always something I'm amazed by. I have tried punting up at the high school field near me, and the furthest I've ever punted is ~35 yards and if you count the 15 yards a punter stands back, that's a 20 yard punt. Guys out there doing 70 yards in the air almost every time. It's amazing.

Same with FGs. I brought a kicking tee once and the furthest FG I hit was 25 yards, so lining up at the 15 yard line. The distance kickers get is insane.

Looks like your NFL career is over before it even started

 

[Mark]

I am not impressed by much on a football field but kicking is always something I'm amazed by. I have tried punting up at the high school field near me, and the furthest I've ever punted is ~35 yards and if you count the 15 yards a punter stands back, that's a 20 yard punt. Guys out there doing 70 yards in the air almost every time. It's amazing.

Same with FGs. I brought a kicking tee once and the furthest FG I hit was 25 yards, so lining up at the 15 yard line. The distance kickers get is insane.

Right? I saw this news segment they did on Justin Tucker covering his pre-game routines and how he gets himself in the zone for those kicks… dude is like a machine. Every movement is calculated before he even starts towards the tee, it’s almost more impressive than an accurate quarterback that can throw it down the field.

 

[Cam]

Let's go Lions!

And I wish both the Ravens and Chiefs could lose, but I guess I have to deal with one of them winning... Can't root for the Ravens no matter what, so I guess I'm rooting for T swizzle and the Chiefs to make it to the Super Bowl... AND LOSE TO THE DETROIT LIONS.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Chiefs dominating so far.

 

[Jon]

Chiefs dominating so far.

Good, fuck the Ravens.

 

[Mark]

Chiefs dominating so far.

I’m not understanding the play calling in the first quarter for Baltimore. Especially that first drive. No attempt to build momentum, no attempt to start off strong. I don’t think they were anticipating a deferral if KC won the toss, and I don’t wanna know what their game plan would have been had they won it.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Ratbirds may have fucked their chances with that fumble.

 

[Mark]

Ratbirds may have fucked their chances with that fumble.

They’ve BEEN fucking themselves. Too emotional, exactly why Flowers just fucked his hand up.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

They’ve BEEN fucking themselves. Too emotional, exactly why Flowers just fucked his hand up.

Flowers is a moron. Gets called for taunting, doesn't maintain control of the ball, and busts his hands because he's angry. You don't be come a football player because you're smart.

 

[Mark]

Flowers is a moron. Gets called for taunting, doesn't maintain control of the ball, and busts his hands because he's angry. You don't be come a football player because you're smart.

It just makes him look like a baby, dude. It was a clean hit, nothing he could do about it. Take the loss of possession and keep the composure for the next time around.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

What's funny is that the Ravens still have a shot because the Chiefs haven't been able to do anything on offense.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

That's game.

Isiah Pacheco - 20 rush attempts
Ravens as a team - 14

Best rushing team in the league not running the ball.

 

[Jon]

That's game.

Isiah Pacheco - 20 rush attempts
Ravens as a team - 14

Best rushing team in the league not running the ball.

Bye bye birdies....

I don't want the chiefs in another super bowl, but better than the Ravens.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

If the Lions win tonight, I like their chances against the Chiefs as opposed to the Ratbirds.

49ers, too.

 

[Jon]

At this point, I want the 9ers to lose too. Ravens I just can't stand Lamar Jackson. It's irrational, but he's not nearly as good as people claim he is. I really don't view him as an MVP because I think there are many other QBs that lead THAT team to where they got. He's overrated along with the rest of the team. The 9ers I can't stand for the total opposite reason. The amount of stars they have at every level reminds me of the 90s/00s Yankees. Buy the championships because you can. I want the Lions to beat them because they've worked their asses off to get where they are... through attrition.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

I want to see Lamar win MVP just so a 2 time MVP can have the same amount of playoff wins as Baker Mayfield and Blake Bortles. That would be the funniest stat.

 

[Mark]

At this point, I want the 9ers to lose too. Ravens I just can't stand Lamar Jackson. It's irrational, but he's not nearly as good as people claim he is. I really don't view him as an MVP because I think there are many other QBs that lead THAT team to where they got. He's overrated along with the rest of the team. The 9ers I can't stand for the total opposite reason. The amount of stars they have at every level reminds me of the 90s/00s Yankees. Buy the championships because you can. I want the Lions to beat them because they've worked their asses off to get where they are... through attrition.

He’s only good when he doesn’t need to be. He has consistently choked every single time the future of the season is on the line.

 

[Jon]

He’s only good when he doesn’t need to be. He has consistently choked every single time the future of the season is on the line.

That's our MVP!

 

[Mark]

That's our MVP!

Hilarious thing is… he better be something for them or they’re gonna be in trouble for years to come, they’ve already got him locked down.

 

[Jon]

Hilarious thing is… he better be something for them or they’re gonna be in trouble for years to come, they’ve already got him locked down.

Why do you think they didn't want to pay him? Especially what he was asking. They know what he is.

 

[Mark]

Why do you think they didn't want to pay him? Especially what he was asking. They know what he is.

But, as always, they buckle to the pressure. Half the fans didn’t even want him signed. They just knew if it worked with him, he’d be a statement quarterback, which… Baltimore has never really had.

 

[Jon]

What can I say... DeShaun Watson fucked over the league...

 

[Mark]

What can I say... DeShaun Watson fucked over the league...

It’s been a slow burn as far as contracts go for a hot minute, though. He was just the tipping point with this current generation.

 

[Jon]

The fully guaranteed is what hurt.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

What can I say... DeShaun Watson fucked over the league...

I think it was only a matter of time before an owner plays with the idea of 100% guarantee contracts like baseball.

 

[Mark]

The fully guaranteed is what hurt.

They need to stop treating these diva ass players like they’re one in a million when a new draft class full of talented kids comes around every year.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Lions rolled down the field like it was nothing.

Succeed in the run game: Win football games.

 

[Spiner202]

Well that was another fun playoff game

 

[Jon]

Kickers... amirite?

 

[Fool's Requiem]

The Lions are proving why you need to run the ball. The 49ers are proving why you need a defense capable of stopping the run.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Man, that game swung around FAST.

Tie game.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Reynolds to learn out to fucking catch...

 

[Rick52]

masterclass of a lions game, would've been fine if they just got blown out like they should've but OH NO they had to go and be massive chokejobs about it, 2024 is gonna be pretty grim for them now that they have a tough schedule and the Packers are back sooner than expected

 

[TD]

Well.. this'll be the first SB I don't watch in a while.

 

[VashTheStampede]

 

[Fool's Requiem]

The Steelers hired former Falcons HC Arthur Smith to be their next OC.

 

[Fire Queen]

y’all the panthers are sooooo cooked man, our new coach is the worst kind of nerd

 

[Jon]

As someone that watched him pretty much daily, his offensive play calls were nothing special. And it's more likely he was the only one that agreed to take the Panthers job lol

 

[Mark]

View attachment 8443
y’all the panthers are sooooo cooked man, our new coach is the worst kind of nerd

How long til there’s talk of moving the franchise?

 

[VashTheStampede]

Starting to wonder if that's the intent, but I have no knowledge of their ownership.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

How long til there’s talk of moving the franchise?

Moving out of Charlotte would be incredibly stupid. Charlotte is a rapidly growing metro area like Phoenix. To move somewhere else is throwing money out of the window.

 

[Fire Queen]

And it's more likely he was the only one that agreed to take the Panthers job lol

yeah lol. this must be what it felt like to be a washington fan during the snyder era

it’s so bad that i’m like. i miss riverboat ron almost.

How long til there’s talk of moving the franchise?

Starting to wonder if that's the intent, but I have no knowledge of their ownership.

tepper is a jackass hedge fund idiot from pittsburgh with zero connections to the Carolinas. the only reason his bid for the team was approved over a local group is because he was already a minority owner of the steelers so he had an in. he has said he wants a new stadium to be built so it wouldn’t surprise me if he holds the team’s place in the carolina’s hostage to get the public to pay for it

Moving out of Charlotte would be incredibly stupid. Charlotte is a rapidly growing metro area like Phoenix. To move somewhere else is throwing money out of the window.

nfl owners, famous for making reasoned and well-informed decisions