2009 NFL Season/Off Season discussion

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Lookin' like a fool with yo pants on da ground

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONmEVro8Fog&feature=player_embedded

[AxlsMainMan]

The Chargers continue to be the San Jose Sharks of the NFL.

[tim_m]

Pretty much the worst case scenario for me as a Patriot fan for the AFC Championship game.  The 2 teams I hat the most, Colts vs. Jets.  I don't know who I'll be pulling for.  I think I'm actually leaning towards the Colts.  Heaven help us if the Jets win, we'll have to listen to Rex Ryan's pearls of wisdom and crowing "I told you so" for an entire year.  The Jets defense is awesome, plain and simple.  As is their offensive line and running game.  Their passing game is quite pedestrian, but it doesn't have to be anything special as long as they keep games close.  And I thought the Jets would have a chance against the Colts in a re-match, only I thought it would've taken place in the divisional round and not the Championship game before the Patriots laid an egg and screwed that up.  I know a lot of talk is going to center around how the Colts let the Jets beat them.  While that may be true, it doesn't mean they can't beat them if the Colts go all out.  The Jets ARE better than the Ravens, in pretty much all phases of the game.  So I'd expect a more competitive game.

Obviously with my worst case scenario in the AFC, I'm now pulling for the NFC.  And I'm pulling hard for the Saints.  I'm just not a huge Brett Favre fan.  I respect the guy, and he has impressed me a lot this year.  I just hate the ridiculous media attention that surrounds him.  I don't think I could take it, the 2 weeks leading to the Super Bowl.  Vikings defense played great yesterday, but they were at home.  It should be different playing at the Superdome.

Thanks for giving the Jets their due respect for how good that defense, O-line and running game is. Being a pats fan i'm sure that isn't an easy thing to do. I can only imagine how good the passing game could be once Sanchez matures more. I agree the Jets have a shot in this game against the Colts. They kept Manning and that offense to 15 points until midway through the 3rd quarter when the starters were pulled. That was no accident. The Jet defense is scary good. They can flat out shut you down. I believe Darelle Revis will win many defensive player of the year awards before his career is done. You know the Jets will come to play and play hard. You know they're gonna wanna prove they can beat the Colts first team just as the Colts are wanting to prove they can beat the Jets.

[Drew]

Yeah but was horrible picking other games. 2 and 2 yesterday of course Dallas was my homer pick


I bet the NFL are creaming themselves with the prospects of an Indy vs Minnesota  Manning vs Favre superbowl

Cause if we get INdy vs NO we are going to hear enough Peyton vs his dad's old team to make us puke.

WOW, how about a Jets vs Vikings Superbowl

Jets revenge on Favre!

some good storylines for sure.

only matchup that would suck is Jets vs Saints so I may go ahead and pencil that in!

You know the NFL would absolutely love a Favre vs. Manning in a Superbowl match-up.

Your right about the Jets too. I forgot all about how they'd love to get revenge on Brett Favre in a Superbowl.

I still want the Vikings and Colts in the Superbowl though.

[D]

I t hink I just keep waiting on Favre to turn back into the old Favre... Wonder if he didn't have some type of injury the last couple years that made him play bad?

Since the surgery, he has had a career year.... Anyone else thinking HGH?

[AxlsMainMan]

Isn't Kurt Warner the same age though, and he had a killer year too all things considered. Plus given how Kurt walks around with a bible and gives sermons before games, I think we can safely establish he's not juicing.

[D]

Isn't Kurt Warner the same age though, and he had a killer year too all things considered. Plus given how Kurt walks around with a bible and gives sermons before games, I think we can safely establish he's not juicing.

nah, Kurt is almost 2 years younger I think and he had a good season but not the greatest season of his entire career. Favre is having a better season right now than any of his MVP seasons!!!!!!!

[D]

HAHA lets go Jets!

How ironically awesome would it be for the Jets to beat the Colts when the only reason the Jets made the playoffs is cause the Colts lied down and let the Jets win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Drew]

How ironically awesome would it be for the Jets to beat the Colts when the only reason the Jets made the playoffs is cause the Colts lied down and let the Jets win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If this happens, that head coach will be hated forever! And he will have reaped what he sowed. 

[D]

Im conflicted though, cause i want a Minnesota/Indy Superbowl more than anything!

But still, having the Jets beat the Colts, who robbed everyone of a potential perfect season, and then have that team be the one to put them out, just too funny, so yeah, I am rooting for the Jets!

Scary thing is, Colts were only up 15-10 when they yanked the starters, so it isn't impossible to think, the Jets may have a shot.

[AxlsMainMan]

Their defense looked frickin' deadly yesterday.

[Drew]

Worst case scenary for a Superbowl match-up this year for me will be New Orleans vs. New York. Wouldn't be as bad as last year with Arizona and Pittsburrgh, but still. 

[tim_m]

Im conflicted though, cause i want a Minnesota/Indy Superbowl more than anything!

But still, having the Jets beat the Colts, who robbed everyone of a potential perfect season, and then have that team be the one to put them out, just too funny, so yeah, I am rooting for the Jets!

Scary thing is, Colts were only up 15-10 when they yanked the starters, so it isn't impossible to think, the Jets may have a shot.

Thank you! That's what i've been saying all along. At the point the starters were pulled they weren't murdering the Jets. They very well could have pulled that one off even with the first team in there. The Jets were doing what they do best the defense keeps the offense in the game then lets the offense make a few plays and bam Jets win the game.

[Axl4Prez2004]

Isn't Kurt Warner the same age though, and he had a killer year too all things considered. Plus given how Kurt walks around with a bible and gives sermons before games, I think we can safely establish he's not juicing.

No offense to any bible-thumpers here at HTGTH, but religion has nothing to do with it.  There have been plenty of religious athletes who have juiced.  That said, I have no doubt Warner and Favre haven't touched 'roids/hgh.
I will say Warner has been fortunate to be in the right places at the right times.  Trent Green must feel like shit wondering what if.  What if Green never went down with the torn acl that allowed Warner to helm the mighty Rams mnachine with Marshall Faulk, Tory Holt and a young Isaac Bruce.

Favre's career year has everything to do with the fact this is the most talented offense he's ever been a part of.  That, and the fact the Vikings secondary is not very good.  (when your defense is giving up chunks of yards through the air, it tends to give your offense more passing opportunities as well)  Okay, and also, playing in a weather-controlled dome for over half his games this season didn't hurt either.  D, I quote you all the time...Peterson is to Favre what Terrell Davis was to John Elway in Denver's championship years. 

One more point, just look at what Favre did with a healthy arm during the 8-3? start with the Jets last season.  Playing with a torn biceps tendon will fuck you up. 

[D]

Yeah but 37tds and 7 picks?

once again, Im not outright accusing, just saying, u never hear the media breathe a word about the NFL.. Just in light of Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens etc...... Remember Philadelphia Phillie slugger Raul Ibanez last year? The shit he took cause he was having his best season ever? The accusations etc from the media?

Just saying, with the NFL, its never talked about.

[AxlsMainMan]

Isn't Kurt Warner the same age though, and he had a killer year too all things considered. Plus given how Kurt walks around with a bible and gives sermons before games, I think we can safely establish he's not juicing.

No offense to any bible-thumpers here at HTGTH, but religion has nothing to do with it.  There have been plenty of religious athletes who have juiced.  That said, I have no doubt Warner and Favre haven't touched 'roids/hgh.

Yeah, I guess that was a bad analogy given the often extra-ciricular activities of the supposedly most religiously devout

But as you said, I definately can't see Brett or Kurt juicing.

[D]

Why not? could anybody see Tiger Woods having affairs with tons of women or  OJ murdering people?

[AxlsMainMan]

You couldn't pay me to watch golf and OJ is way before my time, it's just I think, or at least would like to think I have a pretty good sense about people and just think Brett and Kurt have way too much love and respect for the game to cheat.

[D]

Same can be said for tons of baseball players. Look at McGwire, Roger Clemens etc.

[faldor]

Faldor dude, I can't believe you would ditch your conference.  That's bad, dude.  Even I rooted for the Giants to win the Super Bowl after they knocked out the Packers 2 years ago. 

The Chargers didn't capitalize in the first half.  The Jets offense is anorexic, but their defense buckles down and doesn't allow the offense to light up the scoreboard.

Until Rivers learns how to crack a smile, he can't lead a team to success.  Drew Brees doesn't look so bad now, does he?

I fully expect the Saints to carve up the Vikings.  They beat the Cardinals, a team that embarrassed Minnesota last month.

NO>AZ>MN

Yeah its really conservative cause of the young kid. Once he matures though watch out. They already have the best rushing so once they can feel comfortable letting Sanchez throw the ball more that offense should be scary. Sanchez will learn. Its just a matter of how fast. The defense already is. Its the best in the league and you know what they say, defense wins championships.

I don't think you can really put it all on Rivers. His teammates didn't do him any favors today with their sloppy undisciplined play.

I'm not so sure i agree there. The Vikings looked good today. I'm hoping for a good competitive NFC title game.

There is no reason for me to believe Sanchez will be a failure.  They shove down SC games here down everyone's throat, I've seen the kid play.  He had such a horrible first half, but as the game progressed in the second half, he was hitting his stride and getting into a steady rhythm.  With that defense, he doesn't even have to be all that good.

Trent Dilfer, anyone?

I would normally go with the AFC, but there's some teams I just can't root for and 2 of them are the Colts and Jets.  Add the Steelers to that list too, I was pulling for the Cards last year.  Steelers and Colts are right up there with the Patriots for the best teams of the last decade, so I don't want to see either of those teams win.  And the Jets are quickly becoming the team to beat in the AFC East.  I think the changing of the guard is taking place before our eyes, so I really don't want to see them win either.

Just like in baseball, I cannot cheer for the Yankees in any World Series.  I actually did back in 1996 before their run started.  I liked Torre, and didn't mind them winning ONE.  But then they went nuts, so never again will I cheer for them.

But then again, I'm a UConn Husky fan in college basketball and even though they have some heated rivalries with Syracuse, Georgetown, Pitt, etc.  I will always cheer for any Big East team when it comes to March Madness.  After all, they're just kids.