The Official NFL Thread

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Originally Posted by spamjedi

No one can say anything for sure yet, but there is no way Arizona is 2-4 years ahead of Detroit. Im sorry, but no way. For one thing that is giving Arizona way too much credit. For another the Lions will probably be a bit better than last year (just my opinion, but I would be shocked if many people follow the Lions here like I do, I mean why would anyone? :p) which puts them ahead of, or on par, with Arizona. To be compared with Arizona is no compliment, and vice versa with Detroit ;)

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Detroit did not improve player wise during the offseason. What I mean by 2-4 years is that it will take detroit that amount of time to get the players needed to solidify a core or team identity. Both Detroit and Arizona had no identity before this year. With Edgerin James, Matt Leinart and a couple of young players coming through the system, Arizona can be seen as a threat (low-level threat albeit, but not a walk over).

Detroit on the other hand has no identity. No QB, RB can't figure out what direction the team is going in, etc. I am not saying talent wise they suck, but with no direction, you can't win. They just don't have the players. They have one of the better wide receiver lineups in the league but no one to throw them the ball. I just don't see Detroit winning more than 1 game more than they did last year especially after looking at what they DIDNT do during the offseason. It is a safe assumption. If one team didn't change much from last season, chances are they will end up with a similar record.
Who knows, they could suprise the heck out of us. Detroit Tigers did. There might be something in the water :)


Man I just looked up some San Diego tickets. Good lord they are expensive. Half way decent seats were like $340. Are they that price every where else? Granted they were playing the steelers.

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Originally Posted by proxemo666

Man I just looked up some San Diego tickets. Good lord they are expensive. Half way decent seats were like $340. Are they that price every where else? Granted they were playing the steelers.

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strange, 1st level seats near the endzone about 13th row (awesome seats IMO) are only about $80 a seat no matter who we are playing in Denver in the regular season. The middle ones are probably about $150 at the most but I could be wrong.
Then again Denver and San Diego have COMPLETELY different fan-bases

Lets wait until he completes a pass or two before we attach some significance to Leinart's name. He hasn't done anything yet.

For that matter, I'm looking forward to watching Edge run behind AZ's line. ;)

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Originally Posted by proxemo666

Detroit did not improve player wise during the offseason. What I mean by 2-4 years is that it will take detroit that amount of time to get the players needed to solidify a core or team identity. Both Detroit and Arizona had no identity before this year. With Edgerin James, Matt Leinart and a couple of young players coming through the system, Arizona can be seen as a threat (low-level threat albeit, but not a walk over).

Detroit on the other hand has no identity. No QB, RB can't figure out what direction the team is going in, etc. I am not saying talent wise they suck, but with no direction, you can't win. They just don't have the players. They have one of the better wide receiver lineups in the league but no one to throw them the ball. I just don't see Detroit winning more than 1 game more than they did last year especially after looking at what they DIDNT do during the offseason. It is a safe assumption. If one team didn't change much from last season, chances are they will end up with a similar record.
Who knows, they could suprise the heck out of us. Detroit Tigers did. There might be something in the water :)

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I see the point youre trying to make, but you're saying Arizona has an indentity now because of Leinart and James? James definately brings something to the table, but that O-line brings up some serious questions about the kind of year he's going to have. Leinart is insignificant this year. He could, and should, be a factor for the future but not this year, and he doesn't contribute to an identity for the team.

I know you don't know the Lion's roster like I do. Like I said before, why would anyone want to? :p But there have been some big changes to the roster, no big free agent signings like Edge, but this is a team with an indentity, as you put it. Now trust me, the Lions break my heart every year, so whos to say this is any different. I just think you are giving Arizona way to much credit. But thats proabably because you're a fan. I do the same thing for Detroit.

And yes there is something in the water here. Though it is certainly not something you would want to ingest to boost athletic performance ;)

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Originally Posted by r'aggro

Lets wait until he completes a pass or two before we attach some significance to Leinart's name. He hasn't done anything yet.

For that matter, I'm looking forward to watching Edge run behind AZ's line. ;)

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you mean, in front of? :D

Spammy, I read at the kffl forums that Charles Rodgers may be on his way out of Detroit soon. Heard anything about this?

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Originally Posted by r'aggro

Spammy, I read at the kffl forums that Charles Rodgers may be on his way out of Detroit soon. Heard anything about this?

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Yep. He has not impressed the new staff at all in camp after the first few days. He won't be playing tonight in the 2nd preseason game because of a sore knee, and the third game the starters will be playing for probably 3 quarters. So his last couple shots are limited time in game 3 and whatever in game 4. Doesn't sound like he has a good shot. Two coaching staffs in a row are down on him, sounds like he is the problem. Just love seeing that in a number 2 overall pick.

Plus with Casey Fitzsimmons being injured they are thinking of carying an extra TE which means they cant carry 7 receivers so it will probably be 6. So it is a long shot for him to make the team at this point.

You can only wonder what would have happened if he hadn't been injured so much. That kind of thing can really grate on you psychologically.

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Originally Posted by monroeski

You can only wonder what would have happened if he hadn't been injured so much. That kind of thing can really grate on you psychologically.

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True. If you look at the few games he played his rookie year... wow. In his first NFL game he caught 2 TDs as his first two receptions. Haven't really seen that spark since then. Oh well.

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Originally Posted by spamjedi

I see the point youre trying to make, but you're saying Arizona has an indentity now because of Leinart and James? James definately brings something to the table, but that O-line brings up some serious questions about the kind of year he's going to have. Leinart is insignificant this year. He could, and should, be a factor for the future but not this year, and he doesn't contribute to an identity for the team.

I know you don't know the Lion's roster like I do. Like I said before, why would anyone want to? :p But there have been some big changes to the roster, no big free agent signings like Edge, but this is a team with an indentity, as you put it. Now trust me, the Lions break my heart every year, so whos to say this is any different. I just think you are giving Arizona way to much credit. But thats proabably because you're a fan. I do the same thing for Detroit.

And yes there is something in the water here. Though it is certainly not something you would want to ingest to boost athletic performance ;)

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I don't know how you can say the cards don't have an identity. They led the league in passing last season, with 2 great young receivers fitz and boldin, they both had 1400 yards. Now add to that one of the rb's in the league and you have a solid offense. Even if the o-line isn't the best, you still have the threat of edge. Then you have a highly anticipated rookie QB added to the team. They have something going.

Maybe some people give the cards too much credit, but you cannot say the lions have an identity. They have 3 first round WR's, and marcus pollard who is a great tight end, yet there is still no passing game. They still didn't find themselves a great qb and have no running game. The team is a mess they have nothing going for them, maybe kitna can do something but the situation does not look good as usual. I think you're a bit blinded by the loyalty to your team, it happens to everyone.

No i'm not a cardinals fan.

Its not so much the players but the playbook. Teams like Indy/St louis have a passing identity. Pitt/ATL/KC rushing. Bears are Defense. You also have teams that are balanced. My teams are SD and Indy. SD is balanced (slightly favoring the run) and Indy is pass heavy. Last year Arizona created their identity: Passing (with Anquan and Larry). Before that, I couldnt tell you what it was. This year with Edge, they are dipping their foot with the run game. Of course they can still go pass heavy w/ Edge when it is all said and done, but atleast you know the direction the team is going in.

Detroit on the other hand...I couldnt tell you what direction they are going in. They do have good receivers but no one to give them the ball. Their draft/offseason pick ups also made it hard to tell because it did not lie down a path.

The identity I am talking about is not who has the better players but what aspect of the team will they succeed or look to excel in. Houston looked to excel in defense with Mario Williams. It doesnt mean Mario Williams is the best player or worst player. It just means Houston looks like they want to beaf up their defense. Of course having a primetime player (Edge & Arizona) makes it rediculously obvious the direction the team is headed. I just dont see that with Detroit. I believe the Williams's (Dont they have like 2 or 3) are damn good receivers. If they picked up a young or good QB, it would seem they are trying to establish the pass. It seemed that way when they picked 2 or 3 receivers in a row with their 1st round draft pick. (that still doesnt make sense to me).

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Originally Posted by proxemo666

Indy is pass heavy.

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Interesting stat I heard the other day, that almost seemed totally unbelievable - apparently, something like 45% of Indy's plays last year were run plays. It seemed so strange to hear that, what with all the talk about them just being pass-pass-pass. Even having watched a good number of their games, it seems strange to me.

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Originally Posted by r'aggro

Highly debatable. Hasselbeck and Delhomme were both alot better than he was last year.

Welcome back fellas, looking forward to some good coversation this year once the season gets rolling!

It's funny how all the non-football fans stop by the thread to say "this thread is stoopid" while getting their plus one.

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mcnabb was injured in week one, and only played like half the season (7 games if i remember correctly.) even being hurt and playing poor by his standards, he had a rating of 85, and over the last 5 years has been the best qb in the NFC. the eagles O-line looks great this year, good blend of young and vet players. Mcnabb should have a very good year this year, i predict 30 TDs with very few ints.

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Originally Posted by Snakespy

yea, but McNabb was hurt and Hasselbeck and Delhomme were better than him last year. I dunno what it is with McNabb and Mcnair, but they are always hurt and I don't really think thats going to change.

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Mcnabb always hurt? He has missed a little time here and there, fractured leg one time (threw 4 TD's in that game AFTER the injury), and last years injury. Not all that bad for a 7 year vet. He also shrugs off hits instead of going right down, which may have contributed to last years injury. I hate to tell you, but sometimes when the big football players tackle the other big football players, guys get hurt once in a while.

I've seen a lot of posting about Detroit. Sad but true, Detroit lets good people go. We Steelers have raided them as have other teams. Lions need to keep people.