Official 2008-09 NFL thread

[Ramses II CP]

You should write for our local newspaper. The guys down here suck when it comes to writing about our boys in Silver & Black. I'm just glad we can watch them on the TV. I don't feel like attending another game after that haha... gwad

But like you... I'll still hold out some hope for them, despite how bad things may seem.


I've come to the conclusion that the only constants on the Raiders are:
1)Lechler
2)Janikowsky
3)and the Raiderettes.
Sad as that may be, I don't think we'll get much out unless we actually learn something from this game and pull ourselves together.

Thanks Decker! You know I think sportswriting in general is in a pretty poor state these days. Half the stuff you read online is purely recycled week after week. Lechler and Janikowsky get plenty of work, that's for sure, and they're consistently well ranked statistically, which is more than the rest of the team can say.

The thing I'd like to see is this team to come out angry next week and beat KC like the Broncos beat us, but without letting up in the 4th. The Chiefs are one of the worst teams in the league in every facet of the game and if these guys can't find a rhythm and get the offense on track against them, well, it's going to be a long, looong season.

[Askthepizzaguy]

With Brady out, I don't know if I even want to watch this season.

Cassell will be OK, but he won't be Brady. They will win some, lose some... then they're done.

[seireikhaan]

With Brady out, I don't know if I even want to watch this season.

Cassell will be OK, but he won't be Brady. They will win some, lose some... then they're done.

Is this not the NFL we're talking about? By all logic, the Giants shouldn't have had a prayer of even sniffing the Super Bowl without Tiki Barber. Not that I want the Patriots to win, by any stretch of the imagination; I'd love to see them get thumped. However, we must remember the NFL incredibly unpredictable.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Meh.

I know y'all didn't like Brady, but he was somethin' special. Pats will find it difficult to shake his loss.

[seireikhaan]

Actually, I think we'll find out just how special Brady is. The only time Brady's missed action in the past was in the playoffs his first year in the playoffs, when Bledsoe came back in to help them beat the Steelers. Certainly Brady is good, but we'll see how Cassel can do with that loaded cast and top-notch (efficiency and productivity wise, anyways) coaching staff.

[Decker]

Thanks Decker! You know I think sportswriting in general is in a pretty poor state these days. Half the stuff you read online is purely recycled week after week. Lechler and Janikowsky get plenty of work, that's for sure, and they're consistently well ranked statistically, which is more than the rest of the team can say.

The thing I'd like to see is this team to come out angry next week and beat KC like the Broncos beat us, but without letting up in the 4th. The Chiefs are one of the worst teams in the league in every facet of the game and if these guys can't find a rhythm and get the offense on track against them, well, it's going to be a long, looong season.

Hey no problemo amigo. And it is! My grandpa, for the past 3 seasons, has been whining all seasons long about blitzing the quarterback and finally today in the paper, they talked about blitzing
the quarterback. The jerks.

And so do I although it all feels like it will be a dream come sunday We shall find out.

With Brady out, I don't know if I even want to watch this season.

Cassell will be OK, but he won't be Brady. They will win some, lose some... then they're done.

Whatchya crying about hombre?? Last time I checked you didn't lose 41-14. And when I saw a few highlights of the game. The second stringer looked to be rather good, from what I saw anyways.
But who knows, you guys might lose the next 10 games

[OverKnight]

The Onion's take on the Brady injury:

http://www.theonion.com/content/news...or_season_with

Playing the Jets should be a good litmus test for Cassel. We shall see.

[GeneralHankerchief]

The Onion's take on the Brady injury:

http://www.theonion.com/content/news...or_season_with

Playing the Jets should be a good litmus test for Cassel. We shall see.

Litmus test in what way?

Eagles-Cowboys on Monday night. If you need me for the next two days, I'll be busy pumping myself up.

[KukriKhan]

On any given Sunday...
















Just sayin, yanno?

[GeneralHankerchief]

Al Davis about ready to fire Kiffin

God, what a mess. I truly sympathize with all Raiders fans out there. One of the two definitely needs to go, but it ain't Kiffin.

[Decker]

Al Davis about ready to fire Kiffin

God, what a mess. I truly sympathize with all Raiders fans out there. One of the two definitely needs to go, but it ain't Kiffin.

Eh... what are ya gonna do about it. Al hired Kiffin and told him to do whatever it takes to fix the team. Kiffin tried during the offseason by getting rid of our defensive coach Ryan, but old man Al Davis said, "I don't think so," and that's when the problems started. At least he has a season to do as much as he can to fix it and improve the team with what he has. Right now we look okay but that's only the first quarter...

[seireikhaan]

Whew....


Sorry 'bout that Martok. Vikes played a real tough game.

[Martok]

Whew....


Sorry 'bout that Martok. Vikes played a real tough game.

I'm not sorry. It means there's only 15 more weeks to go until Brad "The Village Idiot" Childress is gone for good!

For that matter, Tarvaris is now hanging on by a thread as well. I give him two more games. If he doesn't noticeably improve by then, I predict we'll have Frerotte in at QB starting in October.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Did anybody see the end of the Broncos-Chargers game? Cuh-raaaaazy.

[seireikhaan]

Did anybody see the end of the Broncos-Chargers game? Cuh-raaaaazy.

Ya. I can't believe the refs blew that call. I love to see the Chargers lose, but that was just a bad call, the chargers deserved to win that game.

[Ramses II CP]

The Broncos got not one, not two, but three bad calls in their favor in that game. From a veteran crew too. Seriously crazy game, and, as much as I hate to say it, the Broncos are a better team than I gave them credit for from their offseason. That and they have a legendary coaching staff. I swear if the Raiders ever have a coach who has the guts to play for the win like that I will not bad mouth him even if they fail.

Speaking of the Raiders, they found a running game! Against a really bad team, one of the worst in the league, sure, but man did it look good. McFadden had almost as many total yards as the entire KC offense. Special teams play was exceptional. The defense did well (Yeah, against a third stringer QB and a heartless RB, but a W is a W!) and even looked interested and motivated for the entire game. They got tired in the fourth, after the game was almost put away, but there was pressure from the line and the secondary kept their heads down and almost everything in front of them up to that point.

And then there's Jamarcus Russel, who looked like a rookie struggling to find any rhythm at all. Still, he didn't lose the game for them, so that's something.

Still, the team showed some promise. Some understanding of the game. All this talk about Al's latest impending mistake (And firing Kiffin midseason would be an epic mistake) didn't phase them at least. Hope springs eternal.*



*Unless you're a Lions fan, in which case your hope was sold to Bumstead High School by Matt Millen in exchange for a 5'3" receiver with "good hands" and "development potential."

[Decker]

At least the Chargers and others get to see what happens to the Raiders in every game. It's quite sad when it's finally SOOOO blatant and gets the coverage it should get but what can ya do (except )
And we did have a coach like that quite a few years ago, we called him Chucky and Al dumped him.

And well we did look just as good when we played Miami last year, so it's nothing to get toooo hyped up about... We'll see how we fare against the Bills who look to be quite tough this year.

[Strike For The South]

Litmus test in what way?

Eagles-Cowboys on Monday night. If you need me for the next two days, I'll be busy pumping myself up.

for a .500 record?

[GeneralHankerchief]

Entertaining first half. Right now, the Eagles are up, and I have faith that they'll close the deal.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Not a good day for me. First Rick Wright dies, now we lose to Dallas. At least it was a good game.

[Strike For The South]

HOW BOUT DEM COWBOYS

In all honesty that was the best game I've seen in a while. The Eagles are a team to be reckoned with

[drone]

That was the best Monday Night Football game I've seen in a long while. Many times they turn into blowouts, not worth watching after the first half. But that game was spectacular.

That said, the Cowboys have serious discipline problems. Way too many facemask penalties and personal fouls. After the first two touchdowns (quick strikes), I was wondering about the Cowboys D, they were on the field for a very long time. They pulled it out in the end, but I'm not sure they can be depended on in the long run. Props to the Eagles, even with scrub receivers they have a potent offense and Westbrook continues to scare the crap out of me when he gets the ball. Both offenses looked unstoppable, and should run rampant over their schedules this season.

The NFC East is strong, and should put 3 teams in the playoffs (and the 'Skins aren't one of them). Division wins are going to be tough to come by this year, but the rest of the NFC should be worried.


How about those Cowboys!

[KukriKhan]

That was the best Monday Night Football game I've seen in a long while.

Agreed. And I've been watching for a lo-o-o-o-ng time.

[Mount Suribachi]

Typical eh? Couldn't be bothered to tape MNF last night and it turns out to be The Best MNF Game In Years (TM)

[Martok]

Looks like Frerotte might get to start even sooner than I'd guessed.

The big question, however, is: Would he actually be much of an improvement over Tarvaris?

[Strike For The South]

That was the best Monday Night Football game I've seen in a long while. Many times they turn into blowouts, not worth watching after the first half. But that game was spectacular.

That said, the Cowboys have serious discipline problems. Way too many facemask penalties and personal fouls. After the first two touchdowns (quick strikes), I was wondering about the Cowboys D, they were on the field for a very long time. They pulled it out in the end, but I'm not sure they can be depended on in the long run. Props to the Eagles, even with scrub receivers they have a potent offense and Westbrook continues to scare the crap out of me when he gets the ball. Both offenses looked unstoppable, and should run rampant over their schedules this season.

The NFC East is strong, and should put 3 teams in the playoffs (and the 'Skins aren't one of them). Division wins are going to be tough to come by this year, but the rest of the NFC should be worried.


How about those Cowboys!

I'm not sure I agree. Allot of those face-masks were not intentional more a crime of passion than anything else. However this does not excuse our piss poor defensive play esp our pass rush we had McCnab dead to rights at least 3 times and he squirmed his way out. We are way to talented to allow 2nd and 3rd chances. That being said I was extremely impressed with Felix Jones on the return game and Zach Thomas proved he still has gas left in the tank.

[drone]

Neither team generated any pass rush (until the Cowboys in the end). And I don't think it's a defensive problem, both O-lines played very well. Without the pass rush, the QBs picked apart the secondaries.

Roy Williams broke his arm and will be out for 3 weeks.

Martok, you might want to call the Metrodome staff and tell them to install extra padding on the walls and supports. Just to be safe.

[Martok]

Martok, you might want to call the Metrodome staff and tell them to install extra padding on the walls and supports. Just to be safe.

Either way, I just hope Childress makes a decision soon. Aside from when we had Warren Moon here, I can't remember a Vikings season where we *didn't* have a quarterback controversy.

[drone]

Either way, I just hope Childress makes a decision soon. Aside from when we had Warren Moon here, I can't remember a Vikings season where we *didn't* have a quarterback controversy.

Ask, and you shall receive:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3593304

[Martok]

Yeah, I just read that about 20 minutes ago. Well, I gotta give credit to Childress for not waiting until the last moment before game-day to make a decision.

....Wait, no I don't. I don't have to give him any credit at all. So I won't.