Other NFL News

[BridgeTroll]

I don't understand why the Niners is building a stadium way down in Santa Clara, an urban sprawled suburb with no major highways. What a disaster! That would be like if the Jags played in St Augustine, but less accessible (no direct major hwy, and heavier traffic) I take it that around Candlestick Point is rough, but I would've considered in tearing down Candlestick, and rebuilding a stadium there in the core before basically moving the team to San Jose. 

It will be a HUGE success.  Candlestick is a supreme dump... and actually... the Santa Clara location is much more "urban" Than the 'stick.  The major highway that connects to BOTH the Stick and Santa Clara is Highway 101... this is the major north south artery connecting to southbay (San Jose) and San Francisco.  Highway 237 link 101 and 880(eastbay connector San Jose - Oakland).  The new stadium also has light rail access to the front gate... the light rail connects to BART.

Weather will be much more enjoyable also... When the fog rolls in off the bay... the stick can be very cold!

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=37.402346,-121.960945&spn=0.159002,0.220757&t=h&z=12

[I-10east]

^^^You brought up some decent points. U.S. 101 is adequate, esp for an US Hwy (albeit a 45 mile trip from San Fran) but my argument was that it isn't directly connected to the stadium. From what I understand, when you get off of 101, you gotta go a couple of miles in that 'urban density' of Santa Clara to get to the stadium. It no doubt should be successful like you said, but that location still has it's critics, esp with the traffic (the theme park California's Great America being right there). Luckily that rail is there to relieve some of the traffic.

[BridgeTroll]

101 is 4 lanes in each direction... Great America Parkway is also 4 lanes... Tasman is 3.  I used to live within 2 miles of the new stadium.  Traffic is brutal on "one oh fun" monday through friday during commute times... but really should not be an issue for Sunday football or MNF or TNF...

[BridgeTroll]

Herre is the link to the Rolling Stones article on Aaron Hernandez...

http://www.rollingstone.com/feature/the-gangster-in-the-huddle

[JayBird]

With Aaron Curry joining the growing ranks of big draft picks that didn't pan out, is too much emphasis put on the NFL Draft? Especially when there many factors that differentiate between college ball and pro ball, does anyone think the draft has lost its purpose?

[Bridges]

With Aaron Curry joining the growing ranks of big draft picks that didn't pan out, is too much emphasis put on the NFL Draft? Especially when there many factors that differentiate between college ball and pro ball, does anyone think the draft has lost its purpose?

Too much emphasis on the draft? Um, no, in fact the busts only increase the emphasis teams should put into the draft.  It is the lifeblood of any NFL team.  If you want to look at why Jacksonville is struggling, look no further than their inability to judge talent in the past few drafts.  We had no 2008 draft.  Drafts are so important, they cripple you if you get them wrong for stretches. 

The draft serves multiple purposes too, besides just NFL teams getting new players. 

[I-10east]

As some of you may know, tonight is the opening game for the NFL, Baltimore @ Denver at 8:00PM. This game was supposed to be held in Baltimore, but because the Orioles and Ravens play during the same time, and M&T Bank Stadium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards share a single parking area, a deal could not be reached with the Orioles moving their game, so that's why this game was moved to Denver.

MLB and NFL teams play at the same time (of course besides Oakland) all of the time in big cities; Detroit, Miami, Philly etc. IMO that inadequate parking area in B More is downright embarrassing. It seems like a bad case of urban gone amuck. Someone will sugarcoat that situation, but bottomline it's awful planning.

[spuwho]

Those watching the game will see the 222x42 foot scoreboard and other upgrades as part of a $30 million stadium upgrade. Take notes for the anticipated EverBank upgrades.

[tufsu1]

IMO that inadequate parking area in B More is downright embarrassing. It seems like a bad case of urban gone amuck. Someone will sugarcoat that situation, but bottomline it's awful planning.

ok...I'll sugarcoat...or maybe just say your notion is just stupid....why should 2 stadiums that are right next to each other and rarely have games at the same time not share parking facilities? 

In most of the cities you listed, the stadiums aren't near each other.  Baltimore, on the other hand, did GOOD planning by locating the stadiums where they could share parking, take advantage of a light rail and commuter rail station, and be proximate to the Inner Harbor entertainment area and Convention Center.

here's what really happened in this case....the NFL insisted that the Ravens play Thursday night vs. Sunday or Monday....and the Orioles were scheduled to finish their series against Texas with a 4pm start....the O's were willing to move the game up to a 1:30pm start such that the parking lots could be cleared in time for Ravens fans to tailgate....Texas said no to an earlier start time.

I'm sorry....but the blame here goes to the NFL and the Texas Rangers for being inflexible

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

here's what really happened in this case....the NFL insisted that the Ravens play Thursday night vs. Sunday or Monday....and the Orioles were scheduled to finish their series against Texas with a 4pm start....the O's were willing to move the game up to a 1:30pm start such that the parking lots could be cleared in time for Ravens fans to tailgate....Texas said no to an earlier start time.

I'm sorry....but the blame here goes to the NFL and the Texas Rangers for being inflexible

Chicago White Sox.

The season has started for the past decade with the winner of the Super Bowl hosting the first game of the season on the Thursday following labor day.  The Orioles felt 'snubbed' because the Ravens didn't show up to one of their events earlier in the season.

[tufsu1]

^ sorry, my bad...you are correct, it is the White Sox.

that said, it is true that the O's were willinmg to move the game up to 1:35, but the Sox said no....all worked out ok because the O's won 

[duvaldude08]

Payton Manning is kicking ass tonight. 5 TD passes so far. I miss him as a Colt. He was someone I loved to hate LOL

[I-10east]

why should 2 stadiums that are right next to each other and rarely have games at the same time not share parking facilities? 

Do you think that B-More is the only city with a sports complex? In fact, it's very common. In real big league cities that have adjacent stadiums, two simultaneous games between a baseball and football team is no problem. I've seen it a million times. You can't count on the something being rare, esp when you're dealing with two different leagues. That could've been a killer event night for B More. Thanks for being the obligatory sugarcoater. Maybe my notion isn't the one that's stupid here...

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Payton Manning is kicking ass tonight. 5 TD passes so far. I miss him as a Colt. He was someone I loved to hate LOL

Six....

[thelakelander]

That got ugly real quick and there's no Ray or Ed Reed coming to save the day.