Metro Jacksonville

Quote from: Dapperdan on October 18, 2011, 09:51:43 AM
In case anyone will be watching, they will air the Denver Broncos vs Miami Dolphins game this Sunday at 1PM on CBS here. Whethere you like Tebow or not, now is the time to see if he can deliver for a full game or not, althought the Dolphins are a pretty terrible team, but still.

Quote from: Jason on October 18, 2011, 11:08:01 AM
Agree with the good good decisions comment.

I do hope that Garrard comes out of surgery fine and fully recovers.  Despite opinions of him as a quarterback he is still a standup guy.  I wish him the best and hope that he stays in Jax.

Quote
In an email to the Times-Union, Garrard's agent Al Irby said the Jaguars withheld information about Garrard's injury.

"At $500,000 per game, they knew he would be down 4-6 weeks. They didn't want to pay that bill," Irby wrote. "Now you know the difference between a first-class organization like Indy, and a sorry organization like the Jags. Indy gave their QB a contract even though he couldn't play all season. ... David was told his back was fine. So he took them for their word.

"Now he has to go to surgery, and Jacksonville is saying, 'Not my problem.' What a first class organization!"



Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2011-10-17/story/agent-accuses-jaguars-shirking-bill-cutting-david-garrard?#ixzz1b9O7HLwp

Quote from: BridgeTroll on October 18, 2011, 12:14:48 PM
from your link above.... THIS must be quoted...

Quote
In an email to the Times-Union, Garrard's agent Al Irby said the Jaguars withheld information about Garrard's injury.

"At $500,000 per game, they knew he would be down 4-6 weeks. They didn't want to pay that bill," Irby wrote. "Now you know the difference between a first-class organization like Indy, and a sorry organization like the Jags. Indy gave their QB a contract even though he couldn't play all season. ... David was told his back was fine. So he took them for their word.

"Now he has to go to surgery, and Jacksonville is saying, 'Not my problem.' What a first class organization!"



Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2011-10-17/story/agent-accuses-jaguars-shirking-bill-cutting-david-garrard?#ixzz1b9O7HLwp

QuoteMike Sims-Walker returns to the Jaguars
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 18, 2011, 2:43 PM EDT

APMike Sims-Walker is making his triumphant return to Jacksonville.

Okay, so it’s not triumphant.  Sims-Walker was dumped by the Rams at midseason, and the Jaguars only want him back out of desperation.  (Remember that they had no interest in re-signing him in free agency when the lockout ended.)

Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union broke the news and writes Sims-Walker will sign by the end of the day.

The move provides Sims-Walker a chance to get his career back on track. Jacksonville desperately needs a deep receiver and Sims-Walker is a more explosive player than Jason Hill.  Sims-Walker knows the offense, so it shouldn’t take long to get him up to speed.

Blaine Gabbert needs help; this reunion that makes sense for the 1-5 Jaguars.

   

QuoteVikings bench Donovan McNabb, Christian Ponder will start
Posted by Michael David Smith on October 18, 2011, 2:15 PM EDT

Getty ImagesChristian Ponder is in and Donovan McNabb is out in Minnesota.

Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier has chosen Ponder as the team’s starting quarterback, Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reports.

The decision comes just six games into a season in which Frazier had insisted McNabb was his starter. But with the Vikings at 1-5 and McNabb not playing well, it was time for Minnesota to see what Ponder, this year’s first-round draft pick, could do.

The Vikings are now the third team in the last year and a half to give up on McNabb: The Eagles traded McNabb to the Redskins to make room for Kevin Kolb, the Redskins benched McNabb to make room for Rex Grossman, and now the Vikings are benching McNabb to make room for Ponder.

Given that the Eagles later jettisoned Kolb for Michael Vick, and the Redskins may bench Grossman for John Beck this week, Ponder might need to be a little worried that he’ll get benched for Joe Webb. Being McNabb’s successor hasn’t been easy the last couple years.

And being McNabb hasn’t been easy the last couple years either.

   

Quote from: Dapperdan on October 18, 2011, 09:51:43 AM
In case anyone will be watching, they will air the Denver Broncos vs Miami Dolphins game this Sunday at 1PM on CBS here. Whethere you like Tebow or not, now is the time to see if he can deliver for a full game or not, althought the Dolphins are a pretty terrible team, but still.

Quote from: thelakelander on October 18, 2011, 05:44:18 PM
As a fan, this entire season has been one of comedic relief.  My hopes and dreams were shot in the off season when they decided to keep Tony Sparano and invest in Reggie Bush as an every down back.  So I could only shake my head in amusement when Brandon "The Monster" Marshall ran out of a bounds on a sure touchdown.  Sparano's decision to throw a bomb on third and inches an then punt on 4th and inches from the 40 was also a head scratcher.  Years ago, those incidents would have resulted in remotes being thrown at the tv screen.

Quote from: tufsu1 on October 25, 2011, 10:30:40 PM
please...I watched that game and didn't see that...

Quote from: tufsu1 on October 25, 2011, 10:30:40 PM
please...I watched that game and didn't see that...yes, Redskins fans travel...and yes, some of NC used to be Skins fans (the rest were likey Falcons fans)...and yes, it isn't that far from DC to Charlotte.

but I think there may have been just as many, if not more, Ravens here last night for teh game...was at least 30% of the stadium.

Quote from: tufsu1 on October 25, 2011, 10:30:40 PM
please...I watched that game and didn't see that...yes, Redskins fans travel...and yes, some of NC used to be Skins fans (the rest were likey Falcons fans)...and yes, it isn't that far from DC to Charlotte.

QuoteTen-Point Stance: Yeah, T.O.'s a jerk, but this was sad:

I know. I understand what many of you are thinking. Terrell Owens doesn't deserve anyone's sympathy and you're right. He's been a human hand grenade that's blown up relationships, teams, and quarterbacks. He's been obnoxious, duplicitous and phony. There are millions of reasons to not feel sorry for him. Not quite 25 million, but close.

But there was Owens this week, shirtless, practically alone, desperately working out in what was an embarrassing show to get the attention of teams that wanted nothing to do with his farce of a workout.

Owens' abs were gleaming and his physique popping but it meant little. Owens' surgically repaired knee is the issue, and thus there was no reason for teams to attend Owens' workout. Any team that wants to sign Owens wouldn't have to go to some circus workout. An interested team would simply bring Owens to their facility, examine the knee, examine him, and make a decision.

Owens is not the greatest of guys. But he has been a truly great player. His performance in the Super Bowl when he was with Philadelphia, coming back from a broken leg, was inspirational. At times in his career he's been unstoppable and fearless.

That is why seeing him now practically beg for a shot is indeed sad. For all of his disgraceful antics he is a Hall of Fame player reduced to ... this. This ridiculousness. A Hall of Famer working out like he's a 19-year-old kid trying to become an undrafted free agent.

Yes, I feel sorry for Owens. And I know I'm the only one.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/15848241/tenpoint-stance-yeah-tos-a-jerk-but-this-was-sad

Quote from: I-10east on October 31, 2011, 11:10:37 PM
So far, this SD vs KC MNF game isn't exactly a barn burner with the Chiefs holding on to a 13-12 lead at the start of the fourth. I'll be surprised if the ratings aren't dismal.

Quote from: I-10east on November 01, 2011, 07:43:20 AM
^^^Good point. If a team is up 61-7, time to go for a two-point conversion, to avoid the curse. LOL

Quote from: I-10east on November 01, 2011, 08:58:33 AM
That MNF game starting getting good in the fourth quarter. I'm glad the Chiefs won (23-20) I can't stand the Chargers. In overtime on the Chiefs game winning drive, they effectively used Devin McCluster on HB flat plays, isolating him in space; Deji Karim is a similiar player, and he should be isolated out on the flats, but of course we are retarded and we never run plays that best fit an individual player. We rather run Deji up the middle on a wham like he's Peyton Hillis or somebody.

QuoteVikings quiet in the wake of shift in funding plan

Posted by Mike Florio on November 1, 2011, 10:29 PM EDT

Earlier today, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton announced that a meeting with legislative leaders had resulted in a conclusion that a proposed Vikings stadium funded in part by a local sales tax won’t happen without a public vote.  Some of you have expressed, in strong terms, that this decision doesn’t kill the project.

Unless the powers-that-be can come up with another $350 million to replace the local contribution, it does.

Most telling in this regard is the absence of any statement from the Vikings in the wake of the announcement.  Recently, the Vikings had been firing off announcements after every twist and turn in the process.

Today?  Nothing.

PFT also sent an email to Vikings V.P. of business affairs and stadium development Lester Bagley (pictured), who has appeared at least three times on PFT Live to discuss the project.

In response?  Nothing.

This simply isn’t a matter of finding a forgotten wad of $350 million in an old pair of pants.  It’s been a delicate process from the start, and it won’t be easy to replace the third leg of the funding stool.  The fact that the Vikings haven’t issued a formal statement on such an important development confirms that.

UPDATE 10:43 p.m. ET:  The Vikings haven’t been completely silent.  Bagley spoke on the matter today.  “We have a local partner, it’s Ramsey County. We have an ideal site, it’s Arden Hills,” Bagley said, via FOX 9. “We have had zero talks with Minneapolis. We have a partner and it’s Arden Hills.  There’s time to pull this together.  We’re confident our leaders can get this done.”  His comment really doesn’t address the elimination of a sales tax as an option for raising the local contribution.

UPDATE 10:50 p.m. ET:  PFT has now received a response from Bagley.  “We still have a couple months before the lease expires,” Bagley said in an email to PFT.  “The good news [is that] all 4 Legislative leaders [and] Governor are working together, trying to resolve it, for the first time ever.  Today was mostly about the process moving forward, narrowing the focus. There are still enough revenue streams on the table that would resolve this issue in Minnesota. Replacing $350 [million] from Ramsey County will be difficult.  We look forward to seeing the State’s comprehensive finance plan.”

Responses to “Vikings quiet in the wake of shift in funding plan”
apooster says:
Nov 1, 2011 10:31 PM
I hope the MN State Legislature enjoy their time there, because there is no way in hell they will be re-elected if they let the Vikings leave.

skoobyfl says:
Nov 1, 2011 10:39 PM
Sure toss $350 Million at a NFL team instead of watching the locals survive, brilliant.

  scudbot says:
Nov 1, 2011 10:39 PM
Do you want a football team or not? Does this have to be the signature issue for whatever your political beliefs are no matter what the cost?

Have any idea how many other communities would do almost anything to get an NFL franchise even if it meant another 1/2 of 1% in sales tax for a few years and even if it sucked currently?

johnnyb216 says:
Nov 1, 2011 10:41 PM
Uh oh!!!!! LA northstars!!!! Don’t even bother leaving the colors and record books in Minnesota. This state could obviously care less! Besides, who is going to bring a professional football team to a market that couldn’t even sell out a playoff game? It’s pretty obvious that the vikings don’t have enough fans to remain in Minnesota. And I’m sure that ill hear this and that about their fanbase being sooo dedicated. Well let me tell you, I’m sure that’s true. Just like its true for every sports franchise in the entire world! The main problem here is that there just isn’t enough of them for it to matter. SKOL LA NORTHSTARS!!!!

ishallcomment says:
Nov 1, 2011 10:42 PM
LA (new names) go to NFC West
STL Rams go to AFC South
IND Colts go to NFC North

Quote from: I-10east on November 01, 2011, 08:58:33 AM
but of course we are retarded and we never run plays that best fit an individual player

Quoteishallcomment says:
Nov 1, 2011 10:42 PM
LA (new names) go to NFC West
STL Rams go to AFC South
IND Colts go to NFC North

Quote from: Jason on November 02, 2011, 01:56:20 PM
First, switch Indy and Miami in the AFC.  There is no reason to have those two teams playing in a division that is the opposite of their geographic location.  Furthermore, it'll give Jax more opportunities at a playoff birth  ;)

Quote from: Jason on November 02, 2011, 01:56:20 PM
Second, switch Carolina and Dallas.  Same reasons as above.

Quote from: Jason on November 02, 2011, 01:56:20 PM
Just imagine how popular a Miami vs Jax division game would be. 

Quote??  Indy = AFC South, Miami = AFC East  ??  Plus, I think that the Bills and Jets would have a little something to say about having the play the Pats and Colts each twice a year.

Tennessee & Miami......  Maybe.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on November 02, 2011, 05:54:21 PM
Well now Sime-Walker is on IR for the rest of the season for his knee. HE JUST GOT HERE. We are cursed with a curse this season. Garrard got cut, but his eventually had back surgery so its looks like this was our fate from day one. ARRGGHHHHHHHHHHH

Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on November 02, 2011, 07:09:17 PM
Plus, Robiskie went to a major conference school, so people can stop the ridiculous criticisms of Gene on that front for a day  >:(

Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on November 02, 2011, 07:09:17 PM

Quote from: duvaldude08 on November 02, 2011, 05:54:21 PM
Well now Sime-Walker is on IR for the rest of the season for his knee. HE JUST GOT HERE. We are cursed with a curse this season. Garrard got cut, but his eventually had back surgery so its looks like this was our fate from day one. ARRGGHHHHHHHHHHH

MSW didn't exactly strain himself fighting for the ball last week on that lob pass from Gabbert, and that surely could have been for injury reasons.  We're probably not worse off with Robiskie.  Plus, Robiskie went to a major conference school, so people can stop the ridiculous criticisms of Gene on that front for a day  >:(

QuoteVikings stadium: Lease expiration cometh

November, 2, 2011
Nov 29:38PM
By Kevin SeifertIt's all but official.

The Minnesota Vikings will be franchise free agents later this winter.

As you've probably heard by now, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has canceled plans for a pre-Thanksgiving special session of the state legislature to affirm a new Vikings stadium. According to Dayton, there isn't enough legislative support to merit the effort. Barring a reversal in that sentiment, the Vikings' lease at the Metrodome will expire before the process resumes in the 2012 state legislature.

The Vikings issued a sternly-worded statement acknowledging they are "concerned" and "very disappointed" by the turn of events. The organization gave no indication about its next step, but it would be within its right to seek and/or respond to stadium proposals in markets outside the state early next year.

I think it's important not to be alarmist when you're watching what amounts to a billion-dollar negotiation from afar. A high-stake poker game is underway. Let's just say it's too early to start speculating on who would replace the Vikings in the NFC North after they move to Los Angeles.

At the very least, however, we can say that state leaders have surrendered the exclusive negotiating window they would have had this month, positioning themselves to spend more than they otherwise needed to on a stadium if they eventually approve one. They have also exposed themselves to the possibility of relocation.

And away we go ...

Quote from: I-10east on November 05, 2011, 12:44:20 AM
I wanna talk a lil' bit more about the rookie QBs. Did anyone see the latest 'Real Talk with Bill Maher'? On ending closeout with 'New Rules', he ripped Tim Tebow to shreads. Maher was blunt, and I really couldn't disagree with what he was saying, all I can say is Wow! If you didn't see it, check out the replay in the next coming days. I can imagine that Gator fans are probably are gonna throw darts at his picture.

Lets talk about Cam-mania. I been holding off about this, and I know that I'm gonna catch alotta flak, but I don't give a damn. I guess in the modern NFL, when you throw for 300 yards in a coupla games (even as a veteran) then that QB is considered great, because there's nothing that arouses fantasy football lovers like high passing stats. Who has Cam Newton beat so far? Blaine Gabbert, BARELY in a freaking terrible Amazon thunderstorm, and John freaking Beck, who???yes John Beck for WAS. Can people hold up a lil' before anoiting this guy to the HOF already? Hell, if you gonna go ga-ga over any rookie QB, it should be Andy, with a freakin' 4-2 record, but NO, Dalton doesn't have the gaudy rushing TD's and passing stats that Cam has, and God only knows, there's NOTHING better than great passing stats, and a rushing TD in a loss. Not to mention, Cam's loss to Ponder already. I can only imagine Gabbert with a great reciever like Steve Smith. That's all I got, take it the way you wanna take it.

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on November 05, 2011, 03:32:51 PM
I didn't see the game so I can't comment on those couple of plays to lay blame.  Was it awareness or did the tackle whiff on a block?

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider link=topic 13468.msg252146 date=1320521571
But I can say that Newton drove them down to the opponents 13 yd line before Mare missed a chip-shot kick to put it in overtime.

He also rushed to make 1st and ten inside the 10yd line but it was called back for a hold.  Once again, I didn't see the game, so maybe the hold was the reason he got the yards or maybe he had the yards in spite of the hold.  I don't know.

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on November 05, 2011, 02:35:48 PM

Basically, if we could produce a bastard child of the Panthers Offense and the Jags Defense, we could probably mention the words 'Super Bowl' in public.  So, yeah, despite the record, I think Cam is that good.

Quote from: I-10east on November 06, 2011, 04:09:54 PM
Congrats Lake on your Phins finally winning a game this year. ;) I know that they are really partying hard down there in South Beach. Hopefully my Jags will defeat Indy next week, and keep them the only winless team in the league; If not, time for me to gather the torches, and pitchforks. :)

Quote from: thelakelander on November 14, 2011, 11:49:46 AM
At least they didn't lose to some guy named John Skelton.  What's up with Philly's dream team?  Also, I guess my lowly Dolphins have played themselves out of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.  Screw you Indy!

Quote from: duvaldude08 on November 14, 2011, 11:32:47 AM
In others news, the Raven's have a laid another egg in Seattle. I really dont get this team. They have laid eggs on Tennessee, Jacksonville and now Seattle. If I were a Ravens fan I would be very uncertain right.

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on November 14, 2011, 12:08:55 PM
Lee Evans and Anquan Boldin are hardly (using your best Cousin Vinnie voice) yoots.

Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on November 14, 2011, 12:01:56 PM

Quote from: duvaldude08 on November 14, 2011, 11:32:47 AM
In others news, the Raven's have a laid another egg in Seattle. I really dont get this team. They have laid eggs on Tennessee, Jacksonville and now Seattle. If I were a Ravens fan I would be very uncertain right.

Baltimore's problems as far as I'm concerned - the offensive line is not all that impressive, Flacco is wildly inconsistent, and lots of youth at WR (granted, #1 and #3 could be a big part of the explanation for #2).

Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on November 14, 2011, 12:46:47 PM

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on November 14, 2011, 12:08:55 PM
Lee Evans and Anquan Boldin are hardly (using your best Cousin Vinnie voice) yoots.

I thought Evans had been injured?  I saw their WR corps in most games as being Boldin, the rookie Torrey Smith, and question marks.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on November 15, 2011, 09:56:52 AM
They can not shake a stick at the Colts, Titans, or Jags in regards to history.

Quote from: tufsu1 on November 15, 2011, 10:30:38 AM

Quote from: duvaldude08 on November 15, 2011, 09:56:52 AM
They can not shake a stick at the Colts, Titans, or Jags in regards to history.

well let's see....much of the Titans history is as the Oilers in Houston....the Colts history is in Baltimore...tough competition

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on November 15, 2011, 10:41:56 AM

Quote from: tufsu1 on November 15, 2011, 10:30:38 AM

Quote from: duvaldude08 on November 15, 2011, 09:56:52 AM
They can not shake a stick at the Colts, Titans, or Jags in regards to history.

well let's see....much of the Titans history is as the Oilers in Houston....the Colts history is in Baltimore...tough competition

Even though the Texans were an expansion team, they had to pay the KC Chiefs for their name.  So, in a round-a-bout way, the Texans history could be traced back to KC - another long-running franchise.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on November 15, 2011, 12:31:24 PM

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on November 15, 2011, 10:41:56 AM

Quote from: tufsu1 on November 15, 2011, 10:30:38 AM

Quote from: duvaldude08 on November 15, 2011, 09:56:52 AM
They can not shake a stick at the Colts, Titans, or Jags in regards to history.

well let's see....much of the Titans history is as the Oilers in Houston....the Colts history is in Baltimore...tough competition

Even though the Texans were an expansion team, they had to pay the KC Chiefs for their name.  So, in a round-a-bout way, the Texans history could be traced back to KC - another long-running franchise.

Explain that one. Whyd they have to pay them for the name? Ive never heard that

Quote from: Tacachale on November 15, 2011, 12:40:21 PM

Quote from: duvaldude08 on November 15, 2011, 12:31:24 PM

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on November 15, 2011, 10:41:56 AM

Quote from: tufsu1 on November 15, 2011, 10:30:38 AM

Quote from: duvaldude08 on November 15, 2011, 09:56:52 AM
They can not shake a stick at the Colts, Titans, or Jags in regards to history.

well let's see....much of the Titans history is as the Oilers in Houston....the Colts history is in Baltimore...tough competition

Even though the Texans were an expansion team, they had to pay the KC Chiefs for their name.  So, in a round-a-bout way, the Texans history could be traced back to KC - another long-running franchise.

Explain that one. Whyd they have to pay them for the name? Ive never heard that

The Chiefs were originally the "Dallas Texans" and still owned the trademark. They allowed the Houston expansion team to use it after striking a deal.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on November 15, 2011, 12:41:44 PM
Oh wow I didnt know that.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on November 15, 2011, 01:21:30 PM
I was just on sports encyclopeida and OMG. Some of teams have been around FOREVER! The packers started in 1919    :o That is growing close to 100 years. No wonder they are the smallest market with a big fan based. They have been around since the bible days. (LOL) Compared to these other franchises, we are mere babies in every way, shape and form. Thats why I dont mind the growing pains were going through right now. It has happened to all franchises at one point in their history.

Quote from: Dapperdan on November 18, 2011, 02:05:14 PM
And the Jags find multiple ways to lose.

Quote from: Dapperdan on November 18, 2011, 02:00:28 PM
Say what you will, but Tebow finds a way to win.

Quote from: Dapperdan on November 18, 2011, 02:05:14 PM
And the Jags find multiple ways to lose.

Quote from: Dapperdan on November 18, 2011, 02:05:14 PM
And the Jags find multiple ways to lose.

Quote from: Dapperdan on November 18, 2011, 02:00:28 PM
Say what you will, but Tebow finds a way to win.

Quote from: BridgeTroll on November 25, 2011, 11:58:21 AM
I predict a 2 game suspension... minimum.

Quote
Suh suspended two games
Posted by Mike Florio on November 29, 2011, 10:14 AM EST

APFive days after stomping on Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith, Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has learned his fate.

Jay Glazer of FOX reports that Suh has been suspended two games.

Per Glazer, Suh has not been required to participate in anger management as part of his punishment.

Under the league’s process for on-field infractions, a copy of which PFT has obtained, Suh has three days to file an appeal.  A hearing then must be held within 10 days after the appeal is made.

The rules do not specify a deadline for the issuance of a final decision.  If Suh appeals, he’ll definitely be available for Sunday night’s game at New Orleans.  The Lions play the Vikings, Raiders, Chargers, and Packers over the final four weeks of the season.

The appeal will be conducted by Art Shell or Ted Cottrell.  Both have been jointly hired â€" and are jointly paid â€" by the NFL and the NFLPA.  League exec Ray Anderson will appoint one or the other to handle the hearing and make a final and binding decision.

Despite strong criticism from some players that the appeal process is meaningless, punishments meted out by the league office routinely are reduced on appeal by Shell and Cottrell.  In this specific case, a reduction of the suspension from two games to one would provide a high-profile example to all players, media, and fans that the appeal process is not futile.

   

Quote from: BridgeTroll on November 25, 2011, 11:58:21 AM
I predict a 2 game suspension... minimum.

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on November 25, 2011, 10:54:44 AM
All the talk about Suh getting suspended.... Probably not gonna happen.

QuoteTerry from Junction City, WI

I am critical of your attitude about football fraternization that you expressed. I find it short-sighted, out of touch with the reality of professional sports, and a terrible message to send to young athletes. That being said, consider the outcome of Suh's attitude on the field. In light of the Suh man-crush you expressed, are you re-thinking your attitude on the matter?

Not at all. Football is an edge sport and I like to watch players play the game with an edge for each other. I also expect those players to play the game within the rules and with a discipline befitting a professional football player. Suh didn’t do that and I don’t condone what he did. I like his edge, but he needs to learn how to discipline it. I think controlled intensity is a wonderful message to send to young athletes. It teaches young people how to perform under pressure, when their emotions are at a peak. Maybe more importantly, it teaches them how to behave among adversaries. Terry, it’s a tough world out there. Our young people need to learn how to compete. As an aside to this answer, it would appear that Joe Kapp and Angelo Mosca have kept their edge for each other.

Quote
JOE KAPP
A fight for the aged on YouTube
John Crumpacker, Chronicle Staff Writer

Until just recently, Joe Kapp probably did not know what a "YouTube Sensation" was.

Now he is one.

A clip of the 73-year-old Kapp decking fellow septuagenarian Angelo Mosca on Friday night at a Canadian Football League banquet in Vancouver, British Columbia, went viral for the utter absurdity of two old codgers stoking a feud nearly a half-century old. As of 7 p.m. Monday, various versions of the video had received a combined total of nearly 600,000 views.

"How does it look? Good or bad?" Kapp asked The Chronicle on Monday after arriving home from Vancouver. "Ed Nemir, the old boxing coach at Cal, would have been proud of that right cross. He kind of wanted me out for the team, but I was busy playing basketball."

When Kapp retaliated with a right cross to the jaw of Mosca after taking what he said was a swiping blow to the face from Mosca's cane - "On his way down I couldn't resist kicking him in the ass," Kapp said Monday - it rekindled a grudge dating to the 1963 Grey Cup between Kapp's British Columbia Lions and Mosca's Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Kapp was quarterback of that B.C. team, later going on to lead the Minnesota Vikings to Super Bowl IV. Mosca, then a defensive tackle for the Ti-Cats, later gained a measure of fame as a pro wrestler.

According to Kapp, Mosca delivered a late hit out of bounds to B.C. running back Willie Fleming, who had taken a pitch from his quarterback in that '63 Grey Cup.

"He was already down. It was a cheap shot," Kapp said. "Here comes Mosca and he hits Willie in the head. I got into his face and cursed at him in two languages, English and Spanish. Willie won't talk to him (to this day)."

During Grey Cup week in Vancouver, Kapp and Mosca were among the guests at a CFL alumni banquet, where Mosca was apparently a willing Hatfield to Kapp's McCoy.

"I was sitting at the table and he's mouthing 'F.U.s' to me," Kapp said. "He was a wrestler, a professional bully."

A master of ceremonies later called Kapp and Mosca to the stage, where Mosca could be heard uttering a profanity to Kapp.

"There was a flower arrangement on the table," Kapp said. "I took the flowers up and started to hand it to him on the stage. I was attempting to make peace with the flower arrangement."

Instead, Mosca pushed the flowers away, Kapp swatted the flowers back at Mosca and the seated Mosca started swinging his cane at Kapp.

"He caught me on the side of the head with his cane," Kapp said. "I threw the flowers at him and got him with the right cross and I think another one to his belly."

Kapp said he apologized after he and Mosca were separated, calling the incident "regretful."

"I'm not proud of it," Kapp said. "I did not start it. I never started a fight in my life. Quarterbacks are supposed to be smarter than that. And I didn't start this one."

What he started was a flurry of views on an untold number of computers once the clip was uploaded to the Internet. Kapp has been many things in his life - college and pro football player, college basketball player, Super Bowl quarterback, college head coach, bit actor, restaurateur - and now he can add "viral video star."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/28/SPO51M5A6L.DTL#ixzz1f7r69ybD

Quote from: Dapperdan on December 05, 2011, 10:44:38 AM
This is a forum called other NFL news, so I figure anything is game in thise one. Don't like it? Don't read it. Lets see how Plain Gabbert does tonight.

Quote from: Dapperdan on December 05, 2011, 08:52:02 AM
I watched the Minnesota and Denver game yesterday. I am sorry but Ponder looks leap years ahead of Gabbert. There is no getting around that. Even Tebow looked way better. On a side note, it looks like Tebow is starting to throw alot better.

Quote from: Dapperdan on December 05, 2011, 10:58:10 AM
Who is being negative? I am simply  posting in a NFL  forum that I think every other Rookie QB is better than ours. Once he starts showing us something.... anything... I will defintiely acknowledge that.

Quote from: copperfiend on December 05, 2011, 10:54:52 AM

Quote from: Dapperdan on December 05, 2011, 08:52:02 AM
I watched the Minnesota and Denver game yesterday. I am sorry but Ponder looks leap years ahead of Gabbert. There is no getting around that. Even Tebow looked way better. On a side note, it looks like Tebow is starting to throw alot better.

Ponder was a fifth year senior and was considered more "NFL Ready" than Gabbert. But Gabbert is thought to have the higher ceiling. Only time will tell who ends up better.

Don't forget that Leftwich started out pretty well as a rookie and even beat Manning and Brees that year. But as we found out he never really improved.

Quote from: Tacachale on December 05, 2011, 10:59:36 AM
Yes, another miraculous victory for Football Jesus and friends against a team with a 2-9 record. Seriously, it's the same thing we keep going over and over - (1) a dapper, photogenic QB/T-shirt salesman puts up mediocre numbers and affects some poses (2) his passable team squeaks in a W over a weak opponent (3) Enter chorus: OMT, HE'S DONE IT AGAIN!!!/THAT'S PREPOSTEROUS JUST LOOK AT HIS STATS.

Let's see Him - sorry, them - play against a decent team for once, and then we can talk about how Tebow's wondrous "will to win" really measures up.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 05, 2011, 11:00:20 AM

Quote from: Dapperdan on December 05, 2011, 10:58:10 AM
Who is being negative? I am simply  posting in a NFL  forum that I think every other Rookie QB is better than ours. Once he starts showing us something.... anything... I will defintiely acknowledge that.

DD dont play crazy "Plain" gabbert? yeah that was definately a positive comment.  ::)

Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 05, 2011, 11:02:04 AM

Quote from: Tacachale on December 05, 2011, 10:59:36 AM
Yes, another miraculous victory for Football Jesus and friends against a team with a 2-9 record. Seriously, it's the same thing we keep going over and over - (1) a dapper, photogenic QB/T-shirt salesman puts up mediocre numbers and affects some poses (2) his passable team squeaks in a W over a weak opponent (3) Enter chorus: OMT, HE'S DONE IT AGAIN!!!/THAT'S PREPOSTEROUS JUST LOOK AT HIS STATS.

Let's see Him - sorry, them - play against a decent team for once, and then we can talk about how Tebow's wondrous "will to win" really measures up.

Right! I will say Tebow did play allot better yesterday, but lets be real.. The teams they have beaten SUCK. We will see how much juice they really have when they go up against a real team.

Quote from: Dapperdan on December 05, 2011, 11:06:24 AM
I believe they play Chicago next week, then The Patrots. Will you finally give him some credit if he beats at least one of those two teams? I know the bar is set so high for Tebow for some reason.

Quote from: Dapperdan on December 05, 2011, 11:00:35 AM

Quote from: copperfiend on December 05, 2011, 10:54:52 AM

Quote from: Dapperdan on December 05, 2011, 08:52:02 AM
I watched the Minnesota and Denver game yesterday. I am sorry but Ponder looks leap years ahead of Gabbert. There is no getting around that. Even Tebow looked way better. On a side note, it looks like Tebow is starting to throw alot better.

Ponder was a fifth year senior and was considered more "NFL Ready" than Gabbert. But Gabbert is thought to have the higher ceiling. Only time will tell who ends up better.

Don't forget that Leftwich started out pretty well as a rookie and even beat Manning and Brees that year. But as we found out he never really improved.

That is true. I guess we can never really know. I am just saying, if he shows nothing at all this year and into the beginning of next, then we have wasted two seasons again and must start all over again with a new guy. To me,  it is frustrating watching every other rookie QB show way more than we see here. It isn't even close. We can only blame it on the recievers so much.

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on December 05, 2011, 12:15:07 PM
I'll be glad when we can move on from Tebow.

QuotePackers stock sale underway: $250 shares to support Lambeau Field expansion


*** For more information, go to www.packersowner.com ***

The Green Bay Packers, unique in professional sports for its public ownership, today launched the organization’s fifth stock offering, with shares priced at $250. Money raised from the offering will go toward the expansion of Lambeau Field, a $143 million project that will be complete for the 2013 season.

“We’re excited to offer shares for just the fifth time in our storied history,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. “Since we announced the Lambeau Field expansion project in August and said we were exploring a stock offering, the response has been very enthusiastic.

“Fans across the country, and those who have family and friends who are fans, have an opportunity to support the team, and join a very special group: Owners of the Green Bay Packers.”

The offering document and purchasing information are available online at www.packersowner.com. Interested fans are encouraged to go online to view the document and make a purchase, as it is the most efficient method. Credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) can be used online. For those without internet access, a toll-free number â€" 855 8-GO PACK (855-846-7225) â€" is available to request documents by mail for transactions to then be completed by mail.

The organization previously had offerings in 1923, ’35, ’50 and ’97. The first three literally saved the franchise from bankruptcy, and proceeds from the fourth went toward the redevelopment of Lambeau Field, which was complete in 2003. The organization currently has approximately 112,000 shareholders who hold about 4,750,000 shares of stock.

Following is a list of offering details:

•The price per share is $250, with a $25 handling charge per transaction (no matter how many shares are purchased).
•The offering is limited to persons in the United States, as well as Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
•Shares can be purchased online with credit or debit cards, and also via mail.
•There will be means for purchasers to receive delivery of certificates by Dec. 24.
•Only individuals (including spouses as joint tenants) will be able to purchase shares; individuals can purchase shares as a gift for other individuals.
•The Packers are initially offering 250,000 shares.
•No one may buy more than 200 shares (counting any shares that the person purchased in the 1997-1998 offering).
•The offering will continue until Feb. 29, 2012, subject to extension.

In contemplation of the offering, interested fans should note:

•Stock in the Packers does not constitute an investment in “stock” in the common sense of the term.
•The Packers will have no obligation to repay the amount a buyer pays to purchase Packers stock.
•Anyone considering the purchase of Packers stock should not purchase the stock to make a profit or to receive a dividend or tax deduction or any other economic benefits.
•Any offering of Packers stock will only be made through an offering document.
•The Packers believe offerees and purchasers of Packers stock will not receive the protection of securities laws with respect to any offering or sale of Packers stock.
•The Packers bylaws and NFL rules severely restrict transfers of Packers stock.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 06, 2011, 11:55:55 PM
The vikings have announced that someone other than LA has expressed interest in moving the Vikings. Im starting to wonder if anyone really wants to move to LA. The way it looks, Weaver sold to Khan (and not LA), and the Vikings may be looking at other interested candidates other than LA. Humm.....It what be interesting to hear who other city is, but they are not telling.

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on December 12, 2011, 03:42:46 PM
Tony Sparano - eating dinner unemployed.  (your early christmas present Lake.)

Quote from: Dapperdan on December 16, 2011, 11:53:50 AM
I have to ask it, but who will be watching the Patriots/Broncos game on Sunday? I hear sports bars will be filled to over capacity all around town. They were last week during the Denver/ Chicago game since it wasn't shown locally. I really think this game is a toss up. New England is terrible against the pass and run, and Denver has a lights out defense. Now, if the Patriots go up big early, then I doubt there will be any Tebow time, but if they can keep pace, then this might actually be a really good game.  History tells us Brady will probably take control of the game, but you never know.

Quote from: Dapperdan on December 16, 2011, 11:53:50 AM
I have to ask it, but who will be watching the Patriots/Broncos game on Sunday? I hear sports bars will be filled to over capacity all around town. They were last week during the Denver/ Chicago game since it wasn't shown locally. I really think this game is a toss up. New England is terrible against the pass and run, and Denver has a lights out defense. Now, if the Patriots go up big early, then I doubt there will be any Tebow time, but if they can keep pace, then this might actually be a really good game.  History tells us Brady will probably take control of the game, but you never know.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 18, 2011, 08:23:17 PM
It's Tebow time!!!! Yes? No??    ???

Quote from: thelakelander on December 19, 2011, 08:34:21 AM
Screw Tebow, its John Skelton time!

(http://tophatal.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/mercury-morris.jpg)

Oh, and thank you KC.  Mercury and the boys can now pop the bubbly.

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on December 19, 2011, 10:40:24 AM
I would agree if our defense wasn't so banged up. I dont think Indy has ever been swept by any one in the division. Don't think they like that idea.

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on December 19, 2011, 01:05:56 PM
DD you dont think Reggie Wayne is a deep threat or Garcon? We have Winn Dixe bag boys covering NFL receivers. Not to mention Brown has been running the ball very well.

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on December 19, 2011, 01:31:06 PM
I agree with you on that, alot of mistakes. Browns not a threat tell that to the titans.

Quote from: mtraininjax on December 20, 2011, 10:12:45 PM
I wish the Jags had 10% of the clout that the front 4 with SF has on D. Those guys manhandled the Steeler line.

Quote from: tufsu1 on December 20, 2011, 10:55:15 PM
yeah, but a win in that game for the Steelers and they take the lead in the division from the Ravens...never underestimate the value of playing the 3rd game in that hated rivalry in Pittsburgh vs Baltimore.

Quote from: thelakelander on December 22, 2011, 11:31:00 PM
Lol. The Colts keep this up and they'll play themselves right out of the Luck sweepstakes.

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on December 23, 2011, 02:19:19 AM
Really they have won division and are in the playoffs.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 23, 2011, 10:04:27 AM

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on December 23, 2011, 02:19:19 AM
Really they have won division and are in the playoffs.

From what I heard, (again this is what I heard) depending on how the chips fall now, they may only  get in on a wild card. And the way they are playing, they wouldnt get pass the wild card round. As good as theyve been all season, they looked like us last night and we all know that is NOT good at all. LOL

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on December 23, 2011, 10:12:35 AM

Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 23, 2011, 10:04:27 AM

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on December 23, 2011, 02:19:19 AM
Really they have won division and are in the playoffs.

From what I heard, (again this is what I heard) depending on how the chips fall now, they may only  get in on a wild card. And the way they are playing, they wouldnt get pass the wild card round. As good as theyve been all season, they looked like us last night and we all know that is NOT good at all. LOL

Nope.   They're in the playoffs by winning the division.  What you're thinking of is their seeding.  I don't know the scenarios but if they had won last night and next week, they were guaranteed a first round bye and a home game.  Now, with the loss, they're looking at possibly a 4th seed and having to play in the WC round against possibly Pittsburg or the Jets or basically someone that they don't want to play.  They're in, but it's looking like they're setting themselves up for a 1 and done.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 24, 2011, 04:50:29 PM
No Tebow Time today? Maybe he didnt "Tebow" enough before the game started.  :D

QuoteCINCINNATI -- One victory away from an unexpected playoff spot, the Cincinnati Bengals are already immersed in their biggest challenge of the week.

No, it's not getting ready for their Week 17 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. It's trying to get somebody to come and watch.


Only 41,273 fans showed up on a sunny, 38-degree afternoon to witness the Bengals (9-6) secure just their third winning record in the past 21 years with a 23-16 victory over Arizona on Saturday. Paul Brown Stadium was more than one-third empty, and that's been the norm all season.

If the Bengals beat Baltimore, they can clinch the final AFC wild-card berth for a chance to win their first playoff game since the 1990 season. But will there be another small crowd?

Players buoyed by the chance to make the playoffs wasted no time lobbying for an audience.

"I just want to thank the fans who were out there today," defensive tackle Domata Peko said on Saturday. "We really felt you guys out there, and that helped us out big time. I really want to encourage all of the Cincinnati fans to come out and cheer us on as we try to make the playoffs."

There's a lot of bad history behind the fans' apparent distaste for the team.

The Bengals' stadium itself has also been an ongoing point of contention as the Cincinatti region struggles to recover from the recession. Hamilton County voters approved a sales tax hike in 1996, and the Bengals signed a 30-year lease that gives them a lot of control over the facility and much of its revenues. The stadium came in way over budget -- bad for taxpayers -- and cost roughly $450 million when it opened in 2000.


Relive every game this season online and on-demand with enhanced viewing features. Get NFL Game Rewind.
When the game ended Saturday, the Bengals flashed an offer on the scoreboard to try to drum up business for the final game. Season-ticket holders will be allowed to buy one ticket and get another free for Baltimore, a sign the game was nowhere near a sellout.

Then, the lobbying began, with even quarterback Andy Dalton, normally steadfastly reserved in his comments, deciding to stump for public support.

"Everyone in Cincinnati needs to come out for this big game," Dalton said.

Added cornerback Adam Jones: "We need all of you this week. We need the fans this week. Who Dey! Please come support us.

"I'm Adam Jones, and I approved this message."

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on December 24, 2011, 07:58:03 PM
Wheres Mr Dan at now?

Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 25, 2011, 08:17:06 PM
After reading this article on NFL.com, I wonder if even winning is the answer to attendance wows. The Bengals are on the verge of making the playoffs, and no one even comes to the games. There attendance yesterday was 41,000 (yikes!) Tampa is another example. The Bucs went 10-6 last season and not one game was televised and the stadium was half empty. Which leads me to this, The Jags dont have attendance issues. With losing records for now almost 4 years in a row, we only had one bad year. (2009). I think that say alot about our fan base. That is why I dont care what the NFL talking head say. They like to pick on Jacksonville and there are other city who are worse off. But NFL and the NFL commisioner knows the facts, so Im not worried about what an analyst has to say about Jacksonville.

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on December 27, 2011, 09:08:12 AM
Would hate to see if we drew less than 42.000. I was in Tampa over the weekend and realized how uninformed people really are about not just our team our city as well and how ESPN and other media outlets really have poisoned many people against us. My buddy asked me when are the Jags moving to LA, I said where are they going to play in LA, he says well ESPN - Chris Berman said they've been sold and are moving to LA. So if the Jags are moving to LA b/c of attendance, when are the other teams moving that we have better attendance than moving and where to. People hear something on TV and run with it without knowing the facts for themselves. I guess it would be to easy to goggle and get the facts yourself.

Quote2011 Attendance   Home   Road   Overall
RK   TEAM   GMS   TOTAL   AVG   PCT   GMS   TOTAL   AVG   PCT   GMS   TOTAL   AVG   PCT
1   Dallas   8   684,096   85,512   106.9   8   574,875   71,859   97.1   16   1,258,971   78,685   102.2
2   NY Giants   8   635,800   79,475   96.3   8   596,357   74,544   99.9   16   1,232,157   77,009   98.0
3   NY Jets   8   631,888   78,986   95.7   8   555,504   69,438   94.7   16   1,187,392   74,212   95.3
4   Washington   8   615,368   76,921   83.9   7   491,394   70,199   96.1   15   1,106,762   73,784   88.9
5   Denver   8   602,618   75,327   99.0   8   506,992   63,374   89.6   16   1,109,610   69,350   94.5
6   New Orleans   8   584,336   73,042   100.1   8   521,599   65,199   94.9   16   1,105,935   69,120   97.6
7   Carolina   8   578,342   72,292   98.0   8   520,245   65,030   97.5   16   1,098,587   68,661   97.8
8   Kansas City   8   576,659   72,082   93.9   8   530,547   66,318   96.3   16   1,107,206   69,200   95.1
9   Houston   8   571,969   71,496   100.6   8   487,733   60,966   88.7   16   1,059,702   66,231   94.8
10   Baltimore   8   569,792   71,224   100.3   8   514,110   64,263   94.6   16   1,083,902   67,743   97.5
11   Green Bay   8   564,097   70,512   96.7   8   558,926   69,865   98.8   16   1,123,023   70,188   97.7
12   San Francisco   8   557,856   69,732   99.3   8   507,440   63,430   91.3   16   1,065,296   66,581   95.3
13   Philadelphia   8   553,152   69,144   102.3   8   576,019   72,002   95.0   16   1,129,171   70,573   98.5
14   Tennessee   8   553,144   69,143   100.0   8   524,553   65,569   94.1   16   1,077,697   67,356   97.0
15   Atlanta   8   551,892   68,986   96.8   8   521,529   65,191   96.7   16   1,073,421   67,088   96.8
16   New England   8   550,048   68,756   100.0   8   564,643   70,580   95.0   16   1,114,691   69,668   97.4
17   Seattle   8   531,311   66,413   99.1   8   539,645   67,455   96.2   16   1,070,956   66,934   97.6
18   Cleveland   8   526,874   65,859   90.0   8   504,118   63,014   94.7   16   1,030,992   64,437   92.2
19   San Diego   8   523,143   65,392   91.7   8   541,749   67,718   96.7   16   1,064,892   66,555   94.2
20   Indianapolis   8   518,627   64,828   102.9   8   532,063   66,507   96.5   16   1,050,690   65,668   99.6
21   Detroit   8   509,940   63,742   98.8   8   531,640   66,455   95.6   16   1,041,580   65,098   97.1
22   Pittsburgh   8   504,279   63,034   97.0   8   545,236   68,154   98.4   16   1,049,515   65,594   97.7
23   Minnesota   8   502,529   62,816   98.0   8   545,056   68,132   93.4   16   1,047,585   65,474   95.5
24   Buffalo   7   438,864   62,694   85.8   8   542,166   67,770   90.0   15   981,030   65,402   88.0
25   Jacksonville   8   498,655   62,331   92.8   8   551,000   68,875   96.8   16   1,049,655   65,603   94.9
26   Chicago   8   497,166   62,145   101.0   7   479,196   68,456   99.6   15   976,362   65,090   100.3
27   Arizona   8   489,455   61,181   96.5   8   512,208   64,026   91.1   16   1,001,663   62,603   93.6
28   Miami   8   487,089   60,886   81.0   8   577,292   72,161   94.9   16   1,064,381   66,523   88.0
29   Oakland   8   473,938   59,242   94.0   8   544,691   68,086   93.8   16   1,018,629   63,664   93.9
30   Tampa Bay   7   396,300   56,614   86.2   8   545,969   68,246   97.2   15   942,269   62,817   92.3
31   St. Louis   8   451,153   56,394   86.3   8   550,898   68,862   95.9   16   1,002,051   62,628   91.4
32   Cincinnati   8   394,009   49,251   75.2   8   528,996   66,124   95.5   16   923,005   57,687   85.6 

Quote from: Dapperdan on January 09, 2012, 05:54:40 AM
Tebow fan or not, can we agree that was the best playoff game of the weekend? Wow, what an electric game.

Quote from: tufsu1 on January 09, 2012, 08:12:03 AM
It was an exciting game, but let's not blow things out of proportion....Denver was playing at home and needed OT to beat a team that was playing without 3 offenmsive starters and 3 defensive starters

Quote from: Dapperdan on January 09, 2012, 08:31:51 AM
Isn't every team banged up right now?

Quote from: thelakelander on January 09, 2012, 08:56:36 AM
Detroit certainly had their chances.  However, you have to give credit to New Orleans for executing a game plan that basically kept Detroit's offense off the field.  Also, what got into Pierre Thomas?  I haven't seen him break tackles like that since his knee injuries a few years back.

Quote from: thelakelander on January 09, 2012, 08:28:25 AM
I get what tufsu1 is saying with Pittsburgh having six key starters out of the game and a gimpy QB.  However, I'll admit that the last Tebow pass was on the money and one of the best I've seen him throw this year.

Quote from: tufsu1 on January 09, 2012, 09:15:05 AM

Quote from: thelakelander on January 09, 2012, 08:28:25 AM
I get what tufsu1 is saying with Pittsburgh having six key starters out of the game and a gimpy QB.  However, I'll admit that the last Tebow pass was on the money and one of the best I've seen him throw this year.

agreed...many of his throws were quite good....that said, Tebow's reads were made easier by a Pittsburgh defense (Troy Polamalu) that seemed to be playing out of position almost all day

Quote from: Dapperdan on January 09, 2012, 08:35:04 AM
Atlanta was by far the worst playoff team that played this weekend.

Quote from: Dapperdan on January 09, 2012, 05:54:40 AM
Tebow fan or not, can we agree that was the best playoff game of the weekend? Wow, what an electric game.

QuoteSources: Jags, Paul Vance to part ways

EmailPrintComments11By Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter
ESPN
A dispute over contract language that affects seven fired Jacksonville Jaguars assistant coaches for over $3 million may have been one of the factors that led to the dismissal of Paul Vance, the team's senior vice president of football operations and general counsel, according to league sources.


AFC South blog
ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky writes about all things AFC South in his division blog.

• Blog network: NFL Nation


A source said the dispute is over an amount of money between $3.5 million and $4 million.

The seven assistants had signed extensions in 2010 and the club believed it was for two years that would expire at the end of the 2011 season. However, the applicable clause in dispute states, "shall terminate on the later of January 31, 2012 or the day after the Jaguars' last football game of the 2012 season and playoffs..."

Consequently, the assistant coaches want to be compensated for the 2012 season, especially if they remain unemployed. Those coaches' specific names have not been confirmed.

Vance, who was dismissed Sunday as the team's senior vice president of football operations and general counsel, called it an incorrect reference and that it "should have read the 2011 NFL season." Vance termed it an error and "there was no intent on your part or our part of the club to establish a contract for the 2012 season," according to a correspondence acquired by ESPN that was sent to the coaches.

Currently, the dispute remains between the club and the coaches, but without resolution could end up as a formal grievance filed with the league office, sources said.

Vance initially joined the expansion Jaguars in 1994 as the team's general counsel before he was appointed by former owner Wayne Weaver to oversee football operations, mostly related to contract negotiations, but with a very influential voice on all matters.

Sashi Brown has been promoted as new general counsel after serving as the assistant general counsel. Vance will be utilized as a consultant during the transition and for the remainder of the calendar year.

The organization was informed of the changes via an internal email, in which there was no mention on whether there will be a new vice president of football operations. Currently, Gene Smith is the Jags' general manager overseeing the personnel department. Smith also is heading the search for a new coach, with new owner Shad Khan making the final determination on that hire.

Weaver agreed to sell the franchise to Khan on Nov. 29 for $770 million. The deal included a $660 million sale price and $110 million in debt. Khan, an Illinois businessman who tried to buy the St. Louis Rams in 2010, began negotiating to buy the Jaguars later that year.

Last Wednesday, when the team officially was transferred to his ownership, he said he "will do everything possible to build a consistent winner on the field and a model franchise off the field."

Quote from: copperfiend on January 09, 2012, 02:01:18 PM
Local reporters have stressed that is not the reason Vance was fired but it was part of it. He's been here for 10 years and survived one regime change already. He helped get the salary cap in order after Coughlin/Huyghe destroyed it and did a good jobb. But with a new owner coming in, some changes are in order.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on January 09, 2012, 12:42:52 PM
I dont know. I like the Saints and Lions game better.

QuoteTHE NEW YORKER ONLINE ONLY
THE SPORTING SCENE
Dispatches from the playing fields by New Yorker writers.

« Celebrating the Stiff-ArmMainAnyone But Tebow? »
JANUARY 9, 2012
HOW TO STEAL A TEAM
Posted by Alex Koppelman


In the magazine this week, Connie Bruck profiles entrepreneur Philip Anschutz, a billionaire who’s made money doing a little bit of everything, from oil and telecommunications to concert promotionsâ€"and sports. The article is centered around the highest-profile venture Anschutz has going right now: his efforts to lure an N.F.L. team to Los Angeles, and, more specifically, to a stadium he’d like to build in downtown L.A.

For anyone who is, like me, a Baltimore native, the story of the fits and starts in the process of bringing a team back to L.A. can only bring back memories of our city’s own attempts to secure an N.F.L. franchise in the years after the Colts slunk away under cover of darkness for Indianapolis.

I’d be run out of my own hometown on a rail if I didn’t pause here to note that the situation is quite different, in that most L.A. residents have been coolly indifferent to their plight, while Baltimore was devastated when it lost the Colts. (If you haven’t seen it, “The Band That Wouldn’t Die,” a Barry Levinson documentary about the Baltimore Colts Marching Band, which kept right on playing after the team left, captures the deep, almost unbelievable, sense of loss fans felt when the Colts moved away.) Still. There are parallels.

The N.F.L. didn’t feel compelled to put a new team in Baltimore the way it does with L.A. But both cities have sidled up to multiple potential suitors, only to find out they were trying to make another city jealous. Baltimore flirted with the Cardinals (then of St. Louis, now in Arizona), L.A.’s own Rams (now in St. Louis), and the Cincinnati Bengals, among others. L.A. has been linked, at one point or another, to a list of teams including the Jacksonville Jaguars, San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, and their own departed franchises, the Rams and the Oakland Raiders. But many of those are dropping off the list, at least for now. The Jaguars were just sold, and the new owner seems committed to staying putâ€"the previous owner reportedly turned away L.A.-based buyers, including Anschultz. The Chargers just committed to staying at least another year in San Diego, and the team’s owner and Anschutz apparently do not get along. The Vikings are working on a deal with their home state for a new stadium. The Rams, who seem the likeliest candidate, may be about to make a commitment of sorts to St. Louis; they’re looking to hire Jeff Fisher as their new coach, and he’s said to have balked at the idea of the team’s moving.

For the most partâ€"the Vikings and Raiders are the exceptionsâ€"the franchises that have been linked to L.A. don’t have fan bases that would dress in sackcloth and ashes were their teams to pick up and move. But as the process drags on, the danger is that a dark horse team, one with deeper roots in its current city, could be the one to make the trip. (The Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills come to mind.) That’s what happened in Baltimore; not long after the N.F.L. spurned us in its 1993 expansion roundâ€"choosing Jacksonville, of all places, insteadâ€"the city lured Art Modell and his Browns away from Cleveland, leaving people there as heartbroken as Colts fans had been. And that, Baltimoreans will tell you, isn’t a fate we’d wish on anyone. Except Bob Irsay.

Quote from: I-10east on January 10, 2012, 03:44:18 AM

Quote from: duvaldude08 on January 09, 2012, 12:42:52 PM
I dont know. I like the Saints and Lions game better.

A late blowout (DET at NO) over a competitive thrilling finish (PIT at DEN)?? It became apparent who was gonna win the Saints game in the fourth quarter; Detroit completely abandoned the run throughout the entire game; Contrastingly, the DEN game was pretty boring early, but finished strong in the fourth quarter to go into overtime. I'll take a late blooming unpredictible finish over an anticlamactic game anyday.

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on January 14, 2012, 09:35:40 PM
Long night for the Tebow Hype,

Quote from: thelakelander on January 14, 2012, 11:21:56 PM
No Tebow magic tonight?  I guess that high school offense can't put up enough points to keep up with Brady?

Quote from: thelakelander on January 14, 2012, 11:21:56 PM
No Tebow magic tonight?  I guess that high school offense can't put up enough points to keep up with Brady?

Quote from: duvaldude08 on January 15, 2012, 07:42:30 AM
The 49er's and saints game was the best. It was quite an emotional win. I dont care who you are, those guys work their asses off to get where they are. The 49er's took YEARS to get back to the point their at. And to think Alex Smith had a worse rookie season than Gabbbert. Thats why I dont worry about the Jags. The sky may be falling, but only for so long. Things always turn around.

QuoteJeff Saturday may retire
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on January 18, 2012, 10:48 AM EST

Getty ImagesIt is an offseason of change for the Colts. That could include the retirement of one of their longest-tenured players.

Center Jeff Saturday told Phil Richards of the Indianapolis Star that he’s considering retirement.

“I have my own decision to make long before I worry [about] what the Colts are going to do,” said Saturday. “I’m considering not playing.”

Saturday turns 37 years old this year. He’s a free agent and may not want to return to the new-look Colts with a new coach and possibly a new quarterback. Perhaps Saturday could wind up with Peyton Manning in another city, but it’s way too early to know if that’s possible.

It feels like just about everything is up in the air with the Colts. The only certainty is that there will be a lot more change.

Quote from: I-10east on January 27, 2012, 08:02:31 AM
With all of the head coach vacancies filled up already, I'm guessing that the so called "offensive genius, and X & O's wizard" the Chudzinski guy (O Coordinator for the Panthers) wasn't such the slam dunk, sure fire head coach for 2012 afterall. Despite Cam's impressive passing numbers as a rookie, people forgot to remember that the Panthers finished just 6-10.

Quote from: comncense on January 27, 2012, 09:37:30 AM
Agreed. Initially I wasn 't too excited about the Murlarkey hiring, but I do like the staff he's assembled. Sometimes the sum of the parts is better than the individual pieces.

Quote from: comncense on January 30, 2012, 01:13:41 PM
I can't believe people get paid to do work like that... There's nothing major in that change whatsoever other than the attempt to add shadows and contour.

Quote from: I-10east on January 30, 2012, 05:10:22 PM
Everytime I see the Panthers logo, I think of that "All I really need is you" NFLshop.com commercial.

Quote from: I-10east on January 30, 2012, 05:26:09 PM

Quote from: comncense on January 30, 2012, 01:13:41 PM
I can't believe people get paid to do work like that... There's nothing major in that change whatsoever other than the attempt to add shadows and contour.

You're right, I didn't even recognize the changes, until I went back to the thread and read that link. Aww aint that cute, the lil' pussycat got just a tad more agitated.

Quote from: I-10east on January 31, 2012, 05:09:59 PM
IMO one of the most overrated stadiums in the NFL is Raymond James Stadium; Don't get me wrong, Ray J is definitely a good stadium, but it's not nearly the top-tier shiny jewel that alotta people make it out to be. A quick overview.

Pros.

Ramond James Stadium has one of the better stadium color schemes. The big unique features are of course the great pirate ship, the weathered wood pirate-themed restaurants with palm trees, and the original 'fan/team group' names around the rim of the stadium like 'Lynch's Standing Army' or whatever; It was later copied by ATL, and CIN.

Cons.

When you get past all of the Chris Berman-loving filler, this stadium is pretty average, hardly NFC East materal. Out of the three FL teams' stadiums, Sun Life Stadium has the best main big screens by far. Ray J has four smaller cata-corner flip blind-like advertisement boards that advertise Publix forty billion times; Everbank Field used to have similar boards, but they have updated them to screens. Where's Ray J's equivalent to the 'Bud Light Party Zone'? Everbank Field's front rows right on the rim give the best (more close) views outta the other two FL stadiums.

With all of this being said, many argue that Ray J is the best in FL and they might be right, but all I'm saying that Ray J is around the upper-mid pack as far as NFL stadiums go, far from being top tier.

Quotehttp://www.thepostgame.com/blog/list/201202/shahid-khan-yacht-for-sale#1

Shahid Khan's Yacht For Sale. Asking Price: Nearly $112 Million
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 8:15 amWritten by: Ben Maller\0020 1369 92
ShareThis\0020EmailPrint\0020\0020.
Thank goodness pro football doesn't have a salary cap on boats.

The NFL's newest owner, Shahid Khan, is looking to unload his majestic 223-foot yacht for the cool price of $112 million. The Jacksonville Jaguars boss recently put the 2007 German-made vessel he calls the Kismet up for sale with Moran Yacht & Ship of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

What do you get for $112 million? A better question would be what don't you get? The ship comes loaded with a formal dining salon, disco, teak decks, jacuzzi, sauna and gym. High-end woodwork details everything from a beer keg to a motorcycle hatch with crane. There's also a 25-foot Chris Craft boat, Yamaha WaveRunners and other surpasses, the Florida Times-Union reports.

The ship sleeps 12 guests in six impressive staterooms with crew of 17, including three stewardesses, a chef, a sous chef and the always important masseuse, beautician and therapist.

If the asking price is too high for your modest budget, Khan is making his big boat available to rent as the much more affordable price of $600,000 per week -- plus expenses -- for Caribbean cruises over the winter and about $789,000 a week for summer trips to the Mediterranean, according to the Times-Union.

   We will never share your email address. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Khan denied he's selling the boat to help cover the cost of buying the Jaguars. "That check has cleared. (The boat being for sale) is totally unrelated to the Jaguars," Khan told the Jacksonville Daily Record. (He also said if he had owned the Jaguars a few years ago he would have had Jacksonville select Tim Tebow.)

By the way, the Kismet's asking price ($112 million) is 34 percent more than the entire Jaguars player payroll (around $73 million) last season.

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on February 02, 2012, 02:01:15 PM
@DD - hey bud, I know you're feelings on the national jacksonville diss, but we made Yahoo's front page and we're not even in the superbowl - just sayin'.   ;D

Quotehttp://www.thepostgame.com/blog/list/201202/shahid-khan-yacht-for-sale#1

Shahid Khan's Yacht For Sale. Asking Price: Nearly $112 Million
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 8:15 amWritten by: Ben Maller\0020 1369 92
ShareThis\0020EmailPrint\0020\0020.
Thank goodness pro football doesn't have a salary cap on boats.

The NFL's newest owner, Shahid Khan, is looking to unload his majestic 223-foot yacht for the cool price of $112 million. The Jacksonville Jaguars boss recently put the 2007 German-made vessel he calls the Kismet up for sale with Moran Yacht & Ship of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

What do you get for $112 million? A better question would be what don't you get? The ship comes loaded with a formal dining salon, disco, teak decks, jacuzzi, sauna and gym. High-end woodwork details everything from a beer keg to a motorcycle hatch with crane. There's also a 25-foot Chris Craft boat, Yamaha WaveRunners and other surpasses, the Florida Times-Union reports.

The ship sleeps 12 guests in six impressive staterooms with crew of 17, including three stewardesses, a chef, a sous chef and the always important masseuse, beautician and therapist.

If the asking price is too high for your modest budget, Khan is making his big boat available to rent as the much more affordable price of $600,000 per week -- plus expenses -- for Caribbean cruises over the winter and about $789,000 a week for summer trips to the Mediterranean, according to the Times-Union.

   We will never share your email address. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Khan denied he's selling the boat to help cover the cost of buying the Jaguars. "That check has cleared. (The boat being for sale) is totally unrelated to the Jaguars," Khan told the Jacksonville Daily Record. (He also said if he had owned the Jaguars a few years ago he would have had Jacksonville select Tim Tebow.)

By the way, the Kismet's asking price ($112 million) is 34 percent more than the entire Jaguars player payroll (around $73 million) last season.

Quote from: I-10east on January 31, 2012, 06:56:23 PM
^^^I couldn't have said it better. Warren Sapp of all people talkin about "No one packs the U-Haul's better than Duval". These days 'Duval' is looking pretty iron clad compared to 'Hillsbourgh'. These haters are getting hilarous; Everytime they say something stupid on PFT, I make them look silly by cordially pointing out the facts (atleast during the times when the propaganda crew at PFT don't delete my posts).

Quote from: BridgeTroll on February 02, 2012, 03:09:07 PM

Quote from: I-10east on January 31, 2012, 06:56:23 PM
^^^I couldn't have said it better. Warren Sapp of all people talkin about "No one packs the U-Haul's better than Duval". These days 'Duval' is looking pretty iron clad compared to 'Hillsbourgh'. These haters are getting hilarous; Everytime they say something stupid on PFT, I make them look silly by cordially pointing out the facts (atleast during the times when the propaganda crew at PFT don't delete my posts).

Funny you mention this... was listening to Pete Prisco's radio show the other day and he was interviewing the head dude at PFT.  The subject of the Jags moving came up and during the course of the conversation the PFT guy said that Jacksonville is BY FAR the most...um...errr... "defensive" about rumors or talk on PFT about the Jags moving.  Where fans in other cities barely comment or are less vocal about the possible movement of their teams... The Jacksonville posters were vehement about misconceptions and innaccuracies...

Keep up the good work I-10 east!

QuoteRams seek permission to interview Omar Khan for G.M. job
Posted by Mike Florio on February 8, 2012, 8:50 PM EST

Getty ImagesThe Rams continue to look for a new G.M.  And they’ve now set their sites on a guy who almost became the G.M. of the Seahawks.

According to Scott Brown of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Rams have requested permission to interview Steelers director of business and administration Omar Khan.  In St. Louis, Khan would be paired with new coach Jeff Fisher (pictured).

Khan has long been linked to former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, with a widespread belief in league circles that if/when Cowher returns to coaching, his first call will be to Khan.

The question of whether Khan goes to the Rams could depend on whether the Rams give Khan final say over the roster.  If Khan isn’t getting final say (at least in writing, Parcells/Ireland-style), the Steelers could block the move.

Quote
In the immortal words of Vince Lombardi (sort of), "What the hell's going on down there?!"

In Miami, I mean.

In the last 10 years this franchise has been the most luckless, clueless, hapless club. To wit:

Head coaches (seven): Dave Wannstedt, Jim Bates, Nick Saban, Cam Cameron, Tony Sparano, Todd Bowles and now Joe Philbin.

Starting quarterbacks, minimum four starts (13): Jay Fiedler, Ray Lucas, Brian Griese, A.J. Feeley, Gus Frerotte, Daunte Culpepper, Joey Harrington, Cleo Lemon(!), Trent Green, John Beck, Chad Pennington, Chad Henne and now, evidently, Matt Moore. Unless they sign Alex Smith this morning, and if so, Smith would be in line to be the 14th starting quarterback in the last 11 seasons.

Offensive coordinators (seven): Norv Turner, Chris Foerster, Scott Linehan, Mike Mularkey, Dan Henning, Brian Daboll and now Mike Sherman.

Defensive coordinators (six): Jim Bates, Richard Smith, Dom Capers, Paul Pasqualoni, Mike Nolan and now Kevin Coyle.

The most bizarre moves, and aftermaths, of the last decade of Miami Dolphins football -- actually, decade plus 11 days, considering that the Dolphins traded for Ricky Williams 10 years and 11 days ago:

1. The ridiculous inability to find, develop and decide on a quarterback who could be even half as good as Dan Marino. Miami, in the last 10 years, has traded a seven for Rosenfels, a two for Feeley, a two for Culpepper, a six for Lemon, a five for Green, and used a two to draft Beck and another two to draft Henne. None is on the team anymore. None became a shadow of Marino. And Sunday, when Matt Flynn chose Seattle over Miami as the prize of a thin free agent quarterback crop, it left the Dolphins scrambling and reconsidering how aggressively to go after Alex Smith. Or hope Ryan Tannehill of Texas A&M would be there with the eighth pick in the first round on April 26. Or play with Matt Moore. Not very good options.

2. The ill-fated hiring of Nick Saban. He was supposed to turn the Dolphins around, and be the head coach for life, when Wayne Huizenga hired him early in 2005. He went 15-17, made a horrendous quarterback decision (picking Culpepper over Drew Brees in 2006) and skulked off to Alabama after denying 613 times he'd go back to college football.

3. The one you've all forgotten. Two days apart in early 2007, soon after Saban skulked off to Alabama (can't use that phrase enough), Miami interviewed two coordinator prospects -- among others -- to succeed Saban. The Dolphins favored offensive coordinator Cam Cameron of San Diego over Minnesota defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin. Cameron got the Miami job. Tomlin got the Pittsburgh job. Cameron went 1-15 and got fired. Tomlin went 10-6, won the AFC North and is 55-25 since, with a Super Bowl win.

4. Trades that stunk. Ricky Williams came in 2002 for two first-round draft picks and gave the Dolphins two terrific seasons -- and five lousy ones, and one-and-a-half suspended ones. Wes Welker was made a restricted free agent in 2007, and the Patriots stole him for second- and seventh-round draft picks. Those two picks turned into one season of center Samson Satele before he was dumped to Oakland for a sixth-rounder the next year. I'd call the Brandon Marshall trade (for two second-rounders in 2010) a debacle, but they did regain two third-rounders this year. They wasted two second-rounders on quarterbacks who barely had cups of coffee in Miami -- Feeley and Culpepper.

5. Drew Brees. Saban chose Culpepper over Brees in March 2006 because Brees was rehabbing major shoulder surgery. Ten months later, Saban skulked off to Alabama, and the 1-15 Dolphins of 2007 played with Lemon, Green and Beck. Funny thing, as I wrote a couple of months ago: On the night Miami had to make the decision which way to go on Brees or Culpepper, owner Wayne Huizenga was out to dinner with a friend and said. "I want them to sign Brees. They want Culpepper.'' Huizenga got a call on his cell phone and walked outside. When he came back inside the restaurant, Huizenga said his football people were insistent that Culpepper, for reasons monetary and football and health, was a better choice than Brees. "I told them, they're the football guys, not me,'' said Huizenga. But the owner repeated that if it were up to him, he'd have signed Brees. Miami is 37-59 since, with no playoff wins.

Clearly, when Huizenga brought in Bill Parcells, who imported Jeff Ireland from the Cowboys, he didn't expect the disastrous personnel run that has ensued. (And the man who bought the Dolphins from Huizenga, Stephen Ross, didn't expect Ireland to ask Dez Bryant the sordid question about his mother's occupation in the run-up to the 2010 draft either.) The Ross-Ireland daily double has failed to lure Jim Harbaugh and Jeff Fisher, and has failed to land Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn either.

When I was talking to Flynn Sunday night about why he chose the Seahawks, he must have repeated three or four times how much he liked the feeling he got from the Seahawks' coaches and front office people when he was in Seattle. He wouldn't say anything negative about Miami; he is very fond of his former offensive coordinator in Green Bay, Philbin. But clearly Flynn felt the love more in Seattle than in Miami.

It's absolutely amazing how much failure the Dolphins have endured in the last 10 years. And the way this year is beginning -- losing out on Fisher, Manning and Flynn -- I'm amazed that Ross is putting up with it without blowing a gasket.



Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/peter_king/03/19/signings/index.html#ixzz1pZuTreuj

QuoteTim Tebow trade talks will now beginPosted by Michael David Smith on March 19, 2012, 12:07 PM EDT

Getty ImagesPeyton Manning has informed the Broncos that he wants to play in Denver, and that means Tim Tebow is now on the trading block.

We reported when the Broncos first began their pursuit of Manning that Tebow would be traded if Manning signed with the Broncos, and now ESPN’s Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter are reporting that the Tebow trade talks are set to commence.

So where will Tebow land? The first teams we’d keep an eye on are in Florida, where Tebow was a Heisman Trophy-winning and national championship-winning quarterback for the Gators. In both Miami and Jacksonville, the owners might step in and say that they simply can’t afford not to trade for Tebow, who would be an immediate boost at the box office.

If you think the owner has no business telling the football people what to do, you might be right. But the reality is that in the NFL, the owner sometimes steps in on a decision, especially when it comes to the acquisition of a quarterback. We’ve seen that in the Manning chase, and now we may see it with the Tebow trade talks.

It’s entirely possible that there’s some coach out there who loves Tebow’s potential and would like to give him a shot as a starter, but it seems at least as likely that trading for Tebow will be about an owner insisting that it’s the right thing to do for the franchise’s bottom line. And the place where Tebow is most popular is Florida.

   

Quote from: I-10east on March 21, 2012, 02:13:48 AM
^^^And they traded their LB DeMeco Ryans to the Eagles. Hey, I'm not complaining, let the rest of the AFC South get weaker, while we get stronger.  ;D

QuoteGoodell sends “strong and lasting message” via discipline of Saints
Posted by Mike Florio on March 21, 2012, 1:24 PM EDT

Getty ImagesThe NFL has released its official announcement regarding the penalties imposed as a result of the Saints’ three-year system of paying defensive players for, among other things, trying to injure opposing players.

The league imposed significant penalties against coach Sean Payton, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and G.M. Mickey Loomis, and for good reason.  Commissioner Roger Goodell wants to be sure this never happens again.

“We are all accountable and responsible for player health and safety and the integrity of the game,” Goodell said in the league-issued release.  “We will not tolerate conduct or a culture that undermines those priorities.  No one is above the game or the rules that govern it.  Respect for the game and the people who participate in it will not be compromised.”

“A combination of elements made this matter particularly unusual and egregious,” Goodell added. “When there is targeting of players for injury and cash rewards over a three-year period, the involvement of the coaching staff, and three years of denials and willful disrespect of the rules, a strong and lasting message must be sent that such conduct is totally unacceptable and has no place in the game. . . .

“Let me be clear.  There is no place in the NFL for deliberately seeking to injure another player, let alone offering a reward for doing so.  Any form of bounty is incompatible with our commitment to create a culture of sportsmanship, fairness, and safety.  Programs of this kind have no place in our game and we are determined that bounties will no longer be a part of the NFL.”

To achieve this goal, Goodell has suspended coach Sean Payton for a full year, effective April 1.  Former Saints defensive coordinator (and, for now, Rams defensive coordinator) Gregg Williams has been suspended indefinitely; his status will be reviewed after the 2012 season.  Saints G.M. Mickey Loomis has been suspended eight games, and Saints assistant head coach/linebackers coach Joe Vitt has been suspended six games.

In comparison, the Saints organization got off light.  Goodell fined the team only $500,000 and stripped a second-round pick in 2012 and a second-round pick in 2013.

Still, being denied the ability to rely on the man who led the team to a Super Bowl win three seasons ago and who has helped the Saints become competitive on a consistent basis will make it very difficult for the Saints to become the first team to ever qualify for a Super Bowl to be played in a team’s home stadium.  Next February, Super Bowl XLVII will be played in the Superdome.

   

QuoteNew on GGN: The Tim Tebow Discussion Thread
by John B on Mar 28, 2012 9:20 AM EDT

The Tim Tebow trade was bound to be controversial and draw a lot of attention around these parts. It has been covered extensively here on GGN. We have seen some really good fan perspectives in comments. FanPosts and FanShots.

I now think we have reached a point where Tebow Mania is overrunning the site. This site is about the New York Jets, not one specific player who happens to be on the roster. There are a lot of exciting things coming up, like the Draft next month. We have a lot of top end user commentary on it that is being pushed to the bottom of the page so that people can argue the same things about Tebow over and over.

With this in mind, I am going to ask everybody to refrain from further Tebow opinion FanPosts or FanShots until further notice and instead use the comments section of this point to debate Tebow (or front page posts by staff writers about Tebow). You aren't prohibited from mentioning him as part of a post with a bigger point. Just please do not create something new simply to give an opinion on Tebow. I ask that you rec this to get it at the top of the page. Like our Threads About Nothing, we will create new Tebow threads when either the comments fill up or time constraints call for it.

Now if you want to talk about Tebow, you may do so in this space to your heart's content. It gives you easy, one stop shopping. If you want to discuss anything else about the team, you do not have to come to this post, and you do not have to worry about GGN being overrun by it further.

I ask the moderators on this site to help enforce this rule by removing posts in violation and to deal with violators appropriately.

QuoteUrban Meyer urges the Jets to let Tim Tebow play
Posted by Michael David Smith on March 29, 2012, 12:33 PM EDT

Asked on ESPN what the Jets should do with Tebow, Meyer said the same spread offense he runs in college would “absolutely” work in the NFL, and that the biggest thing is an NFL coach just needs to trust Tebow to take over games himself.

“Let him play,” Meyer said. “Just let him play.”

Asked if that’s what the Broncos did, Meyer answered, “Not really.” According to Meyer, the Broncos were too often too conservative with Tebow, and when the Denver offense was at its best â€" as it was in the playoff win over Pittsburgh â€" that’s when Tebow was given the freedom to run the offense his own way, hurting defenses with his feet and then making plays with his arm when defenses had to stop the run.

“When they had success I think they did,” Meyer said. “When you started seeing him throw against those easy coverages it was because they had to stop the run.”

It remains to be seen whether the Jets will let Tebow play, but the current plan to use him in the Wildcat as the backup to Mark Sanchez doesn’t seem consistent with what Meyer is urging. To really make the most of Tebow’s skill set, an NFL team would need to completely install an entire offense around him, not use his plays as a backup plan. The Jets may be ready to let Tebow play 20 snaps a game, but they’re not ready to hand the offense over to him completely.

QuoteBoy oh boy.  I'm so happy that this is not happening here.

Quote
Tebow, the former University of Florida standout who has become known for his game-day prayers and other displays of his faith, was recently traded from the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2012-03-29/story/tim-tebow-speak-lawrenceville-ga-church#ixzz1qXKJ914K

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on March 29, 2012, 03:44:17 PM
While I'm piling it on....

Quote
Tebow, the former University of Florida standout who has become known for his game-day prayers and other displays of his faith, was recently traded from the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2012-03-29/story/tim-tebow-speak-lawrenceville-ga-church#ixzz1qXKJ914K

This little blurb taken from the TU has a nice little zing to it.  Known for quarterbacking skill, passing ability, reading the defense, go through reciever progressions prayer & display of faith. 

I need to stop hating.

Quote from: Shwaz on March 29, 2012, 03:58:21 PM
Whadda Debacle!


Urban Myers comments about running the spread in the NFL... he sounds just as dumb as the entire day programming on TimXTim XL

Anyone who understands the most fundamental difference between NFL & NCAA football  truly understands why this is such an idiotic argument.

There are 238 NCAA teams between the 1-A & AA divisions. Most of these teams carry 125 players each on their roster.

The youngest developing athletes coming out of high school are split amongst these teams. That's 30,000 individual players. The talent range of these players is extremely broad.

Every year the NFL drafts 225 players from this pool of 30K. The biggest, fastest and most talented are selected, many of which won't make it through their full initial contract period.

Back to NCAA & the spread concept... This style of offense is built to open running lanes for the team’s offense players… specifically the QB -  College QB's have a talent for running through these lanes and exploiting slower defensive linemen & line backers. College teams win games this way and it’s arguably become the predominant style of offense.

Fast forward to the NFL where the cream of the talent pool have settled... you'll find big linemen built even bigger & stronger through pro-style conditioning and these guys are just as fast as the average NCAA defensive back.

Spread the line scrimmage, open a lane for the QB in the NFL and you'll probably end his career during his rookie season… and no matter how popular this continues to be in college â€" it will not translate into the NFL due to talent level of the players drafted.

Every year it seems these guys are bigger & faster than the year before. I remember when you would hear people say “Did you hear he ran 4.5 - 40?” Now 4.5 speed won’t even get you into the first round and even the gigantors are running 4.6 times @ 290 pounds!

Tim Tebow was a great player in the spread and I agree he played well against the Steelers in the playoffs. But… if you employ the spread offense for him this year... with Mario Williams lining up on the other side 2x a year.. Tim will be coming home soon... in a body bag.

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on March 29, 2012, 03:44:17 PM
While I'm piling it on....

Quote
Tebow, the former University of Florida standout who has become known for his game-day prayers and other displays of his faith, was recently traded from the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2012-03-29/story/tim-tebow-speak-lawrenceville-ga-church#ixzz1qXKJ914K

This little blurb taken from the TU has a nice little zing to it.  Known for quarterbacking skill, passing ability, reading the defense, go through reciever progressions prayer & display of faith. 

I need to stop hating.

QuoteRedskins remove 4,000 seats from FedEx Field
Posted by Michael David Smith on April 3, 2012, 8:03 AM EDT

The Washington Post reports that the Redskins are again reducing the size of FedEx Field, with the removal of 4,000 additional seats.

The team says the reduction of seats will make room for an upper level “party deck” and the renovation of the fifth-floor suite areas, which will give fans a better experience at the stadium.

But there will be fewer fans experiencing Redskins home games. In 2010 the capacity at FedEx Field was 91,000, in 2011 it was 83,000 and this season it will be 79,000.

There was a time when there was virtually no limit to the number of tickets the Redskins could sell, but that time is in the past. The Redskins have yet to make the playoffs in the four seasons since Joe Gibbs left, and they missed the playoffs in 10 of the 11 seasons since between the two Gibbs coaching tenures. That kind of losing frustrates even the most enthusiastic of fan bases.

Maybe Robert Griffin III is the man to change that.

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on April 03, 2012, 09:15:47 AM
I think that this would be a good move for us as well.  We will lose the tarp stigma and still be able to accomodate the larger crowds for the GA/FL game, by creating another terraced deck (so they can add the extra seating) over the North EZ.  Keep it in the 'famly fun zone theme' and make it accessible for all, unlike the terrace suites, and move the honor sections from the endzone to the 4 corners.

QuoteRedskins remove 4,000 seats from FedEx Field
Posted by Michael David Smith on April 3, 2012, 8:03 AM EDT

The Washington Post reports that the Redskins are again reducing the size of FedEx Field, with the removal of 4,000 additional seats.

The team says the reduction of seats will make room for an upper level “party deck” and the renovation of the fifth-floor suite areas, which will give fans a better experience at the stadium.

But there will be fewer fans experiencing Redskins home games. In 2010 the capacity at FedEx Field was 91,000, in 2011 it was 83,000 and this season it will be 79,000.

There was a time when there was virtually no limit to the number of tickets the Redskins could sell, but that time is in the past. The Redskins have yet to make the playoffs in the four seasons since Joe Gibbs left, and they missed the playoffs in 10 of the 11 seasons since between the two Gibbs coaching tenures. That kind of losing frustrates even the most enthusiastic of fan bases.

Maybe Robert Griffin III is the man to change that.

Quote from: tufsu1 on April 03, 2012, 11:23:30 AM
the Redskins stadium was orignially built to hold around 80,000 fans...about 10,000 seats were added later...so its pretty easy to take them away

and, btw, we already have a party deck / temporary seat thing....about 5,000 bleacher seats are added to the south end zone of the stadium for the FL /GA game

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on April 03, 2012, 04:54:42 PM
Good idea probably not going to happen unless a new stadium is built. I understand the negative stigma behind the tarps but people really need to get over that. Put a winning product on the field and fill the seats that are not covered. Let's start there!!!!

QuoteI assume he means we could remove seating for a party deck, and then add seating for FL-GA.

Quote from: Tacachale on April 04, 2012, 05:01:15 PM
We're not selling the stadium. We've spent untold millions on that thing and its predecessors for many decades. It belongs to the city.

Quote from: Adam W on April 05, 2012, 09:55:10 AM

Quote from: Tacachale on April 04, 2012, 05:01:15 PM
We're not selling the stadium. We've spent untold millions on that thing and its predecessors for many decades. It belongs to the city.

I agree that it should be sold. Let the city make some $$$ from it and not have to pay for its upkeep and upgrades. Of course, no sane NFL owner would buy the stadium, when Joe Taxpayer gets to foot all the bills and barely see any of the proceeds.

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on April 05, 2012, 10:05:56 AM

Quote from: Adam W on April 05, 2012, 09:55:10 AM

Quote from: Tacachale on April 04, 2012, 05:01:15 PM
We're not selling the stadium. We've spent untold millions on that thing and its predecessors for many decades. It belongs to the city.

I agree that it should be sold. Let the city make some $$$ from it and not have to pay for its upkeep and upgrades. Of course, no sane NFL owner would buy the stadium, when Joe Taxpayer gets to foot all the bills and barely see any of the proceeds.

There are plenty of privately owned stadiums, but that still doesn't translate into Joe Taxpayer not footing a nice chunk of the bill when it comes to upgrades.  Civic QOL costs.

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on April 05, 2012, 10:29:53 AM
Green Bay, Dallas, NYG/NYJ,

Quote from: Tacachale on April 05, 2012, 11:18:00 AM
^Yes, and additionally, does anyone really know who actually owns Lincoln Financial Field? The Eagles and the city have sued each other so many times in the last 9 years it's hard to keep track. At any rate, with the exception of Bank of America Stadium, every one of those privately owned stadiums have required hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. And this is besides baseball fields and indoor arenas. If we're paying that kind of money I'd rather own the thing.

Quote from: Adam W on April 05, 2012, 01:14:38 PM

Quote from: Tacachale on April 05, 2012, 11:18:00 AM
^Yes, and additionally, does anyone really know who actually owns Lincoln Financial Field? The Eagles and the city have sued each other so many times in the last 9 years it's hard to keep track. At any rate, with the exception of Bank of America Stadium, every one of those privately owned stadiums have required hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. And this is besides baseball fields and indoor arenas. If we're paying that kind of money I'd rather own the thing.

I can see your point. I think the issue to be resolved then, is not ownership of the stadium, but how much liability taxpayers should have for the maintenance of a professional sports franchise.

If the CoJ owns the Gator Bowl, it should get the proceeds from concessions and naming rights (and parking). But, disregarding the current contracts, it would be impossible to do that: all the team has to do is threaten to leave for greener pastures and someone, somewhere will be willing to give them a better deal.

Hell, I honestly believe the team will leave Jacksonville sooner or later. It's just a matter of when, not if. I don't say that because of any deep-seated antipathy towards the Jaguars. I say that because Jacksonville is a tiny market and there is more money to be made elsewhere.

Whether or not that is LA is immaterial.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on April 05, 2012, 02:42:47 PM

Quote from: Adam W on April 05, 2012, 01:14:38 PM

Quote from: Tacachale on April 05, 2012, 11:18:00 AM
^Yes, and additionally, does anyone really know who actually owns Lincoln Financial Field? The Eagles and the city have sued each other so many times in the last 9 years it's hard to keep track. At any rate, with the exception of Bank of America Stadium, every one of those privately owned stadiums have required hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. And this is besides baseball fields and indoor arenas. If we're paying that kind of money I'd rather own the thing.

I can see your point. I think the issue to be resolved then, is not ownership of the stadium, but how much liability taxpayers should have for the maintenance of a professional sports franchise.

If the CoJ owns the Gator Bowl, it should get the proceeds from concessions and naming rights (and parking). But, disregarding the current contracts, it would be impossible to do that: all the team has to do is threaten to leave for greener pastures and someone, somewhere will be willing to give them a better deal.

Hell, I honestly believe the team will leave Jacksonville sooner or later. It's just a matter of when, not if. I don't say that because of any deep-seated antipathy towards the Jaguars. I say that because Jacksonville is a tiny market and there is more money to be made elsewhere.

Whether or not that is LA is immaterial.

There are three markets that are actually smaller than we are this point. (Green Bay, New Orleans, due to katrina,  and Detriot). SO whats your point? Im just about any team can make more one in LA. Point Blank, them team is ours. All these theories about grand money making schemes is a crock of crap. Money can be made here as long as people support the team . PERIOD

Quote from: Adam W on April 05, 2012, 01:14:38 PM

Quote from: Tacachale on April 05, 2012, 11:18:00 AM
^Yes, and additionally, does anyone really know who actually owns Lincoln Financial Field? The Eagles and the city have sued each other so many times in the last 9 years it's hard to keep track. At any rate, with the exception of Bank of America Stadium, every one of those privately owned stadiums have required hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. And this is besides baseball fields and indoor arenas. If we're paying that kind of money I'd rather own the thing.

I can see your point. I think the issue to be resolved then, is not ownership of the stadium, but how much liability taxpayers should have for the maintenance of a professional sports franchise.

If the CoJ owns the Gator Bowl, it should get the proceeds from concessions and naming rights (and parking). But, disregarding the current contracts, it would be impossible to do that: all the team has to do is threaten to leave for greener pastures and someone, somewhere will be willing to give them a better deal.

Hell, I honestly believe the team will leave Jacksonville sooner or later. It's just a matter of when, not if. I don't say that because of any deep-seated antipathy towards the Jaguars. I say that because Jacksonville is a tiny market and there is more money to be made elsewhere.

Whether or not that is LA is immaterial.

Quote
Right now the LA boogieman is being used to keep cities in line. We'd be hearing much less about teams relocating if the NFL weren't so dead set on getting into that market.

Quote
That's an issue with all major league sports in general. They're able to get away with it because they have monopolies over their product. Without any competition, they can artificially limit the number of teams on the market, meaning franchises can get cities to pony up huge amounts of taxpayer dollars for the privilege of having them there, and threaten to leave if they don't get their way.

Quote from: Adam W on April 05, 2012, 03:12:27 PM

Quote
Right now the LA boogieman is being used to keep cities in line. We'd be hearing much less about teams relocating if the NFL weren't so dead set on getting into that market.

You may be right - but I think LA will get a team sooner or later. As far as the making money aspect goes, that's one the main reasons mooted for the Chargers possible move.

I think the Jaguars have played up the rumors as well in order to prize more money or concessions from the city.

The Jaguars may not move: but there is no mistaking that they are on the short list of teams that might move to LA. And if LA is going to get a team, either they're going to poach one or the league will have to expand again.

As far as other markets getting the team - that's probably not as likely. Sure, I can think of a few, but the LA issue is far more of a threat. Once LA gets a team (and assuming it's not the Jaguars), I don't think relocation will be anywhere near as much of an issue.

That said, it will always rear its ugly head whenever the team is struggling to sell tickets and the games are being blacked out. Especially if another city with a larger market loses its team to LA.

Quote from: Adam W on April 05, 2012, 03:17:41 PM

Quote
That's an issue with all major league sports in general. They're able to get away with it because they have monopolies over their product. Without any competition, they can artificially limit the number of teams on the market, meaning franchises can get cities to pony up huge amounts of taxpayer dollars for the privilege of having them there, and threaten to leave if they don't get their way.

Yes, but not entirely. Leagues with promotion/relegation don't generally suffer from that. For example, the Premier League may be able to limit its member clubs to 20, but three get relegated and three get promoted into the league yearly. Theoretically, a professional team could start out in the lowest league of the pyramid and work its way to the top.

Clearly we don't have that system in the NFL, but I think promotion/relegation would lead to a much more exciting football season.

Quote from: thelakelander on April 05, 2012, 03:35:59 PM
I think you all mean Buffalo instead of Detroit. Detroit is four or five times larger than Jax, market-wise.

Quote

Colts struggling to sell tickets

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 18, 2012, 12:23 PM EDT

Getty Images
At the box office in Indianapolis, the future promise of Andrew Luck is not enough to overcome the departure of Peyton Manning and the stench of a terrible 2011 season.

For the first time in a decade, Colts season tickets are available, as thousands of people who had season tickets last year decided not to renew this year. Colts Chief Operating Officer Pete Ward told the Indianapolis Star about 4,000 season tickets will go on sale, and that it’s not particularly surprising given what happened last year.

“It’s not unexpected considering the things that have transpired, [the team] going 2-14 and the departure of Peyton,” Ward said. “In all honesty, we thought the economy would have affected us more than it has to this point, and then there’s the fact we’re one of the NFL’s smaller markets.”

In Manning’s prime years, the Colts had a season-ticket waiting list of about 10,000 people, and that list hardly ever moved because season-ticket holders almost always renewed. This year about 13 percent of last year’s season-ticket holders decided not to come back.

If Luck (assuming he’s the first overall pick) gets off to a hot start as a rookie quarterback, the Colts should be able to continue their current sellout streak, which goes back 79 games to 2003. But if the Colts are as bad this year as they were last year, TV blackouts could be coming in Indianapolis.

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on April 19, 2012, 07:24:04 PM
I dont think we need to be talking about other team tickets issues, remember how we hate when Jax is brought up all the time. All teams have bandwagon fans otherwise there would be far more empty stadiums.

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on April 19, 2012, 07:24:04 PM
All teams have bandwagon fans otherwise there would be far more empty stadiums.

Quote10 things to know about the Vikings stadium situation
Posted by Mike Florio on April 19, 2012, 11:55 PM EDT

With the situation in Minnesota going from simmer to full boil over the past few days, and with Commissioner Roger Goodell and Steelers owner Art Rooney II, chair of the league’s stadium committee, planning to meet with legislative leaders on Friday, now is as good a time as any to get up to speed regarding a controversy that could result in a relocation of the Vikings, only a year after the 50th anniversary of their arrival to the NFL.

So here are 10 things to know, in a question-and-answer format.  (Why do it that way?  Because we want to.)

What’s wrong with the Metrodome?

It has been regarded as a given for years that the Metrodome is outdated, and that it can’t be modernized in a manner that unlocks the high-end revenue streams that will keep the Vikings competitive with other franchises.  Even though the Vikings have used the 30-year-old stadium roughly 300 times, the team believes that renovation isn’t an option.  No effort to contradict that claim has ever gained any serious traction in Minnesota.

Didn’t I read last month about a deal to build a new stadium?

You did.  But the agreement for a “People’s Stadium” represented only an understanding between the team, Governor Mark Dayton, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, and legislative leaders.  The deal calls for a $975 million facility, which would be built with $398 million from the state, $150 million from Minneapolis, and $427 million from the Vikings.  It still needs to be approved by the Legislature, and by the Minneapolis City Council.  For now, the proposed stadium bill died in a House committee on Monday night, and it has seen no progress at all in the Minnesota Senate.

The Vikings’ reaction to the current failure of the bill to even get a full legislative vote â€" the team says “there is no next year” â€" and the NFL’s direct involvement in negotiations represent a last-ditch effort to revive the deal that previously was reached.

What are the Vikings’ options?

If the stadium bill fails, the Vikings have to decide whether to try again, perhaps with a greater private contribution and/or a cheaper stadium.  If, as it appears, they aren’t inclined to try, owner Zygi Wilf can then try to move the team to a new city, sell the team to someone who would later apply for permission to move the team, or sell the team to someone who would keep the team in Minnesota.

Relocation could occur, with league approval, because the Vikings currently have no lease at the Metrodome.  In fact, if a decision to relocate after 2012 comes soon, the impact on the relationship between Minnesota and the Vikings could make it difficult for the Vikings and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission to work out a one-year lease.  And no one at this point knows what would happen next.

Since there’s no lease, can the Vikings just pick up and move?

No.  Art Modell tried that in 1995, creating a huge mess that resulted in the Browns names and colors and records being left in Cleveland and a commitment to an expansion franchise.  The Vikings already are following the steps outlined in the league’s relocation policy, which requires a team to “diligently [engage] in good faith efforts” to “obtain a satisfactory resolution of its stadium needs” before informing the league of the existence of a “stalemate.”

The fact that the league directly is involved in the negotiations suggests that the Vikings have indeed informed the league that a “stalemate” exists.  If the situation can’t be resolved, the Vikings can then provide formal notice of an intention to relocate, sparking a process that could eventually culminate in a vote by the full ownership.  If 24 of the 32 owners agree, the move will be approved.

Along the way, the other owners would impose a transfer fee on the Vikings, which would be recommended by the Commissioner based on factors like the income streams in the new location, the income streams in the old location, the expenses in the new and old location, the differences between the new and old stadium, the demographics of the new and old markets.  It’s believed that a relocation to Los Angeles would result in a nine-figure transfer fee.

Would the Vikings leave behind the team name, logos, colors, and records?

Probably not.  As mentioned above, the deal to keep the Browns in Cleveland resulted from Art Modell’s unconventional, unilateral effort to move.  Also, the NFL planned to expand from 30 to 32 teams at the time the Browns moves to Baltimore.  The NFL currently doesn’t plan to expand, especially not in North America.

Most important, Minnesota wouldn’t get an expansion team without a new stadium.  And the reluctance to build a new stadium is what could cause the Vikings to leave.  So if they’re not going to build a new stadium now, there’s no reason to think they’ll do it later.

In other words, no matter how poorly the nickname may fit with the team’s next location, the Vikings will most likely remain the Vikings.

Why have the Vikings suddenly become so aggressive about possibly moving?

The Vikings had practiced patience for years.  Some think that the “Minnesota Nice” approach was selected under the theory that it would work better than a more blunt, matter-of-fact, anti-Field of Dreams “if you don’t build it, we will leave” strategy.  Others believe the Vikings simply wanted the media to do the team’s dirty work, reading the tea leaves and supplying the “or else” without the team having to do it.

The truth is that the language of the relocation policy, which expressly requires good-faith efforts to resolve the situation, forced the Vikings to try to get a new stadium deal without making threats or being unreasonable.  But to the extent that folks in Minnesota government believe that the Vikings haven’t taken a strong stand because they’ll eventually kick more and more (and more) money onto the table until the two circles of the Venn diagram kiss, a league source with knowledge of the dynamics explained to PFT on Thursday that Zygi Wilf, a successful real estate developer, can’t afford to cave when dealing with a public body; if he does, the public bodies with whom he routinely deals in other contexts will pounce on that high-profile show of weakness.

Why does the NFL build new stadiums with public money?

Because it can.

Some call it leverage.  Others call it extortion.  As NFL executive V.P. Eric Grubman told PFT Live on Thursday, the league regards it as competition.

Regardless, if one place won’t kick in significant public money to keep the NFL, someone else will kick in significant public money to get the NFL, either directly through cash contributions or indirectly through tax credits and other incentives.  Or through that Private Seat Licenses and/or higher ticket prices that a larger metropolitan area has the population density (i.e., enough really rich people) to support.

Notwithstanding the label applied, it’s a basic business reality of dealing with the most popular sports league in America.  With 32 teams and little or no chances at expansion, places that don’t have an NFL team but that want an NFL team will have to target an NFL team that already has a home.

Should public money be used to build NFL stadiums?

That’s for the people of a given city/state and their elected representatives to decide.  Public money gets spent on all sorts of things.  Sometimes, it’s a good investment.  Sometimes, it isn’t.

The presence of the NFL carries with it prestige and national legitimacy, along with an influx in local hotel, parking, and restaurant revenue on game days.  If that’s important to a given area and public money is necessary to make that happen, then the use of public money can be justified â€" especially if the facility will attract non-football events like concerts and conventions and a Final Four and other major activities.

Would a new Vikings stadium host a Super Bowl?

Probably, but the NFL can’t commit to that in advance.  Only the owners can award Super Bowls; that said, a habit has emerged over the past 35 years.  A new domed stadium (or an open-air venue in a warm-weather location . . . or New Jersey) results in a Super Bowl, if the city otherwise has the infrastructure to host the event (or, in the case of Jacksonville, even if it doesn’t).  The Metrodome hosted Super Bowl XXVI, the Silverdome and Ford Field in Detroit each got a Super Bowl.  Most recently, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis hosted Super Bowl XLVI.

The money and the prestige coming from the hosting of a Super Bowl would help justify a large chunk of the public money devoted to the project, if the people in Minnesota choose to do that.

Where is this heading?

At this point, it’s unclear.  But the NFL and the Vikings will push for an answer now, before the current legislative sessions ends.  And the league and the team are prepared to interpret no answer as a “no” answer.

The biggest problem with the current deal arises from the effort to avoid the Minneapolis City Charter, which requires a public vote for any contribution in excess of $10 million to a sports facility.  The House committee that recently killed the deal was troubled by the apparent circumvention of the charter provision.  Even if the stadium bill becomes law and the Minneapolis City Council officially signs off on the plan, any taxpayer in Minneapolis could challenge in court the funding mechanism as a failure to comply with the charter.

And so, just as the Governor and the Mayor of Minneapolis and the legislative leaders underestimated the willingness of the Legislature to reject their deal now, the folks who came up with this plan possibly have given too little consideration to the possibility that a judge could kill it later.

The simple reality seems to be that the people in Minnesota either don’t want to kick in enough money to get it done, or they don’t realize that the NFL is serious about leaving.  If it’s the former, that’s their prerogative.  If it’s the latter, they need to wake up, now.

   

QuoteWhile I'm thinking about it.... Senator Scott Dibble has it right, sort of.

“I share your unease about the Vikings’ threats to leave Minnesota, but I remain concerned about spending scarce public resources on a project that is too expensive, could be largely privately financed, and adds no net new economic activity to our region or state (as has been repeatedly proven by economic studies of sp...orts stadium subsidies),” Sen. Dibble writes. “The Vikings have asked for the single largest taxpayer subsidy for any professional sports stadium in recent U.S. history, while at the same time refusing to disclose financial information that is required of all other projects receiving taxpayer money. Elected officials are accountable to safeguard public dollars, making the Vikings’ refusal to negotiate in a forthright manner unacceptable. This monopoly industry, filled with millionaire players and billionaire owners, should be more forthcoming with all of us if it wants $600 million in public money. We do know is that the Vikings and its owner will receive over $80 million per year just on broadcasting rights. That will jump to over $150 million per year under the contracts that begin in 2014.

“The current price tag of the stadium is too high. A stadium could be built for much less, the Vikings could increase their share of the cost, and the business community could step up to help with financing. Other NFL markets have built stadiums with 70-90% private financing. The proposed stadium in Los Angeles (which is, in fact, many years from being built, if ever) is being 100% privately financed.

“Any scheme that involves expanding gambling of any sort is wholly inadvisable. Minnesota would just be making the same mistake that other states have, creating a new dependence on gambling taxes that have proven to be unreliable and insufficient to offset the added costs from gambling associated social problems and crime. Furthermore, no new net revenue is created from this source. The only economic result is that the already fixed amount of entertainment dollars people spend in our region and state are shifted around.

“I remain a strong supporter of public investments that actually expand prosperity and improve economic productivity: education, early childhood, research, infrastructure, health, the environment, and workforce development. I would be willing to consider a compromise on this matter is if the debate over paying for a stadium would open up the political and policy potential of making investments in those things that would make a real difference for our future.”

QuoteNow I do believe that Ziggy could/should kick in some more money, but even though the Senator says it's a net zero investment, he's totally wrong. How many businesses depend on the NFL to bring fans into Minneapolis 12 times a year? How much money do the Vikings currently contribute to the area in forms of charities, public services and overall awareness? What is the actual cost benefit of being only 1 of 32 cities to host an NFL team? Can it be quantified?10 hours ago · LikeUnlike.

QuoteEither way, this guy, Sen. Dibble is doing what he perceives as the right thing to do and either way it goes, my bet is he doesn't get re-elected. 1 of 32 of 15,000 (approx). If you have the NFL then you're the .0002% of the country that the other 99.9998 wants to be.

Remember that Jacksonville, when it's our turn to rebuild

Quote from: tufsu1 on April 20, 2012, 09:01:01 AM
note the dig on Jacksonville and its ability to host a Super Bowl...just one more reason it will be many years (if ever) before this city hosts another one

Quote from: Tacachale on April 20, 2012, 08:49:46 AM
^This is the height of outrage. A monopoly extorting its own exceptionally loyal fans for hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. Absolutely ludicrous.

Quote from: BridgeTroll on April 20, 2012, 10:33:40 AM

Quote from: Tacachale on April 20, 2012, 08:49:46 AM
^This is the height of outrage. A monopoly extorting its own exceptionally loyal fans for hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. Absolutely ludicrous.

Really?  You do rememmber the Metrodome roof collapsed a year ago.  The place is a dump.  Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota simply need to decide if they want an NFL team or not.  If their priorities are elsewhere... then that is the choice they make... and dont be surprised if the team moves.

QuoteYes, the Metrodome is a problem, but not one that requires half a billion in taxpayer dollars to fix. Especially when those same fans have just spent $400 million on a baseball field. Especially as the current stadium is only 30 years old. And especially when other teams are successful in much less expensive stadiums. This is ridiculous even by big time sports standards.

Quote from: Tacachale on April 20, 2012, 10:49:29 AM

Quote from: BridgeTroll on April 20, 2012, 10:33:40 AM

Quote from: Tacachale on April 20, 2012, 08:49:46 AM
^This is the height of outrage. A monopoly extorting its own exceptionally loyal fans for hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. Absolutely ludicrous.

Really?  You do rememmber the Metrodome roof collapsed a year ago.  The place is a dump.  Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota simply need to decide if they want an NFL team or not.  If their priorities are elsewhere... then that is the choice they make... and dont be surprised if the team moves.

Yes, the Metrodome is a problem, but not one that requires half a billion in taxpayer dollars to fix. Especially when those same fans have just spent $400 million on a baseball field. Especially as the current stadium is only 30 years old. And especially when other teams are successful in much less expensive stadiums. This is ridiculous even by big time sports standards.

You all know I love my Jags and the NFL. But let's not be blind. The only way they're able to do things like this is because (1) they have a sheer monopoly over professional football that they fight tooth and nail to uphold, and (2) said monopoly enables them to demand ungodly amounts of taxpayer dollars to function as they do. This would not be tolerated from any other type of company or quality-of-life expenditure.

Quote from: BridgeTroll on April 20, 2012, 10:33:40 AM

Quote from: Tacachale on April 20, 2012, 08:49:46 AM
^This is the height of outrage. A monopoly extorting its own exceptionally loyal fans for hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. Absolutely ludicrous.

Really?  You do rememmber the Metrodome roof collapsed a year ago.  The place is a dump.  Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota simply need to decide if they want an NFL team or not.  If their priorities are elsewhere... then that is the choice they make... and dont be surprised if the team moves.

Quote from: copperfiend on April 20, 2012, 11:48:19 AM

Quote from: BridgeTroll on April 20, 2012, 10:33:40 AM

Quote from: Tacachale on April 20, 2012, 08:49:46 AM
^This is the height of outrage. A monopoly extorting its own exceptionally loyal fans for hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. Absolutely ludicrous.

Really?  You do rememmber the Metrodome roof collapsed a year ago.  The place is a dump.  Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota simply need to decide if they want an NFL team or not.  If their priorities are elsewhere... then that is the choice they make... and dont be surprised if the team moves.

The U of Minnesota just got a brand new $300 million dollar stadium and the state paid for a good portion of it. There had to have been a way they could have gotten a stadium built that could have been home to the Vikings and the University. One similar to the partnerships between the Buccaneers & USF, the Dolphins & U of Miami and the Steelers & Pitt.

QuoteA plan for a joint Minnesota Vikings/University of Minnesota football stadium was proposed in 2002, but differences over how the stadium would be designed and managed, as well as state budget constraints, led to the plan's failure.

QuoteTCF Bank Stadium is a horseshoe-style stadium which organizers said would have a "traditional collegiate look and feel". The first phase of the construction includes approximately 50,805 seats,

QuoteThe stadium's cost totals $288.5 million of which the university will pay 52 percent and the state of Minnesota the remaining 48 percent. Including interest the state's cost is about $10 million per year or about $1.7 million per game for 25 years.[34] About $50 million of the state's portion goes to the purchase of 2,840 acres (11.5 km²) of undeveloped university land, part of the Rosemount Research Center in Dakota County, over 25 years by the state of Minnesota who will assume responsibility for risks if the site requires environmental cleanup.[35][36] The university retains its right to use the land for its "research, education and engagement mission" in perpetuity.[37]

The university's share is $111 million[33] or 52 percent.[38] TCF Financial Corporation of Wayzata, Minnesota is contributing $35 million over 25 years in exchange for the TCF Bank naming rights and other agreements. The university projected earnings of $2.5 million per year or $96 million over the life of agreements with TCF that will include marketing debit cards to alumni and ticketholders.[39][40] If unable to fulfill its contractual obligations, TCF Financial Corporation must propose an alternate name subject to the approval of the university.[41] Other corporate donations have been pledged as well, including Best Buy ($3 million),[42] Dairy Queen ($2.5 million),[43] Target Corporation ($2 million),[44] Federated Insurance, General Mills, and Norwest Equity Partners.[45]

The Tribal Nations Plaza, named after the Shakopee Mdewakanton who donated a total of $14.5 million to the university, the largest gift in Gopher athletics historyThe university is also accepting donations from individuals. Initially donations were only being sought from "high-end" donors (those contributing $100,000 or more), but in June 2008 the university expanded the fundraising effort to gather smaller donations as well.[46][47][48] On May 21, 2009, the University announced they had received a $6 million donation from T. Denny Sanford, meaning the university had achieved its goal of $86 million in private fund raising.[49]. The remainder of the university's portion will come from a $12.50 per semester student fee[35] ($25 per year) and game day parking revenue.

Even though the cost of building TCF Bank Stadium originated at $248.7 million, changes in the construction planning raised the cost to $288.5 million.[13] The university has vowed that even if the stadium cost rises again, it will not seek more money from the state nor increase the student fees any further.[44]

It is important to note that the University has been charging all U of M students a mandatory Stadium Fee of $12.50 every semester since planning for the project began, and is continuing this fee despite the stadium being finished. The cost for the stadium was $288.5 million of which the university only had to pay 52 percent, and with an general average of more than 50,000 students in a given year, in only one semester the university makes more than $625,000 from the stadium fee, meaning they receive more than $6.25 million every 5 years from students. While $12.50 may not seem like much, it means that the university has forced every student to fund the TCF Stadium, despite the fact that many students were vehemently opposed to its construction.[

Quote from: tufsu1 on April 20, 2012, 02:19:09 PM
college teams prefer to be on campus....don't think for a minute that USF hasn't explored building one at some point....just like UCF did.

Quote from: copperfiend on April 20, 2012, 02:53:05 PM

Quote from: tufsu1 on April 20, 2012, 02:19:09 PM
college teams prefer to be on campus....don't think for a minute that USF hasn't explored building one at some point....just like UCF did.

Why would they? At Raymond James, they have suites, club seats and other money makers. I have been to a few games at the UCF stadium. It's nice that is on campus but it is very much a bare-bones erector-set of a stadium. It's a glorified high school stadium.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on April 24, 2012, 10:16:22 PM
If they dont, I will join the FIREland campaign with the dolphin fans. LOL!!!

QuoteHaha, Tania Ganguli is on top of it,

Quote from: mtraininjax on April 25, 2012, 07:13:52 AM

QuoteHaha, Tania Ganguli is on top of it,

The only thing Tania is good at is converting Oxygen into Carbon Dioxide, she has yet to write a column about a solid Jags pick in this year's draft. Vito runs circles around her and I am not sure why she is still on the beat after her "public" bar incident.

Quote from: mtraininjax on April 25, 2012, 07:13:52 AM

QuoteHaha, Tania Ganguli is on top of it,

I am not sure why she is still on the beat after her "public" bar incident.

QuoteTales from the war room
How the Packers angered Favre, ignored Romo and nearly missed Rodgers
Originally Published: April 24, 2012 By Andrew Brandt

The war room has become synonymous with power and strategy in the NFL. Who wouldn't want a peek inside?

At the Packers, we actually had two rooms. The traditional one featured the usual measurables -- height, weight, speed, vertical. Then there was a financial room that I designed focused on salary, cap number, acceleration, contract year, agent and team charts showing cash/cap by position, offense/defense and trends. This space was a favorite of Commissioner Roger Goodell and the late Gene Upshaw, who wanted to design a similar room at NFLPA headquarters.

The war room also featured "ready" lists and depth charts, although its most celebrated use is the draft, where decisions affect franchises' fortunes.


Setup

We had a setup in Green Bay that I believe is common, one that I saw followed in Philadelphia when I consulted there. The general manager -- Ted Thompson -- sat closest to the draft board, flanked by head coach Mike McCarthy and other trusted personnel advisors. During my time it included John Schneider, now general manager of the Seahawks, and Reggie McKenzie, now general manager of the Raiders, next to McCarthy working the phones for trades. Nearby are doctors and trainers with a number system that goes from 1 to 4. One means completely clean physically, and four would be a complete fail. Sometimes doctors are put on the spot with questions such as, "He'll make it through his rookie contract, right, Doc?"

Also close by was the cap/contract person -- me. My role was to advise on cap implications of trades and glean information from agents. And, of course, there's someone on the phone with a team official at the draft in New York -- we sent our video and equipment men -- handing in the "card."

Some teams were more restrictive about allowing people into the room. I heard that Al Davis was usually alone making selections. Most teams, however, allow staff to share the day. Ownership is usually present, although most leave soon after the first selection.


Resisting impulse

The best decision-makers, in my view, "trust the board." Players have been poked, prodded, analyzed and discussed for seven months. It's time to let the board do the work.
The biggest downfall of decision-makers is becoming impulsive and emotional, straying from the board. Nothing deflates the morale of scouting staffs faster.
Every player beyond the first pick thinks he should've been drafted higher. Ego and insecurity dominate draft weekend.

We always called a player before selecting him to, as general manager Ron Wolf used to say, "make sure he's still alive." Although they were all alive, there were times we had to locate the player through agents, girlfriends or relatives.
I called the agent for every drafted player to acknowledge the selection, and I inevitably heard how lucky we were to get the player where we did. That line is certainly part of the agent handbook.


Getting Aaron Rodgers


In 2005, all of the defensive players we targeted -- including DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears, both picked by Dallas -- were off the board, leaving us staring at Aaron Rodgers, the only player left with a first-round grade. Although we had the most durable quarterback in football, Brett Favre, we decided to "trust the board."

I called Rodgers' agent, Mike Sullivan. I've been an agent, and I felt for Mike. They sat in that green room for six hours watching all the other players be selected, left alone as the catering staff cleared tables around them. I had to keep them on hold another excruciating 10 minutes to see whether the phone rang with a trade offer for the pick (it didn't). I think about how things would be different had Ware or Spears been available or if we had received an offer for that pick.


A trade (almost)

When trades are made, there may be two negotiations: one about trade compensation, and one about financial compensation.

In 2007, the Raiders made Randy Moss available. We were interested provided we could agree on trade terms and compensation. The Patriots were interested, too.

Moss demanded a one-year deal so he could hit the market after the season and recoup some lost value, but we insisted on a two-year deal. We did not want to be a temporary stop for him before he made another big contract elsewhere. When New England relented on the one-year term, Moss was a Patriot.

Favre was livid. I spent the rest of the draft listening to Bus Cook, his agent, express Favre's anger, along with threats to not show up. I knew Favre had long dreamed of playing with Moss, but I told him that Greg Jennings would be a star in time. Favre said he didn't have time. I explained our method of drafting and developing players, but it only served to deepen his resentment of a general manager who did not welcome his input the way previous regimes had.


The Undrafteds

After the three-day marathon of the draft, the action really heats up. Teams have recruited "priority free agents" for weeks, and every agent's response is the same: "If you're interested, draft him!" When the draft ends, the feeding frenzy begins, a chaotic scene where teams have multiple players on the line while agents are doing the same with several teams, a risky game of musical jobs.

I remember once agreeing on a contract with a player and then noting in the news that another team had signed him. This player and agent didn't realize he could sign with only one team!

I also remember one of our scouts yelling to the group in 2003 about a quarterback from Eastern Illinois: "Anyone want to sign this Romo guy for free? He's from Wisconsin." He got no response.

I always thought undrafted free agency should be a matching system similar to the one for medical residents and hospitals: Players would submit their desired teams and teams submit their desired players in a high-tech version of "The Dating Game."

The undrafted free agent frenzy ends within an hour, and the draft is over. The phones keep ringing with agents looking for favors for their unsigned players, but it's usually too late. The incoming rookie class arrives for minicamp in a few days, and the cycle begins anew.

QuoteShe scoops Vito & Gene regularly

Quote from: mtraininjax on April 26, 2012, 07:23:24 AM

QuoteShe scoops Vito & Gene regularly

Please, she could not scoop soft serve ice cream, if she tried.

Quote from: Tacachale on April 25, 2012, 08:34:44 AM
I don't understand the hate here. Tanya's a solid reporter. Obviously the bar incident was nonsense.

• The dolphins may be looking at another crappy season. There is not one bright spot on their offense. And with them naming the rookie the starting QB, and they have ZERO receivers, I hope they dont have a Jaguar 2011 season. They would have a little hope if Garrard was the starter, but it looks like he may be cut after his knee injury.


• I think the Browns arrow is pointing up. I think they have a good groups of guys now. I actually see alot of them in us. I think we overall have the better roster, but they are a team trying to come out the cellar, just like us.

QuoteDavid Garrard says he’s getting released
Posted by Josh Alper on September 4, 2012, 3:13 PM EDT

APQuarterback David Garrard returned to practice for the Dolphins on Monday for the first time since having arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

The team must not have liked what they saw all that much, because Garrard told Jay Glazer of FOX Sports that he’ll be getting released on Tuesday. Garrard admitted after the practice that he wasn’t all the way recovered from the operation.

“They didn’t want me to, and I didn’t feel like I was quite ready to move with guys flying around me,” Garrard said, via the Miami Herald. “But I feel good. I know I’m not quite exactly where I want to be, but it felt good just being back out there, realizing I can still drop and do all of those things.”

The news doesn’t really qualify as a major surprise. It’s not even as big of a surprise as the Dolphins keeping four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster in the first place. If Garrard and Matt Moore were both on the roster in Week One, their entire salaries would be guaranteed and that’s not the best way to allocate funds or roster spots.

Speaking of roster spots, there’s no word on how the Dolphins plan to fill the one vacated by Garrard. As soon as we know, we’ll pass the information along to the rest of PFT Planet.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/category/rumor-mill/

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 04, 2012, 03:48:48 PM
Deja Vu.

Here we are, 2 days before the start of the season and.....

BAM!

QuoteDavid Garrard says he’s getting released
Posted by Josh Alper on September 4, 2012, 3:13 PM EDT

APQuarterback David Garrard returned to practice for the Dolphins on Monday for the first time since having arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

The team must not have liked what they saw all that much, because Garrard told Jay Glazer of FOX Sports that he’ll be getting released on Tuesday. Garrard admitted after the practice that he wasn’t all the way recovered from the operation.

“They didn’t want me to, and I didn’t feel like I was quite ready to move with guys flying around me,” Garrard said, via the Miami Herald. “But I feel good. I know I’m not quite exactly where I want to be, but it felt good just being back out there, realizing I can still drop and do all of those things.”

The news doesn’t really qualify as a major surprise. It’s not even as big of a surprise as the Dolphins keeping four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster in the first place. If Garrard and Matt Moore were both on the roster in Week One, their entire salaries would be guaranteed and that’s not the best way to allocate funds or roster spots.

Speaking of roster spots, there’s no word on how the Dolphins plan to fill the one vacated by Garrard. As soon as we know, we’ll pass the information along to the rest of PFT Planet.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/category/rumor-mill/

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 04, 2012, 04:50:36 PM
He's the prime example I use when discussing MJD's contract situation - you don't pay people based on past performance (though they may deserve it).

Garrard had the stars align and was rewarded with a hefty, new contract and expectations that he couldn't ever expect to meet.  The same goes for M80, just to a lesser extent - he was and never will be the #1 guy - able to carry the receiving corp on his shoulders, but when positioned correctly, he's a solid WR for any NFL team.

I do agree that we could have handled the situation better - cutting him after announcing him right after the luncheon will never be a good way to conduct business, but that was, IMO, more JDR than anything.  I believe that he basically told Gene that Garrard wasn't going to see the field, and Gene didn't have an option but to dump him - or else they would've owed the entire salary for the year.   I don't know how much his back had to do with anything or if at all.

Quote from: I-10east on September 06, 2012, 07:05:56 PM
It's official, the CAR at TB game is blacked out at Raymond James, even WITH the capacity bailout (that Jax will not need BTW). Talk about a franchise that's at rock bottom right now; So the complacent "TB will never move because the Super Bowl in Ray J" mentality will only go so far, just ask Cleveland, Baltimore, and Houston.

QuoteYou see the media does not make a big deal about Tampa's blackouts because they are not Jacksonville.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on September 06, 2012, 09:16:51 PM
I-10,

Im sure you fired up about Adrian Peterson's comments that the Jags would be "terrible" without MJD. I guess his little running back butt buddy is upset because we didnt give MJD a new contract.

Quote from: mtraininjax on September 06, 2012, 11:51:24 PM
The NFL is all about TV money and until we lift our profile with more people, Tampa and Miamis of the world can thumb their nose at us and we have to deal with it.

The NFL stands for MONEY and lots of it. TV rules the NFL.

Quote from: mtraininjax on September 06, 2012, 11:51:24 PM

QuoteYou see the media does not make a big deal about Tampa's blackouts because they are not Jacksonville.

Apples and Oranges here, we are the 50th largest media market in the United States, shocking I know, places in the US without a NFL team??? Tampa/St. Pete was listed as the 14th largest media market. So the Bucs suck at selling tickets, that stadium is a joke compared to ours. The NFL is all about TV money and until we lift our profile with more people, Tampa and Miamis of the world can thumb their nose at us and we have to deal with it.

The NFL stands for MONEY and lots of it. TV rules the NFL.

Quote from: BridgeTroll on September 14, 2012, 07:45:38 AM
Rumors of the Packers demise were... premature.

Da Bears... are who we THOUGHT they were...

8)

Quote from: Steve_Lovett on September 25, 2012, 12:46:57 AM
Ennis - It wasn't just the last play, but the last play was emblematic of the whole game. There was a phantom pass interference call earlier... And don't forget the '05 Super Bowl when the Seahawks were robbed by the officials vs the Steelers.

It's an imperfect game...

Quote

NFL linemen say Nike's tight uniforms make them feel fat
7:40 AM, Oct 5, 2012   |   0  comments

San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Alex Boone (75) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. (Photo: Jeff Hanisch, US PRESSWIRE )
 

- A A A +

Written by
USA Today
FILED UNDER
FRIDAY HEADLINES

Neighbor saves life of woman shot in the head

Man convicted of allowing sex offender to abuse 9-year-old

Struck by fear

2 in custody after Glynn County home invasion


Automakers take fresh look at hydrogen fuel cells

Nurse sentenced for tax fraud

City of Jacksonville to host 'Week of Valor' to honor veterans

Florida Boy Scouts of America employee arrested for accepting bribes

Detroit police chief suspended over alleged affair

Taco the lovelorn emu strikes out during Cape Canaveral stroll



Nike's new NFL uniforms boast of a "body-contoured fit," which is great for athletes whose bodies are fit for contouring, but not so exciting for big guys in the trenches with sizable girth and prominent guts.

The Wall Street Journal talked to some of the league's bigger players about the tight-fitting jerseys and found that they're about as popular as replacement refs and vegetables.

"I hate them," 300-pound Alex Boone of the San Francisco 49ers told the newspaper. "They are built for thin guys. It makes me look like I have big old love handles."

He said that when his wife saw him for the first time in the new jersey, she said it looked like he ate a small baby. And by "small baby" she must have meant "oversized Thanksgiving turkey and three basketballs."

Look, no change in fabric or cut is going to make sloppy offensive lineman look like Calvin Johnson, but guys like Boone have a point. Unlike, say, B.J. Raji (left), Boone's size is more thickness than corpulence. He looks as athletic as a 6'8", 300-pound lineman can be.

Even with that, Boone still looks like a sack of potatoes. The Rajis of the world look like chubby babies wearing an outgrown onesie.

Nike told WSJ that its jerseys are designed for players of all sizes.

USA Today

Quote from: thelakelander on October 14, 2012, 08:41:58 AM
Topic of ESPN's Outside the Lines will be about fan violence in the NFL.  I'm sure this stems from last week's incident.

Quote from: thelakelander on October 14, 2012, 08:41:58 AM
Topic of ESPN's Outside the Lines will be about fan violence in the NFL.  I'm sure this stems from last week's incident.

QuoteGuest Column: 'Fireman' Ed steps away, but not as fan
ED ANZALONE
NEW YORK

On Thanksgiving night, I left the Jets game before halftime. This was the second time in a row I left before there were four zeroes on the clock. We have had much worse teams than this and I never left before. I pride myself in that, because I am not a quitter.

I decided to leave Thursday because the confrontations with other Jets fans have become more common, even though most Jets fans are fantastic.

This is an indication of how society has lost and is continuing to lose respect for one another. The stadium has become divided because of the quarterback controversy as well. The fact that I chose to wear a Mark Sanchez jersey this year and that fans think I am on the payroll â€" which is an outright lie â€" have made these confrontations more frequent. Whether it’s in the stands, the bathroom or the parking lot, these confrontations are happening on a consistent basis.

Although I can “hold my own,” I do not want to lose my temper and make a stupid mistake. I have a responsibility to the families and kids that enjoy the game and Fireman Ed.

I have enjoyed my time in chanting the greatest chant in all of sports. I have enjoyed meeting all the wonderful Jets fans around the world and look forward to the day we all can raise the Lombardi Trophy as one and celebrate a world championship down the Canyon of Heroes!

I will always love the Jets because they are in my heart, and I will attend games as usual, just not as Fireman Ed. God bless and, as always, let’s go Jets!

http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1156831--guest-column-fireman-ed-steps-away-but-not-as-fan

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on November 26, 2012, 09:33:22 AM
His name wasn't mentioned, but I wonder if the 'confrontational' fans are Tebow-ites?

QuoteGuest Column: 'Fireman' Ed steps away, but not as fan
ED ANZALONE
NEW YORK

On Thanksgiving night, I left the Jets game before halftime. This was the second time in a row I left before there were four zeroes on the clock. We have had much worse teams than this and I never left before. I pride myself in that, because I am not a quitter.

I decided to leave Thursday because the confrontations with other Jets fans have become more common, even though most Jets fans are fantastic.

This is an indication of how society has lost and is continuing to lose respect for one another. The stadium has become divided because of the quarterback controversy as well. The fact that I chose to wear a Mark Sanchez jersey this year and that fans think I am on the payroll â€" which is an outright lie â€" have made these confrontations more frequent. Whether it’s in the stands, the bathroom or the parking lot, these confrontations are happening on a consistent basis.

Although I can “hold my own,” I do not want to lose my temper and make a stupid mistake. I have a responsibility to the families and kids that enjoy the game and Fireman Ed.

I have enjoyed my time in chanting the greatest chant in all of sports. I have enjoyed meeting all the wonderful Jets fans around the world and look forward to the day we all can raise the Lombardi Trophy as one and celebrate a world championship down the Canyon of Heroes!

I will always love the Jets because they are in my heart, and I will attend games as usual, just not as Fireman Ed. God bless and, as always, let’s go Jets!

http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1156831--guest-column-fireman-ed-steps-away-but-not-as-fan

Quote from: I-10east on November 26, 2012, 05:21:20 PM
Boy, tonight's MNF definitely is an important marquee match up, Panthers vs Eagles....Oh wait... I think that it's time for MNF to consider employing a flex schedule.

QuoteMore evidence of Greg Jennings to Miami?

There are already plenty of reasons to link the Miami Dolphins with pending free-agent receiver Greg Jennings of the Green Bay Packers this offseason.

Jennings once played under Miami rookie head coach Joe Philbin and knows the West Coast offense well. Miami also has plenty of cap room and will be looking for a No. 1 receiver.

However, a family member of Jennings provided further evidence last weekend that Miami could be on the receiver’s radar. Jennings’ sister, Valyencia, reportedly went off on her Twitter account (which is now deleted) a few days ago during Green Bay’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The USA Today captured all the tweets.

“Who can make a play @GregJennings can. He’s the best freakin [sic] receiver these clowns got,” Valyencia Jennings tweeted out of frustration. “Now take your talents to south beach and get paid.”

Ouch! But there is more.

“@GregJennings ball out so you can leave this team,” Valyencia Jennings tweeted of the Packers. “They will miss u when your [sic] gone. It’s all good bye Packers. Cheap team, can’t afford him.”

Although Greg Jennings can’t and won’t say anything about the Dolphins while he is still under contract, you have to think Miami has come up at some point with the Jennings family. Valyencia didn’t just bring up the Dolphins Sunday out of thin air over every other team. Greg Jennings and his family have to be aware of what the Dolphins need, his connection with Philbin and the money Miami is willing to spend. It would make sense for Jennings and the Dolphins to be near the top of each other's offseason wish list.

In fact, Miami could have its choice of top receivers in free agency. In addition to Jennings, receivers Mike Wallace and Dwayne Bowe also are pending free agents and make sense for the Dolphins for different reasons. But Jennings would have the shortest learning curve and fits right into the Dolphins offense.

Quote
ALTERNATE UNIVERSE UPDATE: Dolphins Sure Glad They Gave Drew Brees Second Physical
January 4, 2013      Â· 

By PFM Staff

(article premise suggested by PFM reader “Jaigunda”)

As the 2013 NFL playoffs begin, the Miami Dolphins, aiming for their 3rd straight Super Bowl championship, sure are glad they gave quarterback Drew Brees a second chance at that physical back in 2006, sources close to the team confirmed Friday.


Also, the Florida sunshine cleared up that thing on his face too.


“Whew. To think we almost let one of the greatest QBs ever to play the game slip through our fingers,” said Dolphin coach Nick Saban, now in his 8th season. “I don’t want to think where this team would’ve been without old number nine in that huddle.”



Brees, an unrestricted free agent in 2006 after his rookie contract with the San Diego Chargers expired, almost left Miami without a contract after his initial visit with the team. A still-healing shoulder injury caused Brees to fail his first physical, and concern that he might never play at a high level again caused the Dolphins to hesitate on signing the signal caller.



“Yeah, he’d already left the team’s headquarters, and was heading to the airport to visit some other team. The Saints maybe? I can’t recall for sure. But thankfully, we came to our senses and got him on the phone before he got to his plane. We told him a talent like his was too rare to let get away, shoulder fear or not. Then we upped our offer to him, to show him our confidence, and he was signed within the hour. He passed the second physical we gave him with flying colors, and the rest is championship history”



With Brees safely on the roster, the Dolphins became an attractive option for other high quality free agents such as Jonathan Vilma, Carl Nicks, Jahri Evans and Darren Sproles, all of whom have helped keep Miami at the top of the league’s standings year after year.



“You know, I’ve actually had other job offers since I’ve been here,” continued Saban. “I’m not at liberty to reveal from whom, but let’s just say that I’m glad the ‘tide’ never rolled me away from Miami, if you know what I’m saying. With a QB like Drew, a team of red elephants couldn’t drag me away from this squad.”


“What? You guys AGAIN?” jokes the President during Dolphins’ 3rd trip to White House


As the Dolphins’ have piled up the wins, other AFC East teams have been left in their dust. Both the Bills and Jets have shuffled through a steady stream of head coaches in unsuccessful attempts to challenge Miami’s supremacy. Even three-time Super Bowl champ Bill Belichick has not been immune to the Brees ripple effect, as the former Patriot coach, now in his third season as Oakland’s defensive coordinator, was fired by New England in 2009 for failing to solve Bree’s high powered offensive juggernaut.



“It’s been a joy to watch Drew eclipse some of my records,” marveled former Miami great Dan Marino. “Honestly, it would’ve killed me to have seen him break those marks in any other uniform. But knowing that he’s wearing Dolphin colors while he’s rewriting the record books, and bringing home those Lombardi trophies just does my heart good.”



After placing second in the Drew Brees sweepstakes, the New Orleans Saints meanwhile have continued a decades-long losing streak into the 2010′s.



Needing a QB for the 2006 season, the team signed journeyman Daunte Culpepper, an experiment that lasted just one season. The list of other quarterbacks who have failed to succeed in New Orleans includes David Gerrard, Billy Volek, Jeff Garcia, and of course Brett Favre, who came out of retirement to lead the team in 2010, and who was having a magnificent season until the infamous “Bounty” game in December, when Vikings DE Jared Allen ended Favre’s season (and career) with a vicious cheap shot that was the result of Minnesota defensive coordinator’s Gregg Williams’ “pay-for-injury” program that later resulted in heavy sanctions for the entire Vikings franchise.



While New Orleans has continued to be a laughing stock, some observers have suggested that the team’s fortunes might have been drastically different had the push to land Brees been successful.



“Yeah, I had just taken that job back in ’06,” said former Saints head coach Sean Payton, now in his third season with Dallas. “I really pushed hard to get Drew, but unfortunately the Dolphins insisted on that second physical, and we never got a chance to sign him. I’d like to think we might have done great things together if it had worked out.”



Instead, Payton has spent the past three seasons working with Cowboys QB Tony Romo who, despite putting up gaudy statistics in Payton’s QB-friendly offense,has continued to make crucial mistakes at the worst possible time, and some have suggested that Romo might simply have an inescapable destiny as a big-game “choker.”


http://profootballmock.com/alternate-universe-update-miami-dolphins-aiming-for-3rd-straight-super-bowl-really-glad-they-gave-drew-brees-second-chance-at-that-physical/

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on January 05, 2013, 10:59:44 AM
Just think Lake....

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE UPDATE: Dolphins Sure Glad They Gave Drew Brees Second Physical

Quote from: I-10east on January 21, 2013, 08:31:00 AM
^^Even after the Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2000, they still talk about how Jax shouldn't have gotten the expansion team instead of them, and they had to take the Cleveland Browns from Cleveland. It's a constant on sites like PFT. I can think of countless examples. It's not like we are on their minds constantly, BUT if someone was to mention Jax to a Baltimoron, I wouldn't expect positive things to be said.

Quote from: fsquid on January 21, 2013, 09:10:01 AM
Glad Kahn shipped that Niners game to London, who would want to watch them here in Jacksonville?

Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on January 21, 2013, 08:47:30 AM

Quote from: I-10east on January 21, 2013, 08:31:00 AM
^^Even after the Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2000, they still talk about how Jax shouldn't have gotten the expansion team instead of them, and they had to take the Cleveland Browns from Cleveland. It's a constant on sites like PFT. I can think of countless examples. It's not like we are on their minds constantly, BUT if someone was to mention Jax to a Baltimoron, I wouldn't expect positive things to be said.

I'm from Maryland and can vouch for what I-10 is saying.  Even if I weren't, the frequent bitter and derogatory references on message boards et al. from Baltimore fans about Jacksonville and how it shouldn't have gotten the expansion team is sufficient evidence.

"The Band That Wouldn't Die" ESPN documentary presents further evidence of it.  And at the Jaguars-Ravens Monday night game in 2011, a number of Ravens fans there wouldn't shut up about it.

Quote

Ross says AEG bid doesn’t reflect intent to move Dolphins

Posted by Mike Florio on January 21, 2013, 8:17 PM EST

AP
With Dolphins owner Stephen Ross wanting to transform his team into the Lakers of the NFL, Dolphins fans now have reason to fret about Ross moving his team to the Lakers’ neighborhood.

According to Dave Hyde of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Ross has made a bid on AEG, the company intent on building a new pro football stadium in Los Angeles.  The development is creating concern that, if Ross isn’t able to persuade the local authorities in South Florida to help finance improvements to Sun Life Stadium, Ross could move the Dolphins to L.A.

“I have no interest at all in moving the Dolphins,” Ross told Hyde in an email, explaining that the effort to buy AEG is “strictly advancing our real estate, sports, entertainment and technology business.”

Still, there’s something odd about an owner of one NFL team trying to buy a company that wants to build a stadium that relies on an NFL team moving to L.A. in order to play there.  But Ross, like Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, would be abandoning a stadium Ross currently owns.

QuoteDonald Driver shone on field and off

You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool Green Bay Packers fans for 14 years.

If there had been a fake bone in Donald Driver's body, if there had been a superficial smile or a flippant remark or a moment of insincerity along the way, we'd have seen it.

Driver never let down his guard because he had no guard to let down. What you saw was what you got: a man of character and integrity, a man whose rare athleticism on the field of play was surpassed by his compassion off it.

"A lovely human being," said Jerry Kramer, a right guard in the Packers' glory years.

"I don't know if the good Lord gives out the total package all that often," said player-turned-broadcaster Larry McCarren, "but with Donald, he did."

Think about it. Is there anything not to like about Driver, who symbolically will hang up his cleats Wednesday in the Lambeau Field Atrium as the most prolific receiver in franchise history?

Even the nit-pickiest fan would be hard-pressed to find fault in a man who transformed himself from seventh-round draft choice to go-to receiver, a man who so obviously loves his family, a man who cares so deeply about his team and his community.

"He's almost too good to be true," said Gary Ellerson, who played for the Packers in the mid-1980s and is a radio personality on SportsRadio WSSP-1250. "He's absolutely awesome.

"It's tough nowadays in sports to get a guy like that. They just don't come along very often."

A Packers Fab Four

If there were a Mount Rushmore for the most popular players in Packers history, gentlemanly quarterback Bart Starr would be on it, front and center. The leader of the great Lombardi teams has been the face of the franchise for 50 years.

Starr likely would be joined by the late Ray Nitschke, a bear on the field and a teddy bear off it, and by the principled Reggie White, who helped put the team over the top in the 1990s and was admired by friend and foe.

Arguably, Driver would round out the Fab Four. In October, Forbes named him one of the 10 most popular players in the NFL based on a survey from Nielsen and E-Poll Market Research.

Packers fans have long appreciated Driver for his effort and production on the field and for his fun-loving and charismatic personality off it. From a national perspective, it didn't hurt that he played on a Super Bowl championship team and won the mirror ball trophy on "Dancing With the Stars."

"In the time I've been around, since 1973, Donald and Bart Starr are the most popular players I've seen," McCarren said. "The relationship between Donald and the general public, I don't think that is a paint-by-the-numbers project. You are either that way or you or not. At the end of the day it's got to be in you."

Everyone has a story

Brian Lammi has been Driver's marketing agent for 11 years, so there is a natural skepticism when Lammi describes his client thusly: "As good a human being as anyone I've ever met."

But the overwhelming anecdotal evidence supports Lammi. Almost everyone who has spent any amount of time with Driver has a story that illustrates his warmth, his charm or his ability to light up a room with that incandescent smile.

"One of the things I have observed is that he will stop, look you in the eye, shake your hand, say hello and pay attention to what you have to say," Kramer said. "He's not too busy or too egotistical or too in love with himself.

"Donald gives of himself and is comfortable doing it. There is an innate decency and politeness and character."

Kramer tells a story to back it up. Out celebrating in Green Bay the night William Henderson and Marco Rivera were inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame, Kramer befriended a man in a wheelchair who had won a medal at the Paralympic Games.

Driver walked past, and Kramer called him over.

"I introduce him and Donald is his normal polite self," Kramer said. "I said, 'Donald, this kid won a gold medal in the wheelchair Olympics.' Donald said, 'Wait a minute. What's your name?' The kid told him, and Donald said, 'Hey, I bought your jersey in an auction! It's at home hanging on my wall. You're an inspiration to me.'

"It was such a wonderful thing. Donald made this kid's day, his week and his month and maybe a whole lot more."

Pat Boelter, the chief marketing officer for Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, had a favorable impression of Driver the day she met him in March 2003, when he stayed 90 minutes beyond his contracted time at an autograph session because he didn't want any fans to leave disappointed.

Boelter has witnessed countless other interactions between Driver and fans over the 10 years the player has represented Goodwill.

"I have seen him at the crack of dawn and well into the evening," she said. "What you see is what you get. Not only is he one of the best receivers in Packers history, but he's a caring and kind human being off the field.

"He believes that everybody is somebody and he has an ability to connect with his fans in a very humble and gracious way."

Lammi said that when Driver has back-to-back appearances scheduled, he's often late for the second because "one more question turns into 53 more."

"Part of it is Donald is just so outgoing with people," Lammi said. "I wouldn't be able to be as constantly 'on' with fans as he is. He's the Energizer Bunny."

None of it would matter if Driver couldn't play a lick. There were serious doubts about his future in the NFL when he showed up in Green Bay in 1999 as the second of the Packers' two seventh-round picks, a skinny kid from Alcorn State who'd had a difficult childhood in Houston.

As a receiver, Driver was as green as grass. What were the odds he'd play 14 years? What were the odds he'd someday own the franchise records for receptions (743) and yards (10,137), score 61 touchdowns and rank second in regular-season games played with 205?

Incalculable.

"I remember where he came from," said Wayne Larrivee, the radio voice of the Packers since Driver's rookie season. "He was just a guy making the team because he could play special teams. He really worked on it and eventually gained Brett Favre's trust.

"He's self-made in so many ways, as a person and certainly as a player."

Limited role in 2012

Driver's final season as a Packer was not an easy one. The team was loaded at wide receiver, and he did not have a major role in the offense, catching just eight passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns.

Jeremy Ross, signed off the practice squad, was active ahead of Driver in the team's final regular-season game at Lambeau Field.

But Driver never publicly complained about his lack of playing time or criticized the coaching staff or organization. Come to think of it, has he ever put his foot in his mouth?

"You look at this season, Donald could have made things difficult for the organization, and he took the high road," Ellerson said. "That's from his upbringing. He wasn't raised with a silver spoon in his mouth, and I think he understands how far he's come. A lot of that stuff is just character."

What's next?

Driver, who turned 38 on Saturday, almost certainly will capitalize on his popularity in his post-football career.

Lammi said he and Driver have had "good conversations with folks about broadcast opportunities, both in sports and entertainment" and added that there was a "good chance (Driver) is going to be co-hosting a national show."

"We're awfully excited about the future," Lammi added. "We're not looking at this as an ending, but as the beginning of his next career."

Bob Dorfman, a sports analyst with Baker Street Advertising, said he could see Driver being successful as a sportscaster or TV personality, especially in Wisconsin.

"He's a guy who has a big following in the region and would be respected and appreciated," Dorfman said. "He can deliver a line, and I think he's fairly charismatic on camera."

Wherever he goes and whatever he does, Driver will represent the Packers just as he did for the 14 years he played for them - with grace and humility and class.

"Whether it's a formal sense or Donald just being Donald, he will always be an ambassador for the Green Bay Packers," McCarren said. "Always."

Quote

Raiders will lower seating capacity

Posted by Michael David Smith on February 6, 2013, 2:07 PM EST

Getty Images
The Raiders are taking a page out of the Jaguars’ playbook, not on the field but in the stands.

In what is being termed a “capacity adjustment,” the Raiders are planning to block off many upper-deck seats, CSNBayArea.com reports. The move is reminiscent of the tarps the Jaguars have put up in their stadium, blocking off thousands of seats that they’re unable to sell.

Although it is not yet known how many seats the Raiders will block off, it will likely give the Raiders the NFL’s lowest seating capacity. The Raiders already had the second-lowest capacity at 63,132, higher only than the Bears, who can seat 61,500 at Soldier Field.

The Raiders are expected to close “Mount Davis,” the upper deck addition that was part of the deal that got the Raiders to move back to Oakland from Los Angeles in 1996. That addition, which blocked the view of the Oakland hills that was long considered one of the nicest features of the Oakland Coliseum, has long been controversial, and the “Mount Davis” nickname was a shot at the late Raiders owner Al Davis.

The Raiders have frequently struggled to sell tickets in Oakland, and most of their home games have been blacked out. In 2012 they had only one blackout, thanks in part to the new NFL rule that allowed teams to lift blackouts while selling only 85 percent of their tickets.

Quote from: KenFSU on March 01, 2013, 01:18:25 PM
Looks like the Jets are going to bring in David Garrard.

Good for David.

I'm going to miss seeing him around town.

People in Publix always try to get him to knock Blaine Gabbert, but he never has anything but nice words about the guy.

Hope things work out for him up there.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on March 01, 2013, 02:56:33 PM
Yeah Garrad's cool. I hope he does well, but with the Jets depleted WR core, it gonna be tough. I hope they bring in some weapons for him if he gets the starting job.

Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on March 01, 2013, 03:01:25 PM

Quote from: duvaldude08 on March 01, 2013, 02:56:33 PM
Yeah Garrad's cool. I hope he does well, but with the Jets depleted WR core, it gonna be tough. I hope they bring in some weapons for him if he gets the starting job.

What happens to Tim Tebow?

Quote from: I-10east on March 27, 2013, 02:36:48 AM
The Jags aren't the only FL NFL team that's decided to change their logo. Here's a link with the new Phins leaked logo below.

www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/27/3308215/armando-salguero-buzz-rises-over.html

Quote from: I-10east on May 23, 2013, 03:21:24 PM
^^^With that six month recovery prediction, he will more than likely miss the Jags game (Oct 27th) in London.

Quote from: I-10east on May 14, 2013, 01:30:30 PM
^^^The Gophers baseball team play in Target Field, home of the Twins now, but they signed a two year deal with stadium. The stadium is billed as a multi-purpose stadium for special events, like the Super Bowl, NCAA basketball, hockey etc. Yeah, the stadium passed all of the red tape crap; it's set to be finished in 2016.

QuoteNike mixes up North and South Carolina on T-shirt:

The company wanted to promote the Carolina Panthers, but its shirt used a map of the wrong state for the team to the north.

North Carolina, South Carolina -- same difference, right?

Apparently the states are interchangeable to Nike (NKE +1.50%), which has proved not only to be one of the most effective sports-apparel marketers around but one of the most geographically challenged.

Nike fumbled with a T-shirt (pictured) celebrating the Carolina Panthers, the football team based in North Carolina. It paired the team's logo with a graphic of South Carolina, Charlotte Observer columnist Scott Fowler reports.

Since the error was pointed out, Nike has pulled the link to the $32 shirt and is investigating the error.

"It indicates that someone associated with Nike believed that the Panthers play in South Carolina. Or that North Carolina's silhouette looked like South Carolina. Or something," Fowler notes.

Nike last year made another gaffe that managed to hit both cultural and geographical hot buttons. The company released a pair of limited-edition shoes called Black and Tan, which in the U.S. refers to a drink made with both Guinness and a pale ale. In Ireland, the reference isn't nearly as enticing, instead referring to a British paramilitary group that attacked civilians during the Irish War of Independence.

Nike isn't alone in struggling with geography. A 2006 survey from National Geographic found that only half of young adults ages 18-24 could identify New York or Ohio on a map.

And then there's South Carolina's own geography whiz, the state's 2007 Miss Teen USA contestant, Lauren Upton. She became an Internet sensation after muddling a question about Americans' lack of geographical knowledge, babbling about lack of maps and adding that U.S. education "should help South Africa."

Still, Nike's mix-up apparently touched a nerve with some of the team's fans. One commenter on Fowler's blog complained, "We still have to endure the name "CAROLINA Panthers" instead of the "CHARLOTTE Panthers," (as) it should have been in the first place."

http://money.msn.com/now/post--nike-mixes-up-north-and-south-carolina-on-t-shirt

QuoteLost in the shuffle of the Packers' glowing financial report on Tuesday, in which the team reported making record profits, was the expanded capacity of Lambeau Field.

The venerable stadium will seat a whopping 80,750 fans this season, making it the third-largest stadium in the NFL. FedEx Field in Washington D.C. (85,000), home of the Redskins, has the largest seating capacity. MetLife Stadium (82,566) in New Jersey, home of the Giants and Jets, ranks No. 2.

Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, ranks No. 4 and officially holds 80,000, although with standing room and expanded seating possibilities, it allegedly could hold 105,121.

Lambeau opened in 1957 and holds the distinction of being the longest active homefield site of any NFL team. In pro sports, only Fenway Park (1912) and Wrigley Field (1914) have longer tenures.

What makes Lambeau unique is how its seating capacity has expanded over the past 56 years. Here is a list of Lambeau's seating growth:

1957: 32,500
1961: 38,669
1963: 42,327
1965: 50,852
1970: 56,263
1985: 56,926
1990: 59,543
1995: 60,890
2003: 73,128
2013: 80,750

Quote

NFL, NFLPA announce significant changes to Pro Bowl
489


By Dan Hanzus
Around the League Writer
Published: July 31, 2013 at 02:04 p.m. Updated: July 31, 2013 at 04:01 p.m.

The NFL is starting over with the Pro Bowl.

The NFL and NFL Players Association announced radical changes to the format of the beleaguered All-Star game on Wednesday, eliminating the traditional AFC vs. NFC matchup in favor of a fantasy draft-like roster selection.

Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders will serve as alumni captains, choosing two rosters with the help of two NFL.com fantasy users.

2013 Hall of Fame
Meet the seven new members of the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Check out highlights, videos and timelines of all of them. More...
The NFL and NFLPA distributed a joint press release Wednesday, explaining that the changes are designed to make the Pro Bowl "the ultimate fan-friendly celebration of the game."

"As players, we wanted to keep the Pro Bowl to honor excellence in individual performance and connect with the fans in a different environment," said NFLPA President Domonique Foxworth, who proposed the changes to the game. "To do that, I worked with a group of players to map out new ideas."

Under the new format, players will be selected without regard to conference in voting by fans, coaches and players. Players will be assigned to teams through the Pro Bowl Draft, which will air on Wednesday, Jan. 22, on NFL Network. The 2014 Pro Bowl will be held on Sunday, Jan. 26, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.


NFL Exposure
NFC 62, AFC 35
Check out the best photos from the 2013 Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii .
Some other notable changes to the game, per the NFL and NFLPA press release:

» Game within the Game: A two-minute warning will be added to the first and third quarters and the ball will change hands after each quarter. This will increase the opportunities for quarterbacks to direct "two-minute drills," which are especially exciting for fans.

» No Kickoffs: The coin toss will determine which team is awarded possession first. The ball will be placed on the 25-yard line at the start of each quarter and after scoring plays.

» Rosters: The rosters will continue to consist of 43 players per squad. The kick return specialist will be replaced by an additional defensive back.

» Cover Two and Press Coverage: The defense will be permitted to play "cover two" and "press" coverage. In previous years, only "man" coverage was permitted, except for goal-line situations.

» Stopping of the Game Clock: Beginning at the two-minute mark of every quarter, if the offense does not gain at least one yard, the clock will stop as if the play were an incomplete pass. This rule will make the team with the ball attempt to gain yardage toward the end of each quarter.


»Game Timing: The game clock will start after an incomplete pass on the signal of the referee, except inside the last two minutes of the first half and the last five minutes of the second half.

» Play Clock: A 35-second/25-second play clock will be adopted instead of the typical 40-second/25-second clock.

» Sacks: The game clock will not stop on quarterback sacks outside of the final two minutes of the game. Currently, the game clock stops in these situations outside of two minutes of the second and fourth quarters.

Quote from: I-10east on August 14, 2013, 01:12:18 PM
Whatta idiot Hugh Douglas is! He got fired from his ESPN gig LOL. I continue to wish him the worst.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/13/hugh-douglas-out-at-espn/

Quote from: I-10east on August 15, 2013, 10:32:26 AM
^^^Last time I checked, Blount Island isn't 40+ miles away from DT Jax.

Quote from: I-10east on August 15, 2013, 10:14:27 AM
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. 

Quote from: JayBird on August 29, 2013, 11:02:39 AM
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?

Quote from: I-10east on September 05, 2013, 01:06:23 PM
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.

Quote from: tufsu1 on September 05, 2013, 08:18:59 PM

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

Quote from: tufsu1 on September 05, 2013, 08:18:59 PM
why should 2 stadiums that are right next to each other and rarely have games at the same time not share parking facilities? 

Quote from: duvaldude08 on September 05, 2013, 11:42:43 PM
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

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 06, 2013, 12:04:58 AM

Quote from: duvaldude08 on September 05, 2013, 11:42:43 PM
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....

Quote from: I-10east on September 05, 2013, 11:51:53 PM

Quote from: tufsu1 on September 05, 2013, 08:18:59 PM
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.

Quote from: thelakelander on September 06, 2013, 12:05:55 AM
That got ugly real quick and there's no Ray or Ed Reed coming to save the day.

Quote from: tufsu1 on September 06, 2013, 08:53:24 AM

Quote from: I-10east on September 05, 2013, 11:51:53 PM

Quote from: tufsu1 on September 05, 2013, 08:18:59 PM
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.

please name the cities that have adjacent NFL and MLB stadiums...and do they schedule games simultaneously?

Here are the cities I can think of:

Philadelphia - shares parking
Pittsburgh - shares parking
Cincinatti - shares parking
Dallas - the stadiums are actually about a mile apart, but still share some parking
Seattle - shares parking
Kansas City - shares parking

Quote from: I-10east on September 06, 2013, 10:20:55 AM

Quote from: tufsu1 on September 06, 2013, 08:53:24 AM

Quote from: I-10east on September 05, 2013, 11:51:53 PM

Quote from: tufsu1 on September 05, 2013, 08:18:59 PM
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.

please name the cities that have adjacent NFL and MLB stadiums...and do they schedule games simultaneously?

Here are the cities I can think of:

Philadelphia - shares parking
Pittsburgh - shares parking
Cincinatti - shares parking
Dallas - the stadiums are actually about a mile apart, but still share some parking
Seattle - shares parking
Kansas City - shares parking

I saw it at Philly. I saw it at Detroit. I saw it in KC. I'm quite sure many if not all of those cities that you listed could easily handle simultaneous games. I see this kinda stuff all the time on TV, usually with a NFL game blimp planning over a nearby baseball game in progress.  Just because a sports complex may share some parking between stadiums, doesn't equal to 'can't have simultaneous games' like in B More's 'unique' case. They still will have adequate enough parking for games, as they are supposed to. I bet that a hypothetical big concert at the JVMA, Jags game, and Suns game could be played simultaneously here in Jax (that would be a significant amount of people). I know that you have roots in B More, and the hometown pride and all, but you're really sounding like the ultimate B More homer.

QuoteTim Tebow, after being cut by the New England Patriots last week, has refused to change positions after a NFL team expressed interest in him, SI's Peter King reported on NBC's 2013 NFL Kickoff show.
Tebow wants to "keep the NFL dream alive" and has turned down offers to play in the CFL along with an offer from USA Rugby to change sports, King said. Tebow only wants to play in the NFL and will only return if given the chance to play quarterback.
According to a USA Today source, Tebow isn?t ready to give up on returning to the NFL, retire, or accept any offer to play for the Canadian Football League or Arena Football League.
After being released by the Patriots, Tebow took to Twitter to thank Patriots owner Robert Kraft and coaches Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels for the opportunity to play with New England. Tebow also said he will be in ?relentless pursuit? of continuing his dream of being an NFL quarterback.

http://m.si.com/3344243/tebow-is-not-willing-to-play-a-different-position/5ccff70e/ (http://m.si.com/3344243/tebow-is-not-willing-to-play-a-different-position/5ccff70e/)

Quote from: duvaldude08 on September 06, 2013, 11:35:22 AM
I think Peyton Manning needs to be tested for PED's. That is all  ;D

Quote from: JayBird on September 06, 2013, 11:12:27 AM
I think now we are beginning to see the "true" Tebow. While in NYC last season many Jets players and fans commented on how he had an 'elitist way' about him, but being that they make millions that was mostly brushed off and kept under wraps by the media and I felt bad that all his teams in the NFL kinda gave him the shaft. But now, maybe the true colors of Tebow may be shining through. I thought he was great QB with the Gators, but maybe it is time for little Timmy to move on to other business avenues before he ruins that shining image that will make him prosperous in the future.

Quote from: tufsu1 on September 06, 2013, 08:59:17 AM

Quote from: thelakelander on September 06, 2013, 12:05:55 AM
That got ugly real quick and there's no Ray or Ed Reed coming to save the day.

assuming Jacoby Jones isn't seriously hurt, they'll do ok this year....the D won't be as good as in the past, but the offense should be better

Quote from: mtraininjax on September 08, 2013, 04:43:14 PM
Jags could not hit water if they fell out of a boat. They suck! DD is such a poor sorry fool for believing Khan and a new coach could rescue this team. THEY ARE A BUNCH OF LOSERS!!!!!

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 08, 2013, 08:43:19 PM

Quote from: mtraininjax on September 08, 2013, 04:43:14 PM
Jags could not hit water if they fell out of a boat. They suck! DD is such a poor sorry fool for believing Khan and a new coach could rescue this team. THEY ARE A BUNCH OF LOSERS!!!!!

Why do you keep busting DD?  You're the poor schmuck who finally gets his day when the team, quite obviously I might add, laid a complete turd on the field today. 

Way to go, asshat, you got one right.  Problem is that you're still completely incorrect in your thinking and you don't seem to have a thought of your own.  While everyone is entitled to their opinion, the only tiresome thing from you, is that I've already heard your 'opinion' from about 90% of the media before you can type it. 

Have an original thought, a clever idea or at least change some of the words around from what you heard on the radio.

QuoteTwo weeks, no blackouts

Posted by Mike Florio on September 13, 2013, 10:07 AM EDT


The NFL is winning the war to get butts in seats.  So far.

Through two weeks of the 2013 season, there have been and will be no blackouts, according to the league office.

The hot spots for Week Two were Tampa, Buffalo, and Oakland.  On Thursday, all three teams announced that enough tickets had been sold to permit the games to be televised locally.

It's part of a positive trend for the league.  Based on numbers provided by the league, one games was blacked out through two weeks in 2012, one was blacked out through two weeks in 2011, and three were blacked out through two weeks in 2010.

If my math is correct (and it rarely is), five games have been blacked out in the first two weeks of the last four seasons combined.  In contrast, five total games were blacked out through the first two weeks of the 2004 season.

In 1993, 11 of 28 games were blacked out through two weeks.  That's 39 percent.  Five years earlier, it was 12 of 28.

In 1983, it was 17 of 28 — a whopping 61 percent.  And in 1978, 20 of 28 games played through the first two weeks of the NFL regular season were blacked out locally.

So while the NFL is looking for ways to get more fans to choose coming to stadiums over staying home, things have improved dramatically over the past several decades.

Aiding the cause over the last two years has been the ability of every team to reduce its minimum sales threshold from 100 percent of all non-premium tickets down to 85 percent. In Oakland, nearly 10,000 seats have been tarped this year, reducing the capacity to 53,286.

As the NFL tries to strike the balance between full stadiums and maximized TV audiences, the key could be to shrink the size of current stadiums — and to install fewer seats in the next wave of NFL venues.

Of course, the league also could reduce the price of tickets.  Or the NFL could seize on the cockeyed wisdom in Colts owner Jim Irsay's recent justification of preseason ticket costs, setting a price point for each game based on a variety of factors, including the quality of the opponent and the home team's recent performances and overall record.

Really, why let the secondary market set the number?  The teams should be able to charge more, and compelled to charge less, based on how significant or otherwise a game may be.

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on September 13, 2013, 03:48:52 PM
An article about tarps and blackouts and Jax is not mentioned. Are we seeing media progress or they just forgot?

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on September 13, 2013, 03:48:52 PM
An article about tarps and blackouts and Jax is not mentioned. Are we seeing media progress or they just forgot?

Quote from: duvaldude08 on September 13, 2013, 04:51:25 PM
One thing I agree with in the article is about the size of new NFL venues shirking. If you really look hard that the NFL last season, most team's attendance was between 55,000-69,000. Gone are the days of 80,000 and 90,000 seat stadiums. You have teams with historical fan bases such as the Steelers, and our attendance is running neck and neck with theirs every year. The luxury of sitting home has taken over. I think we are going to see more teams build smallers stadiums or reduce the capacity of their current stadium. Heck the redskins has reduce their capcity like two or three times already.

Quote from: Elwood on September 20, 2013, 01:14:38 AM
With the addition of the new seats at Green Bay, the capacity is 80,750.

Quote from: tufsu1 on September 20, 2013, 08:24:17 AM

Quote from: Elwood on September 20, 2013, 01:14:38 AM
With the addition of the new seats at Green Bay, the capacity is 80,750.

they aren't finished...I believe there is more planned for next year

QuoteLambeau Field Atrium renovations set to begin this offseason

Posted Jan 8, 2013

The Green Bay Packers will begin renovations to the Lambeau Field Atrium this offseason and will continue work on the project through the next two offseasons, with work scheduled to be fully complete in June of 2015.

Highlights of the project include a new Packers Pro Shop, located in what will be a revamped lower level of the Atrium, new locations for the Packers Hall of Fame and Curly's Pub, a new east-side entry gate to enhance ingress and egress, and a larger Oneida Nation Gate that includes a plaza area and a more prominent connection to Oneida Street.

Additionally, the players' parking lot will move to the south side of the Oneida Nation Gate, with access via a tunnel under the enlarged gate. This enhancement will further open up access to the east side of the Atrium, with parking adjacent to the new east side entrance.

"We're excited to begin work this offseason on the Atrium renovation," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "We're looking forward to providing all our guests an even better experience. The design and new layout will benefit everyone."

The project, with a cost of $140.5 million, is the final phase of stadium renovation work that began in 2011 and included a new sound system, new video boards, two new gates and approximately 7,000 new seats in the south end zone. Funding for this phase will come from the Packers through private financing ($85.5 million) and a loan from the NFL G4 program ($55 million). In total, including the current project in the south end zone, renovations to the stadium will cost $286.5 million, with no funding coming from public tax money.

During the course of the renovation, the Packers Pro Shop will remain open as it transitions from its current to its new location. The Packers Hall of Fame and Curly's Pub will close while their new locations are being constructed. The date and duration of closing periods will be determined when more detailed construction plans are established.

In addition to the public areas, the football facilities will receive some upgrades as well, including space for conditioning and team walkthroughs. This aspect of the renovations keeps the team's football operations up-to-date with the latest technology and best practices.

This phase of the renovation will continue to be an economic impact and benefit to the community. The second phase is expected to employ approximately 1,500 workers over the next two years and provide more than $60 million in wages

Quote from: duvaldude08 on September 13, 2013, 04:51:25 PM
One thing I agree with in the article is about the size of new NFL venues shirking. If you really look hard that the NFL last season, most team's attendance was between 55,000-69,000. Gone are the days of 80,000 and 90,000 seat stadiums. You have teams with historical fan bases such as the Steelers, and our attendance is running neck and neck with theirs every year. The luxury of sitting home has taken over. I think we are going to see more teams build smallers stadiums or reduce the capacity of their current stadium. Heck the redskins has reduce their capcity like two or three times already.

Quote from: thelakelander on September 22, 2013, 11:40:24 PM
Don't care. Screw the Giants. The Dolphins are going to make the playoffs this year and Team Ebony Stud will Mercury Morris their way through MJ's fantasy league by running the table undefeated 1972-style!

Quote from: thelakelander on September 22, 2013, 11:40:24 PM
Don't care. Screw the Giants. The Dolphins are going to make the playoffs this year and Team Ebony Stud will Mercury Morris their way through MJ's fantasy league by running the table undefeated 1972-style!

Quote from: thelakelander on September 22, 2013, 11:40:24 PM
Don't care. Screw the Giants. The Dolphins are going to make the playoffs this year and Team Ebony Stud will Mercury Morris their way through MJ's fantasy league by running the table undefeated 1972-style!

Quotehttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/24/hugh-douglas-arrested-after-alleged-fight-at-hotel/

Hugh Douglas arrested after alleged fight at hotel

Posted by Curtis Crabtree on September 24, 2013, 10:33 PM EDT
Philadelphia Eagles v Cleveland Browns
Getty Images
Hugh Douglas is in trouble again.

The former NFL linebacker was arrested in Hartford, Conn. after he allegedly violently attacked a woman at a hotel.

According to Joseph Wenzel IV of WFSB-TV in Hartford, Douglas got into a fight with the woman at a Marriott hotel at Adriaen's Landing. Court records indicate Douglas "grabbed her by the neck" and "slammed her into the walls several times." Douglas claimed the injuries came during a sexual encounter.

He was charged with third-degree assault and second-degree strangulation. The arrest comes just over a month removed from an incident with former ESPN colleague Michael Smith at a National Association of Black Journalists convention in Orlando, Fla. Douglas and Smith were engaged in a very heated verbal altercation that ultimately led to Douglas being let go by ESPN.

Douglas played 10 seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars.

QuoteDouglas "grabbed her by the neck" and "slammed her into the walls several times." Douglas claimed the injuries came during a sexual encounter.

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on September 23, 2013, 11:06:08 AM
Lets see what happens when the Dolphins face the Patriots? Not sold on the Dolphins yet.

Quote from: BridgeTroll on September 25, 2013, 10:31:36 AM

QuoteDouglas "grabbed her by the neck" and "slammed her into the walls several times." Douglas claimed the injuries came during a sexual encounter.

I didnt know women liked this sort of thing... but hey... I just found out about vajazzling...  8)

Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on September 25, 2013, 10:36:32 AM
Not a class act like Hugh Douglas?!?!?!  Shocked!

Tip of the hat to Lake for "Prediction?  Pain."  One of my favorite quotes for all situations.

Quote from: edjax on October 08, 2013, 10:28:28 AM
Just read on PFT that owners are to vote on providing 27.5 million in funding for the redskins to make enhancements to FedEx Field???!  What the hell.  One of the richest owners and most lucrative franchises to receive a handout from the league??  I know for one I would note give it to them unless they changed their name and still would,not do it. I think the least lucrative franchise and one which assisted the league by agreeing to play 4 games in London would be a more deserving franchise. I wonder if this was even discussed with the league?  Makes no sense to me.

Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on October 08, 2013, 02:12:41 PM
Things go from bad to worse for Atlanta; Julio Jones has a foot injury and is out for the season.

Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on October 08, 2013, 02:12:41 PM
Things go from bad to worse for Atlanta; Julio Jones has a foot injury and is out for the season.

Quote from: thelakelander on October 08, 2013, 02:35:38 PM

Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on October 08, 2013, 02:12:41 PM
Things go from bad to worse for Atlanta; Julio Jones has a foot injury and is out for the season.

Stick a fork in them. 2013-2014 Falcons are done.

Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on October 08, 2013, 02:12:41 PM
Things go from bad to worse for Atlanta; Julio Jones has a foot injury and is out for the season.

QuoteStick a fork in them. 2013-2014 Falcons are done.

Quote from: mtraininjax on October 22, 2013, 09:52:15 PM
I think it was funny that Mayor Brown could not find his passport, and had to fly to Miami to get an emergency passport for the game in London. Nice.

Quote
Patient Packers fan nabs season tickets after 34 years

Antoinette Konz, USA TODAY 10:17 a.m. EDT October 25, 2013

Todd Mommaerts' dad put him on the Packers' waiting list in 1979.

GREEN BAY — It may have taken 34 years, but Todd Mommaerts finally has his own seat to watch the Green Bay Packers play football at Lambeau Field.

A lifelong fan of the Packers, Mommaerts was 9 years old when his dad put his name on the season ticket waiting list in 1979.

"There were some years when I never thought the day would come," he said shortly before the Packers' 22-9 win over the Detroit Lions earlier this month. "Each year, they send you the postcard with your number on the list. You get excited but you keep looking at the big number. You keep thinking maybe this year, maybe next year ... and it finally happened."

It happened thanks to a 7,000-seat expansion at Lambeau, which allowed Mommaerts to join 3,800 others as new season ticket holders. More than 100,000 people remain on the waiting list.

Other National Football League teams maintain waiting lists, but none are quite like the Packers, said Brian McCarthy, a league spokesman.

"We don't keep track of the number of teams that have waiting lists, but the Packers have one of the most passionate fan bases in the world," McCarthy said. "Many people put their newborn on the waiting list, and it may not be until 35 years later that they get a ticket. It's pretty remarkable."

Officials said the reason why it's so hard to get a ticket for a game can depend on a team's popularity, but is also because of the NFL's short window of play, which includes only eight regular-season home games.

Patrick Smyth, executive director of media relations for the Denver Broncos, said his team has approximately 45,000 names on its season ticket waiting list — a list that began in the mid 1970s.

He estimates it takes between 10 to 15 years to get tickets to watch a game. In Green Bay, the wait is much longer.

"Our season ticket waiting list began in 1960 ... but basically remained in the several thousands number for most of those years," said Aaron Popkey, director of public affairs for the Green Bay Packers. "From the early 1990s until now, the list grew exponentially."

Popkey said on average, only about 100 new people get season tickets each year.

Twenty-five years ago, Luke Schaefer's grandfather put his name, along with the names of his brother and three cousins, on the Packers season ticket waiting list. Each year they waited, until this past summer when the envelope arrived in the mail telling them they finally had the chance to buy tickets.

"It was awesome -- it was one of the best days of my life," said Schaefer, 30, who lives in Green Bay and grew up less than a mile away from Lambeau Field. "Being able to have my own tickets means the world to me. I live and die for the Packers."

Jennifer Owen put her daughter's name on the list 10 years ago -- the day after she was born. Today, the energetic little girl who wears a Packers cheerleader outfit every Sunday during the season, still has 50,000 names ahead of her.

"I figured I would never see the tickets in my lifetime, so I put her name on the list," Owen said. "Maybe by the time she's 40, she'll get tickets and she'll be able to take her old mom to a game or two."

Popkey said he believes the reason why the list is so long is because the team is community-owned and that it is cherished by its fans.

Throughout the team's history, the Packers have had five shareholder offerings. The first three "literally saved the franchise from bankruptcy, the other two raised money for renovations at Lambeau which then put the team on better financial footing," he said.

"I think it's the nature of the team, being community owned, coming from the smallest market in the NFL and having a great history going back to 1919," Popkey said. "We often hear from fans -- if we aren't their favorite team, we are their second favorite team. Football fans in general just like the story that is the Packers."

Konz also reports for The (Louisville) Courier-Journal

Quote from: KenFSU on October 22, 2013, 09:55:13 PM

Quote from: mtraininjax on October 22, 2013, 09:52:15 PM
I think it was funny that Mayor Brown could not find his passport, and had to fly to Miami to get an emergency passport for the game in London. Nice.

Ladies and gentlemen... .... .... ... ... ... ... ... Jacksonville, Florida!

Quote from: BridgeTroll on August 16, 2013, 01:04:21 PM

Quote from: I-10east on August 15, 2013, 10:14:27 AM
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

Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 25, 2013, 12:15:42 PM

Quote from: KenFSU on October 22, 2013, 09:55:13 PM

Quote from: mtraininjax on October 22, 2013, 09:52:15 PM
I think it was funny that Mayor Brown could not find his passport, and had to fly to Miami to get an emergency passport for the game in London. Nice.

Ladies and gentlemen... .... .... ... ... ... ... ... Jacksonville, Florida!

Mayor Brown is an idiot

Quote from: thelakelander on September 25, 2013, 10:33:18 AM

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on September 23, 2013, 11:06:08 AM
Lets see what happens when the Dolphins face the Patriots? Not sold on the Dolphins yet.

Hmm. A maximum security prison stands in the way of passes to Hernandez and Welker is a couple of thousand of miles away living it up with Peyton Manning. You need my prediction for what pretty boy Brady and the Patriots will experience against the fish.  Just ask Clubber....

(http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1035506/PAIN_medium.jpg)

Quote from: I-10east on October 27, 2013, 09:40:00 AM

Quote from: BridgeTroll on August 16, 2013, 01:04:21 PM

Quote from: I-10east on August 15, 2013, 10:14:27 AM
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

Not to be that guy who brings up tiresome debating archives, but the guy who pretty much personifies the 49ers, Joe Montana do not like that move to Santa Clara.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/26/joe-montana-criticizes-san-francisco-for-losing-the-49ers/#comment-2896394

QuoteDolphins lineman Jonathan Martin reportedly goes AWOL after teammates play a joke on him

Jonathan Martin's strange absence from the Dolphins has developed into one of the more unusual stories of this NFL season.

Martin, who is in his second season and has started all seven games for Miami this season, was listed as doubtful on the Dolphins' injury report with an "illness." Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported that there's much more to it.

According to the report, Martin left the team after his teammates played a joke on him in the team cafeteria on Monday. His teammates walked away from him when he sat down, apparently joking about him being sick, and Martin "flipped out." Via the Miami Herald, citing Glazer's report, Martin smashed a food tray on the floor of the team's lunch room, and left. He hasn't returned to the team.

Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on October 31, 2013, 01:14:32 PM
I hope Martin's mental health is OK.  This vaguely reminds me of when Reggie Rogers was with the Lions.

QuoteSources: NFLPA eyes Martin case

Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito's role in alleged harassment of teammate Jonathan Martin is under review by the NFL Players Association due to an incident that provoked Martin to leave the team, according to multiple sources.

One high-ranking Dolphins official who did not want to be identified defended Incognito as a player who has been a "model citizen" and was mystified by any allegations related to Incognito.

Meanwhile, several sources insisted Incognito was involved, adding that the incident was not isolated and extended to 2012, when Martin was a second-round draft pick by the team. One source said any emotional issues Martin is experiencing are directly related to his harassment.

Quote from: KenFSU on November 04, 2013, 10:01:30 AM
Don't think I've ever pulled so hard for the Bucs as I did yesterday.

That game was theirs to lose.

Quote from: thelakelander on November 04, 2013, 10:05:20 AM
Jack Del Rio has taken over as the Broncos interim head coach.

QuoteMultiple sources confirmed to ESPN that the following is a transcript of a voice message Incognito left for Martin in April 2013, a year after Martin was drafted:

"Hey, wassup, you half n----- piece of s---. I saw you on Twitter, you been training 10 weeks. [I want to] s--- in your f---ing mouth. [I'm going to] slap your f---ing mouth. [I'm going to] slap your real mother across the face [laughter]. F--- you, you're still a rookie. I'll kill you."

Quote from: thelakelander on November 04, 2013, 02:08:45 PM
Wow, Incognito text messages and voicemail to Martin coming out.. Martin is scared to go back to the Dolphin's locker room.

QuoteMultiple sources confirmed to ESPN that the following is a transcript of a voice message Incognito left for Martin in April 2013, a year after Martin was drafted:

"Hey, wassup, you half n----- piece of s---. I saw you on Twitter, you been training 10 weeks. [I want to] s--- in your f---ing mouth. [I'm going to] slap your f---ing mouth. [I'm going to] slap your real mother across the face [laughter]. F--- you, you're still a rookie. I'll kill you."

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9926139/richie-incognito-miami-dolphins-used-slurs-messages-jonathan-martin

QuoteRecently suspended guard Richie Incognito held meetings for fellow Miami Dolphins offensive linemen at a South Florida strip club and would fine them if they didn't attend, according to a report.

The National Football Post, citing two sources, reported that Incognito expected the linemen to attend. If they failed to show up, Incognito would fine them in the club's kangaroo court and mock them for not being part of the group, one of the sources said.

"Richie wanted to set up Richie's world as a way for everybody to act," a team source told the National Football Post. "Richie thinks everybody should act that way. He doesn't get that some guys aren't into that behavior. Some guys don't want to constantly explain to their wife or girlfriend why they have to go to a strip club."

QuoteAlso on Thursday, it was revealed that Incognito was investigated last year for harassing a volunteer at the Dolphins' annual golf tournament by allegedly molesting her with a golf club, according to Aventura, Fla., police.

The original police report states that the alleged incident happened at the Turnberry Resort & Club in Aventura, but no charges were filed against Incognito.

The 34-year-old volunteer told police Incognito had been drinking and was "acting very inappropriate towards her," and that she went to police after Incognito said he wouldn't apologize.

The report states that the volunteer told police that Incognito "used his golf club to touch her by rubbing it up against her vagina, then up her stomach then to her chest. He then used the club to knock a pair of sunglasses off the top of her head" before continuing his aggression toward the woman, the report states.

Quote from: thelakelander on November 08, 2013, 07:26:54 PM
I won't be surprised if Tampa wins their first game of the season this Monday night.

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on November 10, 2013, 01:33:27 PM
Rams giving the Colts something to think about

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on November 11, 2013, 11:59:53 PM
The Jags win inspired them :)

Quote from: I-10east on November 11, 2013, 11:48:33 PM
LOL @ the many Jacksonville mentions on MNF.

Quote from: thelakelander on December 02, 2013, 07:31:19 AM
Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno cries giant tears
(http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/blogs/Knowshon-Moreno.tears.png)
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24310799/broncos-rb-knowshon-moreno-has-cries-giant-tears

QuoteBelieve It - JETS Would Be Better With Tebow
For a few days in April the Jets had six quarterbacks on their roster: Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith, David Garrard, Matt Simms, Greg McElroy and Tim Tebow.
Only one of those guys is the best fit for the Jets offense as it is currently configured — Tebow.
I know saying something positive about Tebow has become as popular as canceling Christmas. I know he is the most limited passer among those six limited passers. And I know the Jets and Tebow had to part ways after the disaster that was 2012.
But hear me out on this.
The Jets have no weapons at wide receiver or tight end. That has been well established. They struggle in pass protection. They have a pretty good defense, and they have a running game that is strong when it has a chance to get going.
So what is the best offense for a team constructed like this? The one the 2011 Broncos built around Tebow for the final two months of the season. It's hard to remember now, after all the Tebow bashing of the last two years, but it worked. If the Jets had Tebow lined up in the backfield with Chris Ivory, they could run a zone-read offense that would wear other teams out, and they could play a ball-possession game that would complement their defense.

Quote from: fsujax on December 04, 2013, 11:06:11 AM
Yes, this Chargers blackout will kept quiet as much as possible, hard to believe since they just beat the Chiefs and they are in playoff contention. Can only imagine if it were Jax, we would be plastered on ESPN's top news stories.

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on December 04, 2013, 11:44:32 AM
That loss to the Bengals should be the final nail.

Quote from: funwithteeth on December 04, 2013, 02:27:53 PM
I meant that an isolated blackout isn't likely to get mentioned. A serious of them like the Jags went through? Sure.

Quote
or the third time in his odyssey-filled NFL career, Wade Phillips has taken over as the interim head coach in December.


Proud owner of a career 82-63 record, Phillips is now stumping for the permanent job with the Houston Texans.

"I can go into all of the stats and all of that stuff. Nobody wants to hear those," Phillips said Monday, via the Houston Chronicle. "But if you look at the record, I think I have a lot to offer as a head coach. That's for somebody else to decide."

Phillips didn't even want to provide an answer when asked if he would consider returning as the defensive coordinator under a new coach. "If I say that," Phillips reasoned, "they won't hired me as the head coach."

Owner Bob McNair has confirmed that Phillips is a candidate to keep the job in 2014.

Thanks to the Houston Chronicle's John McClain, we know that the Texans also have interest in former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith, San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and Stanford coach David Shaw.


The organization will not pursue Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan or ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, per McClain.

McNair is not expected to consider a college coach such as Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin unless he fails to find a quality candidate with NFL experience.

McNair also made it clear that he values closing out the season on a high note over making a run at the No. 1 overall draft pick. If Phillips can accomplish the former, he will force the front office to take a longer look at his candidacy.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 10, 2013, 10:35:33 PM
Come on Wade Phillips, so you are scouting yourself for the Texans HC job. Ever since he was fired from Dallas, he's seemed a lil bitter when hes not looked at for a HC job. Now he's elf promoting? I dont think thats very taste. What do yall  think?

Quote
or the third time in his odyssey-filled NFL career, Wade Phillips has taken over as the interim head coach in December.


Proud owner of a career 82-63 record, Phillips is now stumping for the permanent job with the Houston Texans.

"I can go into all of the stats and all of that stuff. Nobody wants to hear those," Phillips said Monday, via the Houston Chronicle. "But if you look at the record, I think I have a lot to offer as a head coach. That's for somebody else to decide."

Phillips didn't even want to provide an answer when asked if he would consider returning as the defensive coordinator under a new coach. "If I say that," Phillips reasoned, "they won't hired me as the head coach."

Owner Bob McNair has confirmed that Phillips is a candidate to keep the job in 2014.

Thanks to the Houston Chronicle's John McClain, we know that the Texans also have interest in former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith, San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and Stanford coach David Shaw.


The organization will not pursue Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan or ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, per McClain.

McNair is not expected to consider a college coach such as Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin unless he fails to find a quality candidate with NFL experience.

McNair also made it clear that he values closing out the season on a high note over making a run at the No. 1 overall draft pick. If Phillips can accomplish the former, he will force the front office to take a longer look at his candidacy.

Quote from: thelakelander on December 16, 2013, 11:56:55 PM
That one sucked. I was hoping the Dolphins could pick up a game on Baltimore.

Quote from: tufsu1 on December 17, 2013, 08:44:51 AM

Quote from: thelakelander on December 16, 2013, 11:56:55 PM
That one sucked. I was hoping the Dolphins could pick up a game on Baltimore.

so sorry for your loss ;)

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on December 16, 2013, 11:51:18 PM
I don't think I've seen two QBs more than Romo and Stafford throw games away.

Quote

Colts are 7,000 tickets short of a sellout for Saturday
Posted by Mike Florio on December 31, 2013, 10:10 AM EST

Getty ImagesAt one point, it appeared that the Broncos and Peyton Manning had a chance of returning to Indy for the wild-card round of the playoffs.  If that had happened, the Colts wouldn't be hustling to sell tickets to the game.

But with the Chiefs coming to town for the first Colts home playoff game of the post-Peyton era, the locals have yet to rush the box office.

According to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star, the Colts have roughly 7,000 tickets to sell in order to lift the blackout for Saturday's playoff game.

League rules require all non-premium tickets to be sold within 72 hours of kickoff in order to lift the blackout.  Typically, an extension of the deadline is granted only if a commitment has been made by the team and/or its sponsors to buy any remaining tickets at 34 cents on the dollar.  Given that Indy's deadline lands on New Year's Day, the league could grant an extension without a commitment to buy the excess tickets.

Owner Jim Irsay has pointed out on Twitter that "MANY" tickets went on sale at 10:00 a.m. Monday.  Ultimately, the question may be how "MANY" tickets he's willing to buy at a discount to allow folks who can't or won't go to the game to enjoy watching the home team play in the playoffs.

UPDATE 10:19 a.m. ET:  The Colts have announced that an extension has been granted, due to the holiday.  The press release states that more than 6,000 tickets remain.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 31, 2013, 10:32:23 AM
Really? Let the Jags hit the playoffs with home field avantage and I can guarentee we wouldnt have this problem. Indy has been flakey ever since Peyton Manning left.

Quote from: tufsu1 on December 31, 2013, 10:41:27 AM

Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 31, 2013, 10:32:23 AM
Really? Let the Jags hit the playoffs with home field avantage and I can guarentee we wouldnt have this problem. Indy has been flakey ever since Peyton Manning left.

sure...but that's mainly because there hasn't had a home playoff game in Jax. since 1999....once things like that happen with regularity, they aren't as special anymore.

Quote from: KenFSU on December 31, 2013, 11:07:00 AM
NFL owners have just done a masterful job in the last decade shifting the blame for poor ticket sales away from themselves and onto their respective cities.

I really dislike the criticizing of fan bases for not buying more football tickets, as if it is somehow the civic obligation of local citizens to provide NFL owners a free backdrop for their $27 billion in television contracts, regardless of the quality of the on-field product. If the stadium isn't full, the "blame" should rest squarely on the organization, not on the city. Current NFL ticket prices demand an extraordinary on-field product, and if people aren't buying what the Colts are selling, perhaps "prudent" and "discriminatory" are better word choices than "fickle."

Looking at Stubhub, the cheapest available tickets for the Colts game are priced at $90. The cheapest parking pass is also $90. That's an extraordinary amount of money for a family to spend, and far out of reach for most blue collar workers. If a few thousand families would rather watch the game on TV and instead use that money for a family vacation, a new big screen screen TV, or four years of Netflix, all the power in the world to them.

The more blackouts we see, the more likely the NFL is to reexamine its pricing structure. As the home theater experience continues to improve, these prices have got to come down. And cities need to come together to demand a piece of those television contracts, as there would be no $27 billion TV deal without the use of city stadiums and infrastructure.

Jags prices are fairly reasonable relative other cities, but let attendance decline league-wide until owners have no choice but to lower ticket prices enough to return the game to the working class.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 31, 2013, 10:55:21 AM
The colts have had ticket problems since peyton left. Last year they had almost 10,000 ticket holders drop their tickets. So I dont think they are used to it, they fan base has just become fickle now that Peyton's gone.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 31, 2013, 10:55:21 AM

Quote from: tufsu1 on December 31, 2013, 10:41:27 AM

Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 31, 2013, 10:32:23 AM
Really? Let the Jags hit the playoffs with home field avantage and I can guarentee we wouldnt have this problem. Indy has been flakey ever since Peyton Manning left.

sure...but that's mainly because there hasn't had a home playoff game in Jax. since 1999....once things like that happen with regularity, they aren't as special anymore.

The colts have had ticket problems since peyton left. Last year they had almost 10,000 ticket holders drop their tickets. So I dont think they are used to it, they fan base has just become fickle now that Peyton's gone.

QuoteThe more blackouts we see, the more likely the NFL is to reexamine its pricing structure. As the home theater experience continues to improve, these prices have got to come down. And cities need to come together to demand a piece of those television contracts, as there would be no $27 billion TV deal without the use of city stadiums and infrastructure.

Quote from: I-10east on January 08, 2014, 10:22:14 AM
^^^I know that you're glad he's finally gone.

Roger Goodell is cool with Jerry Jones' foolish ideas of expanding the playoffs, further watering down the league. Jerrah wanna do it only better the chance of his mediocre Cowboys making the playoffs, and of course the extra money, SMH...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/07/goodell-says-theres-momentum-for-expanding-the-playoffs/

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on January 19, 2014, 11:51:55 PM
That was a poorly officiated NFC Championship game.

Quote from: spuwho on January 20, 2014, 08:21:23 AM

Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on January 19, 2014, 11:51:55 PM
That was a poorly officiated NFC Championship game.

Did you mean the call where the SF punter nearly has his ankle broken and the best the refs could do was a 5 yard "running into the kicker" penalty?

How about when Bowman picks up the fumble, tears his ACL in the process, is down by contact and that last man on the pile takes the ball away and gets credit?

How about 3 intentional groundings before the refs finally call one and then every toss thereafter explain why it isn't?

How did you like that post game interview with Richard Sherman and Erin Andrews?  High levels of class, sportsmanship and fortitude in that one, eh?

I hope either Peyton absolutely crushes them, or if the Hawks win, it will stop the incessant "we are disrespected in Seattle rant" that has been going on since their last Super Bowl in Detroit.

If Peyton does crush them, interview Richard Sherman then. Lets see what level of deep thought he can produce then?

Funny thing is, I used to live in Seattle and have disliked the 49ers most of my sport watching life.

But the refs couldn't save Kaepernick from his blunders.

Quote from: duvaldude08 on January 20, 2014, 11:51:04 AMSherman didn't bother me so much. It was actually hilarous.