Hey Chad, I'm thinking your Bucs will be the new Lions this year!

[shardian]

They just fired their OC a week before kickoff. That simply cannot be a good thing. Methinks it has more than a bit to do with the QB situation.

I'm still hoping Leftwich excels and they win, but I hold about as much hope for them, as I do for Leftwich's Alma Mater.

[ChadTower]

It won't be that bad but it will be ugly.  And at least they have the future franchise QB in place.

Word out of Tampa is that it had nothing to do with the QB situation - Jagodzinski was supporting Leftwich too.  Turns out the guy can't teach and can't call plays. He actually hasn't been calling plays here or at his previous job at BC.  They made a bad hire and decided to remedy that sooner than later.  Word does say that some of McCown's performance in the last game had to do with the play calling breaking down during that last game and there wasn't a thing he could do about it.

[Dartful Dodger]

Da Bears!

[orion]

The Lions are bad because the organization itself sucked. Don't they have new owners this year? Tampa won't be that bad they have a good organization behind them now. They aren't the Tampa Bay of old, which was horrible because the ownership at the time was awful. A long time ago, I was in Tampa helping my aunt shop for a car, and it turns out that one of the salesmen was a retired bucs player. He told us that nobody wanted to play for Tampa, because they could care less about the players, he claimed that they were so cheap that the players had to pay for their own drinks at practice. My team is the Panthers, but I still love the Bucs as well and I always feel a bit conflicted when the two play each other. I also have to comment that the NFC south, never gets any love.  I also believe that it's a bit early for everyone to be jumping on New Orleans bandwagon this year. Chad you might appreciate this, I have a football autographed by the entire 1979 bucs team complete with a Doug Willams signature on it (my aunt was a reporter in Tampa at the time) I keep it right next to my football that I managed to get Steve Smith of the Panthers to sign for me. 

[ChadTower]

Did Steve Smith punch you in the head before or after he signed that ball?

It's very true that the old Bucs were bottom tier because of ownership.  Unfortunately it's also true that they are returning to the bottom tier because of ownership.  The Bucs have been low priority since the day the Glazers bought Manchester United.

[shardian]

Did Steve Smith punch you in the head before or after he signed that ball?

It's very true that the old Bucs were bottom tier because of ownership.  Unfortunately it's also true that they are returning to the bottom tier because of ownership.  The Bucs have been low priority since the day the Glazers bought Manchester United.

True. I'm amazed at how fast the Bucs went from top tier to bottom tier in the last 5 years or so.

[orion]

Did Steve Smith punch you in the head before or after he signed that ball?

It's very true that the old Bucs were bottom tier because of ownership.  Unfortunately it's also true that they are returning to the bottom tier because of ownership.  The Bucs have been low priority since the day the Glazers bought Manchester United.

Good one! No actually he didn't, he punched somebody else in the head (Ken Lucas) two days after that. He was in a good mood and was quite cool about signing autographs for people the day he signed the ball for me. Smith has always had the capacity to be a hot head, but he can also be really cool as well.  I actually was impressed with him with how well he interacted with fans. He also does not usually give out his autographs for adults, as he reserves doing so only for children. He was at the conference center that I work at that day autographing footballs for Bojangles employees. Jerry Richardson also is a co owner of Bojangles and he was there that day as well along with Mike Rucker. They seemed pretty cool as well. I didn't know that the ownership of Tampa has made them a low priority lately, that's to bad. The people of Tampa deserve better of the ownership than they have gotten from them in the distant past. I hope they don't go back to being the Bucs of the 80's.

[ChadTower]

Yep.  Current ownership is operating like past ownership now.  They were always among the most profitable teams in the NFL - even when they were 1-15 every year.  They have now returned to the profitable operation but in the NFL, for a small market team, profitable = noncompetitive unless you get lucky and draft a Peyton Manning.

The owners are hemhorraging cash since buying Man U and are using the Bucs to make up the difference.  That's why Gruden and Allen are gone.  It's not about youth and rebuilding, it's about salary.

[orion]

Well, that's sad then what's happening in Tampa Bay. I do think you are over simplifying your equation a bit you say that a small profitable team= a noncompetitive team. Since you have already alluded to the Colts, let's consider their success for a moment. The Colts have two things going for them aside from Manning. They have one of the best coaches in the NFL in Dungy, who to me was the best coach Tampa Bay ever had or ever will have. Let's face it, Dungy built that team that Gruden won Super Bowl XXXVII with. Tampa canned Dungy to early believing that he could only get into the playoffs but was somehow incapable of winning the superbowl. I'm not saying that Gruden is an awful coach, he's just not in the same league as Dungy. The Colts also have Bill Polian, who built a second year expansion team with my Panthers, that was able to go as far as the NFC championship game (which they lost to Farve and the Pack at Lambo in classic Lambo freezing conditions). Polian created this team from his ability to recognize undiscovered raw talent... He did this with the likes of Wille Green and Sam Mills. I believe the man to be one of the true geniuses in the sport of football. So yes I agree, it helps to be a team like Dallas or the Giants with tons of cash who aren't afraid to max out their salary cap, but that's only a small part of the equation I think.

[ChadTower]

That's all true, but without Manning, they are just another small market team that is mostly irrelevant.  Nobody outside of those small markets really cares about those small market teams until they have a TV friendly superstar.  Ask Jacksonville about that and all the TV blackouts they get.

[orion]

Yea, I see your point. The national media would probably consider them irrelevant without Manning. I hate that about NFL coverage, and that goes back to the NFC south not getting any love... ever. That also goes a long way as to why I absolutely hate Dallas. Speaking of which whats up with that new scoreboard thingy they have? Aside from starting to prove itself to be their best punt blocker what exactly is that thing supposed to be? I know that Dallas being "God's team" and all had to go out and top that retractable God's view roof that they had, but seriously don't you think that some smart architect somewhere in Dallas could have seen this as being a problem. I guess having the retractable roof so that God could see them play wasn't good enough for them.... so they had to go out and build a "Jesustron" so that Jesus could catch their instant replays or something. Did I mention I hate Dallas???

Edit: No offence to Cowboys fans, I just get tired of the Cowboy hype.... New England too, but those guys actually went out and earned it by winning a bunch of Super Bowls.

[Cakemeister]

I enjoyed that 90 yard pass from Grossman tonight. 

[hypernova]

I'm sure the Bengals fans here in Cincy would be happy to let anyone take Mike Brown.  We're mired in mediocrity.  I stand by my belief that Palmer will never be the same ever since that hit, because so far, he hasn't even been close.

[ChadTower]

Palmer never was as good as people seem to remember.  He had a lot of talent around him to exploit.

[LLUncoolJ]

Did Steve Smith punch you in the head before or after he signed that ball?

It's very true that the old Bucs were bottom tier because of ownership.  Unfortunately it's also true that they are returning to the bottom tier because of ownership.  The Bucs have been low priority since the day the Glazers bought Manchester United.

True. I'm amazed at how fast the Bucs went from top tier to bottom tier in the last 5 years or so.

Rams accomplished that feat before it was fashionable (2 Superbowls in 3 years, 3 MVPs in 3 years, Greatest Show on Turf primetime games...to NFL laughing stock). The recipe is for the owner to fall asleep on the job, let front office bickering and backstabbing ensue, give too much power to unproven head coaches and let them draft worse than my 3yo little girl. Next thing you know, you're trading your 2006 first round pick for a 7th round pick next year and cutting your second round pick after winning 5 games in 2 years. Feel free to pass this recipe along to the Patriots.

[ChadTower]

If you've ever seen Patriot Place, the massive complex Kraft just built around Gillette Stadium, you'd know he's not falling asleep at the wheel any time soon.  Dude has well over a billion dollars sitting here not counting Tom Brady's nuts.

[Flake]

Rams accomplished that feat before it was fashionable (2 Superbowls in 3 years, 3 MVPs in 3 years, Greatest Show on Turf primetime games...to NFL laughing stock). The recipe is for the owner to fall asleep on the job, let front office bickering and backstabbing ensue, give too much power to unproven head coaches and let them draft worse than my 3yo little girl. Next thing you know, you're trading your 2006 first round pick for a 7th round pick next year and cutting your second round pick after winning 5 games in 2 years. Feel free to pass this recipe along to the Patriots.

Sorry but I believe it was the Niners that started that trend (but am happy to see the Rams follow suit).  We went from an every year powerhouse to having a losing record every year since 2003.  Ownership of this franchise post Debartelo has been about as bad as it gets.  There are finally rays of hope shining through now that John has stepped down as "Front-man", replaced by his son Jed, who appears more like his uncle Eddie than his father John.

BTW - ---fudgesicle--- Patriot Place and ---fudgesicle--- the Patriots and ---fudgesicle--- Tom Brady.  I hope he gets pummeled all year like he did in the 2007 SB.

Oh, and the Bucs ARE going to be as bad as predicted. 

[ChadTower]

BTW - ---fudgesicle--- Patriot Place and ---fudgesicle--- the Patriots and ---fudgesicle--- Tom Brady.  I hope he gets pummeled all year like he did in the 2007 SB.

Heh.  I'm not complaining.  The movie theater is top notch and Bass Pro is effin awesome.  3 minutes drive away.   

[LLUncoolJ]

Man, I was just going to post a smart-ass remark about I can't wait for the  ----- vs Tampa matchup. But I checked their schedule and there are no other blood donors on there. They really have a brutal schedule that has potential to net them a 0-16 season. Check it:

Dallas
@ Buf (maybe the most winnable, but on the road)
NYG
@ WAS
@ PHI
CAR
NE
GB
@ MIA
NO
@ATL
@CAR
NYJ
@ SEA
@NO
ATL

[ChadTower]

Yeah it ain't pretty.  I have the potential wins pegged as Buffalo, Washington, Green Bay, Miami, Seattle, and Atlanta.  I figure they'll get 2 of those and 1 of the rest.

0-16 won't happen.  They have 3 solid RBs and a top 5 OL (that is also very young).  They should be able to get the ball downfield just fine with Bryant and Winslow.  Clayton won't catch many but he will still draw defenders low enough for Winslow to get open.  For the first time in a long time the Bucs are going to have to win games with offense.  The good news is that their team is among the very youngest in the NFL so it's not like they are the Rams.

Freeman will be starting by the Packers game because:

1)  That follows the prison raping they will get from the Patriots in London.
2)  That follows their bye week.
3)  Leftwich isn't very good.
4)  They will probably be 1-6 by then anyway.

[Flake]

Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2009-09-13 13:00

Spread:
Dallas     -6

Sounds like easy money to me.  And I dont think the Cowgirls are going to be that good this year either. 

[LLUncoolJ]

 The good news is that their team is among the very youngest in the NFL so it's not like they are the Rams.

Hey, the Rams are getting younger every day...they just keep shitcanning the draft busts of yesteryear and parlaying them into...well, 7th round picks next year.

"On second thought, let's take Tye Hill instead of Jay Cutler"...that worked out well.

[ChadTower]

"On second thought, let's take Tye Hill instead of Jay Cutler"...that worked out well.

Jay Jeff George Cutler didn't exactly turn out great for the Broncoes either.

[LLUncoolJ]

Yeah, he's a diva. But even if the Rams alienated him like the Broncos did, at least we'd be sitting on 2 first and a third round pick instead of the 7th rounder we got for Hill. Plus, Hill was a bust from day one. I don't think anyone considers Cutler a bust. Not to mention, Bulger would've thrown a fit if we had drafted Cutler and we could've traded him while he was still worth something.

Definition of a sure thing: If you are a defensive tackle and the Rams draft you on the first day, you are destined to be a bust. The track record speaks for itself: Damien Lewis, Ryan Pickett, Claude Wroten, Jimmy Kennedy, Adam Carriker. That's 4 first rounders and a third rounder this decade for those keeping track at home.

[ChadTower]

The Rams could not have made a trade for two firsts and a third.  They would have gotten one late first and spent it on a defensive tackle.   

Nobody considered George a bust at this point in his career either.  And I don't really think Cutler will be a bust.  He won't ever win anything, though.  Some guys just aren't winners no matter how talented they are (coughRomocough).

[LLUncoolJ]

Put anybody in a strong enough situation (coughTrentDilfercough) and they can win. Hell Jim McMahon was every bit as halfass as Dilfer. If nothing else, it makes opponents respect the pass so they can't stack up against the run.

As far as Divas go, Favre has a better supporting cast than he's ever had. He has no excuses. At least Cutler can play the no receivers card.

Cutler has already had enough success in proportion to where he was drafted to escape the bust tag, even if he does nothing else. And let's face it, Chicago drafts QBs like the Rams draft DTs. They would've (and did) given anything for a pro bowl caliber QB.

[ChadTower]

Put anybody in a strong enough situation (coughTrentDilfercough) and they can win. Hell Jim McMahon was every bit as halfass as Dilfer. If nothing else, it makes opponents respect the pass so they can't stack up against the run.

Both of those guys won with a world class defense.  Cutler has nothing of the sort in Chicago and didn't in Denver.  I agree with your point but the examples blow.   

As far as Divas go, Favre has a better supporting cast than he's ever had. He has no excuses. At least Cutler can play the no receivers card.

It's strong but I don't agree.  He has had better support casts in GB.  He has no Sterling Sharpe here and we have no evidence that the OL is as good at pass protection as people are saying.  Hell I'd say the Vikings don't have a receiver this year that would compare with a lot of the guys Favre has thrown to over the years.  BB and Rice don't even really compare to an Antonio Freeman or Donald Driver.

Cutler has already had enough success in proportion to where he was drafted to escape the bust tag, even if he does nothing else.

A single pro bowl berth on a team that missed the playoffs is a nice start but if he peaks here he will still be a bust.  People are giving him way too much credit for potential and not enough blame for bailing on his franchise like a teenage girl.

[ChadTower]

Sadly, that game went pretty much as I outlined above.  OL was great in the running game, Leftwich played like crap and kept getting himself hit by holding the ball too long without moving at all.  The D is good against the run and can't cover a single receiver over the top.  Deep coverage will improve when Tanard Jackson returns from his 4 game vacation.

Seriously, how does a QB get to this level of football being able to throw only one ball?  That's terrible.  Leftiwch isn't going to survive very long holding the ball like this anyway, I guess.

[ChadTower]

Romo stopped throwing behind all his slants but those bombs weren't because Romo was good... any NFL QB could hit a guy 4 yards behind the coverage.  The secondary totally fell apart.  Good job, coaches.   

Okay, I'll concede, Leftwich could not have hit any of those guys.  He seems to only be good for throwing 25 yard passes over the middle with enough velocity to crack a bank vault.

[shardian]

Seriously, how does a QB get to this level of football being able to throw only one ball?  That's terrible.  Leftiwch isn't going to survive very long holding the ball like this anyway, I guess.

I college, his OL averaged 6'6 and 330... he had a good 40 seconds per attempt. 

[ChadTower]

I college, his OL averaged 6'6 and 330... he had a good 40 seconds per attempt. 

Dude needs it.  Seriously.  I thought Drew Bledsoe was hard to watch at the end here.  Leftwich makes him look like Jeff Garcia.

[orion]

Romo stopped throwing behind all his slants but those bombs weren't because Romo was good... any NFL QB could hit a guy 4 yards behind the coverage.  The secondary totally fell apart.  Good job, coaches.   

Okay, I'll concede, Leftwich could not have hit any of those guys.  He seems to only be good for throwing 25 yard passes over the middle with enough velocity to crack a bank vault.

Don't feel so bad Chad! Look at the bright side, at least they weren't the Panthers! I took my son out to Bank of America stadium to see that blood bath to boot! We weren't exactly happy campers, and the Eagles fans let us know it too.... did I mention Eagles fans suck! I guess this is what happens when you over pay to keep a Peppers and you have no money left over to keep your talented back up offensive line men.      I had seats behind the end zone and some of those four interceptions Delhome thew, I could see were going to be interceptions before the ball even left his hand! I was screaming "NOOOOOO!!!!" while the ball was in the air, and then this Eagle fan next to me started laughing at me.... did I mention Eagles fans suck!  Did somebody say Jeff Garcia is available? McNabb had a bad day to at the end which I do find unfortunate.

[ChadTower]

Delhomme is an important part of the cycle of the NFC south.  He only allows them to be good every other year.  It is best for everyone this way.

[orion]

Delhomme is an important part of the cycle of the NFC south.  He only allows them to be good every other year.  It is best for everyone this way.

That is so true! 

[ChadTower]

Don't worry, though.  Now that Monte Kiffin is gone Tampa has finally gotten rid of that pesky Tampa 2 that worked so well for so long.  Morris installed a nice new defense, seeing how his specialty is defensive backs, and pretty soon people are going to stand up and take notice that Tampa Bay is playing a very effective Cover 0.

[orion]

Well, I suppose it was more than time for them to change up their defense.  Didn't Kiffin originally build that Tampa 2 around Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp? I am interested though if this might change the rock, paper, scissors dynamic that seems to exist in the NFC south between Tampa, Atlanta, and Carolina.

[ChadTower]

Kiffin started to put the Tampa 2 in place in 1996.  Rice didn't get there until 2001.

The Tampa 2 was mostly about coverages, aggressively causing turnovers, and speed over size.  Can't really say Sapp could have been central to any of that.  Brooks and Lynch, absolutely, but not Sapp.  Sapp just happened to make some of that easier for a while.  Quite possibly the biggest beneficiary of the scheme has always been Ronde Barber.  How else could you get a CB to the pro bowl without the ability to man cover?

[orion]

I don't get to see as  many Bucs games here as I would like so I didn't really realize that Barber had a major issue with man coverage. I do remember though a couple of notorious stiff arms in a particular game last year!  My son asked me the other day to take him to a Bucs game in Tampa, as he is really intrigued by the Bucs and Buccaneer Cove at Ramond James from playing Madden 10. Seeing as to how I have family there, a Bucs game and a family reunion makes sense. The reason I am bringing this up is that he is also really interested in the Gasparilla Pirate fest and I am wondering how family appropriate is that these days. Between the two, which do you think a seven year old would enjoy more?

[ChadTower]

I haven't ever been to the Pirate Fest or Raymond James.  I live in MA, right by Gillette Stadium.  If you ever have questions about Patriot Place and the area around it, I'm your man, but I'm afraid I haven't been to Tampa in a long time.

[orion]

My bad, I just assumed you were in Tampa, am I correct to assume that you used to live there? If I ever go to MA for a Patriots game, I will be sure to keep you in mind for questions about it. That must be cool though living right next to Gillette Stadium. I don't know beans about Boston (sorry for that by the way.. I couldn't... resist... the.... temptation) but that must be an exciting place to live! Do you have Directv NFL Sunday ticket or something? Like I said we don't get a ton of Tampa games here, just what happens to be on Fox.

[ChadTower]

My bad, I just assumed you were in Tampa, am I correct to assume that you used to live there? Do you have Directv NFL Sunday ticket or something?

Yes and yes.    And we have a pair of dual tuner Tivos that record 4 games at once giving us the ability to switch between them at any time as well as no commercials.   

Football needs Tivo.  It's a whole different TV experience without the commercials.

[ClubNinja]

We discovered the Red Zone channel last Sunday and, while a little ADD, it made the afternoon a lot of fun.  Similar to Chad's experience, no commercials, no halftimes, just an endless cycle of relatively exciting or important plays.

[ChadTower]

Sadly, I think that's part of the Superfan package, which is $100 more than the already bloated cost of Sunday Ticket itself.  It's crazy.  Last week was a free preview.

[ClubNinja]

That's ridiculous.  For us, it's apparently 6 bucks a month Sept - Jan.

[ChadTower]

Cable?  I didn't think they could even carry any NFL specific stuff that isn't on the NFL Network (if they even have that at this point).

[Flake]

I subscribe to Sunday Ticket.  Signed up for it years ago to specifically to watch Niner games.  After they came out with Super Fan a few years ago I began the process of calling them towards the end of the season to get it for free to "evaluate" whether or not I would consider signing up for it next year.  So after a few years of this they automatically enrolled me in it this year.  So when I called to cancel the subscription prior to the start of the season they offered Super Fan to me for $50 plus they gave me a $5 monthly credit on the regular Sunday Ticket package.  So I got Super Fan this year for $20.  I spent most of my time last Sunday watching the Red Zone channel during the early game period on the big TV and watched various other games on the smaller TV by the bar.  When the Niner game came on I switched the big TV to that game and the little TV to the Red Zone channel.  

I love it.  I wont even consider another sat/cable provider until the point in time Sunday Ticket becomes available on multiple providers or Directv gets outbid.

Cable providers now get the NFL Networks version of the Red Zone Channel.  I think you have to subscribe to an upgraded sports tier though.

[ClubNinja]

Cable?  I didn't think they could even carry any NFL specific stuff that isn't on the NFL Network (if they even have that at this point).

Comcast, yes.  Just a few weeks ago, I noticed that we suddenly had NFL Network, NHL TV, MLB TV, and a few other things.  No changes have been made to my subscription; however, I did threaten to leave for Verizon FIOS in June and they offered us several upgrades without cost if I stayed, so all of this stuff may have been included.  Fine with me until next June when FIOS starts looking good again.

[ChadTower]

I would probably upgrade to HD stuff if the HD sunday ticket wasn't part of that exorbitant Superfan package.  The network feeds they carry for some of the Sunday Ticket games are horrible.  Intentionally compressed way the hell down.

[Flake]

I would probably upgrade to HD stuff if the HD sunday ticket wasn't part of that exorbitant Superfan package.  The network feeds they carry for some of the Sunday Ticket games are horrible.  Intentionally compressed way the hell down.

Yea I always hated that.  Getting HD for Sunday Ticket games was one of the reasons I've always wanted the Super Fan package, but never could justify spending ANOTHER $100 on the package.  But for $20, hell yea, sign me up.

[shardian]

So do you guys just sit around ALL DAY on Saturday and Sunday watching football? I couldn't imagine spending hundreds of dollars...to watch football games I have no vested interest in.

Granted, I like watching the occasional hour or 2 of football to get my fix. I can only think of one day in my life that I watched football for more than one game. The day I took my FE exam, I went home and crashed on the couch. I watched football from 5pm to about 1:30 am. My brain was fried, but too scrambled from the test for me to sleep.

[ChadTower]

Sunday.  I have watched maybe 3 college football games on TV in my life.  Keep in mind without the commercials and halftime you can watch two full games in the time it takes to watch one in real time.

And you know there's no way I'd be able to otherwise watch the Bucs.  Even when they were super bowl contenders they were barely ever on TV here.

[ClubNinja]

I have watched maybe 3 college football games on TV in my life. 

I will never "get" the draw of college football.  I can understand following your school's team, but even after having numerous college football fanatics explain their love, I still don't see it.  The sham of a "championship" doesn't help their cause.

[ChadTower]

Yeah.  I'm about as pure a football fan as you get.  I love the game and will watch all the way down to pop warner.  I'm sure my opinion is affected by the crappy experiences I had dealing with the NCAA in college.  I just don't have any interest in anything touching the NCAA.

[shardian]

College ball draws:
Player egos are (mostly) checked at the door
Many different forms of offense
Band fight songs in the background
Fans can have much more vested interest by being an alumni or athletic booster
A few local kids are usually on the teams
Great rivalries

And the number one reason: EVERYONE is local to at least one decent sized college team stadium.

[ChadTower]

Most of that applies to live college football.  Not much of it applies to college football on television.  I'm all for heading over to any stadium to watch a game so long as it is affordable.  TV is a totally different matter.

[ClubNinja]

Agreed - most of that describes the live experience of seeing your local team.  That's fine.  Just like I enjoy seeing local baseball and hockey minor league teams in person, but would never watch them on television. 

I don't see what makes college rivalries any different than serious professional rivalries.  In both cases, the rosters are always changing, so its rivalry based on team devotion, just like the pros.  If anything, I like pro rivalries more because there's a greater chance of seeing your favorite player sign a contract with an "enemy" team.  Little Jimmy switching schools probably happens far less and really isn't that compelling. 

As far as egos go, I've heard that arguement often.  How "pure" the college game is compared to the professional.  NCAA sports are hardly pure and I'd love to see the majors and GPAs of some of the "students" on those teams.  I mean, isn't college for learning and stuff?  Honestly, I'd rather laugh at someone like T.O. crying about his team on television than little Jimmy who's barely passing Basket Weaving 101 but sure has good hands.

[orion]

Most of that applies to live college football.  Not much of it applies to college football on television.  I'm all for heading over to any stadium to watch a game so long as it is affordable.  TV is a totally different matter.

I tend to agree with you, I find that I have a better time in Doak stadium watching the 'noles live than I do at an NFL stadium. College games are just much better when you are there, whereas I find that I almost prefer just watching NFL games at home. College games  tend to be a lot more fluid than pro, and for some reason that just makes them more fun to attend in person to me.

[shardian]

Most of that applies to live college football.  Not much of it applies to college football on television.  I'm all for heading over to any stadium to watch a game so long as it is affordable.  TV is a totally different matter.

I think alot of it comes through the TV. I also think marching band music is a cool feature of college ball. I have my team's fight song as my ringtone during the football season, and all of my coworkers have their team as their ringtone.

[ChadTower]

I wonder how much that applies moreso to people who live in areas that don't have NFL teams to begin with.  I never knew the fight song or cared about the team at either major university I went to.  It didn't help that our tuition got knocked up substantially right after the NCAA came in and stripped our school of a final four appearance because a guy everyone knew was being paid made it to the NBA and then said "oh, yeah, they paid me, well duh".  It wasn't the actual students' fault but we all got whacked by the tuition increase anyway when the school had to repay something like a million dollars in TV revenue from those games.

You just don't see all that many college football fanatics up here.  We might have more college football programs here than anyplace in the country, too, but even when they were 2-14 football was all about the Patriots.

[Flake]

So do you guys just sit around ALL DAY on Saturday and Sunday watching football?

NFL only - but yes on Sunday I park my butt downstairs and watch games all day long.  When the Rams arent in town usually others come over and we eat totally unhealthy food, drink beer and talk trash all day long.  Its great.

I make sure all work is done before Sunday.

[ChadTower]

Yesterday Leftwich had as incompetent a game as I've ever seen an NFL QB have.  That was just a straight up turd.  Byron Leftwich is a loser.

Please, please, please start Josh Johnson next week.  He can't possibly be less effective than Leftwich and looked way better on the one drive he ran yesterday.

[Flake]

Who's worse, TB/STL/KC/OAK/CLE?

I say KC is probably the best of that sorry bunch with TB or STL bringing up the rear.

[Malenko]

Was reading over the thread... I have regular cable with Comcast and there's more then enough football on TV for me, but it feel like this season the NFL is loading up on Sundays and showing 5 games at the same time twice a day on Sunday. Have there been any Saturday games? I admit it would be great to see a few more games but I don't have a spare nickle to drop on getting a sports package BUT the $5 a month is probably the best deal Comcast offers (I'm a huge hockey fan too). I can say I'm a little disappointing my new big screen TV doesn't have picture in picture like my old one did.

As for the previously mentioned college game fascination, I think its better if you don't have a team to root on. I enjoy watching random college football teams play, *most* of the time its a good close game and the players seem to actually care. Of course I live in Delaware and the "Fighting Blue Hens" are a Division AA Team and we have no pro teams in any sport. the only good thing about Delaware is we get all the Baltimore and Philadelphia pro games on the local channels.

[shardian]

Congrats Chad, Leftwich got benched. I think it is safe to say that I agree with you now...

[ChadTower]

I will believe it when Johnson is under center after the opening kickoff.  Morris also said McCown was going to get a true shot at the job.  Dude never had a chance and we see how that process has turned out.

[ChadTower]

BTW, this week against the Redskins is probably the best shot at a win the Bucs have for weeks.  I mean these dudes just lost to the Lions.

[shardian]

BTW, this week against the Redskins is probably the best shot at a win the Bucs have for weeks.  I mean these dudes just lost to the Lions.

They didn't just lose to the Lions, they made the Lions look pretty damn good. THAT is sad.

[ChadTower]

Who's worse, TB/STL/KC/OAK/CLE?

Cleveland is -66 in point differential in 3 games.  Easily the worst in the NFL.  No one else is even close.

[shardian]

Who's worse, TB/STL/KC/OAK/CLE?

Cleveland is -66 in point differential in 3 games.  Easily the worst in the NFL.  No one else is even close.

No doubt, Cleveland is the worst. I agree with the front page CNN/SI article that they need to put Cribbs in at QB. I remember watching him in College - he was just like Vick.

[ChadTower]

Behind that OL Steve Young couldn't get yardage.  They do need to put Cribbs in at WR more, though.

[Flake]

I wish all Mangini led teams the worst.  Maybe its me but he just reeks of unjustified arrogance......trying to emulate the Belichick system and failing miserably.  But I hate Belicheat too....so maybe thats why.

[LLUncoolJ]

STL is keeping the dream alive by cutting Hollis Thomas today (The dream being drafting a QB with the #1 overall pick). But if they keep starting Boller, they could mess around and try to compete in a few games. There are certainly a lot of turds this year, so it is going to be rough going to get that #1 spot.

[ChadTower]

You know they're just going to take a D lineman.

[ChadTower]

Freeman will be starting by the Packers game because:

1)  That follows the prison raping they will get from the Patriots in London.
2)  That follows their bye week.
3)  Leftwich isn't very good.
4)  They will probably be 1-6 by then anyway.

Freeman debuted in the 4th quarter against the Pats.  Expect him to start against the Packers after the bye.

I still say 0-16 won't happen.  At least they aren't the worst in the NFL - that has to be either St Louis or Tennessee. 

[shardian]

Apparently Leftwich wasn't the problem huh? 

[ChadTower]

Apparently Leftwich wasn't the problem huh? 

Leftwich the veteran should be expected to produce a lot more than a 5th round pick making his first NFL starts, don't you think?  Johnson did play better than Leftwich anyway.  Leftwich's final game was horror movie bad.

[hypernova]

No way Tennessee is the worst.  Not when St. Louis is around.

Cleveland may have won a game, but really, did they win the game, or did Buffalo just lose the game?  Cleveland should still be considered as well.

[ChadTower]

That's a good point.  Buffalo is a creative loser.

[hypernova]

Saint Louis has their best chance so far this week against Detroit.

[ChadTower]

Wow that's going to be a hard game to watch even for their fans.

[ChadTower]

Oh sure... St Louis and Tennessee have wins now...

(uh oh)

[ChadTower]

I actually thought Rodgers outplayed Favre.  The Vikings as a whole are just a far better team than GB.

[ChadTower]

Freeman looked pretty good yesterday!  Made some mistakes, but also made some great plays, and brought them back from way behind in the 4th.  It's only one game but there is suddenly a whole lot more hope for the future.   

[Flake]

That game shocked the hell out of me yesterday.  I had picked GB to go to the SB this year on the NFC side.  Wow was that a bad pick.  But I also bought into the Mike Singletary hype too so shows what I know.

[ChadTower]

Another strong and promising performance from Freeman... brought them back from 10 down to take the lead with a minute left.  The defense couldn't hold but that isn't Freeman's fault.  So far in two weeks he has brought them back from 11 and 10 point fourth quarter leads.  The kid has something here.   

[ChadTower]

There are certainly a lot of turds this year, so it is going to be rough going to get that #1 spot.

So it looks like what everyone thought it would with the Bucs and Rams fighting for that top draft pick.  Clearly, the Rams need a QB, but just as clearly they love to draft D linemen and still owe Bulger a lot of money.  The Bucs aren't going anywhere near a QB in the draft.  So I guess the question here is:

Will the Rams do the smart thing and draft a QB or will they do what they always do and draft a D lineman?  This worries me a little bit since the Bucs' biggest need is D line and I'd really, really, really like to get Suh.

[Flake]

Rams will definitely go QB.  They have the No. 1 picked locked up unless they blow it and beat SF the last week of the season.  Teams cut players with big guaranteed money contracts all the time.  I dont know how much they still owe Bulger on the guaranteed side but he is done as a QB.  Plus if there is no cap next year the only financial restraint will be how much the ownership group is willing to spend.  TB would probably have to contend with DET on the D Line position.  They have Charles Rodgers but thats pretty much it.

[Cakemeister]

Suh should be gone if the Bucs pick third. The Lions will pick him.

[ChadTower]

Detroit has two wins.  Who is Tampa going to beat?  They play the Saints this week.  Next week they play the Falcons who might be fighting for a playoff spot.

[Flake]

I dont know what the tie-breaker situation is but both DET and TB have 2 wins.

[ChadTower]

I dont know what the tie-breaker situation is but both DET and TB have 2 wins.

 

I totally forgot they just beat Seattle. 

[Cakemeister]

I looked up strength of schedule:

1. Rams 1-13 --- 0.531
2. Lions 2-12 --- 0.513
3. Bucs 2-12 --- 0.558
4. Browns 3-11 --- 0.509
5. Chiefs 3-11 --- 0.527

If the Lions and Bucs lose out, Detroit would pick second, I think.

[ChadTower]

Hrm.  Detroit has the 49ers and Bears left.  Maybe they can pull out a week 17 win. 

 

[ChadTower]

Wow, nobody saw that coming!

Looks like the Lions get Suh for sure but I'll always trade a big win for a draft spot.   

[JeepMonkey]

I don't think you can be too surprised with whoever gets Suh.  I would like to see him go to my Chiefs, but 1) he won't likely be there, and 2) our last two first rounders, #3 and #5 overall I think, were defensive line.

Whoever you are, if Suh is available when your draft pick comes up, take him.  Being from Big 12 country I have been able to see him a fair bit this year.  He is a beast.

[Flake]

I don't think you can be too surprised with whoever gets Suh.  I would like to see him go to my Chiefs, but 1) he won't likely be there, and 2) our last two first rounders, #3 and #5 overall I think, were defensive line.

Whoever you are, if Suh is available when your draft pick comes up, take him.  Being from Big 12 country I have been able to see him a fair bit this year.  He is a beast.

Maybe the Niners can bundle their two first round picks to snag him up (their own and CAR's).  I think its a foregone conclusion the Rams take QB.  That drops him to no. 2 right off the bat.  

[ChadTower]

Well, thanks to the Cowboys (and the Aggies) I'm down to $5 of my initial free $100 betting money.

The question this week is whether to bet for or against the Cowboys.  From what I'm reading, it'd be a better strategic move for them to lose this week.   

Why would anyone who can read bet on the Cowboys in December?  Geez, jim.

[ChadTower]

Sat, Dec 19    @ New Orleans    W 24-17

Ah... makes sense on your end.  Someone took the bet for Dallas to win in December against a 13-0 team.