2008 NFL Off season thread.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I would care if I spent good money to travel to Hawaii to see it.

If you risk buying a ticket to go all the way out to Hawaii for an allstar game AFTER the season is over, you should expect several players to take a pass, especially ones who played the entire playoffs and didnt win the superbowl.

[habernac]

about the last thing I'd pay to go see in Hawaii would be a bunch of tired guys coasting through a game that means precisley dick. It's even more meaningless than the NHL All Star "game".

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

If you risk buying a ticket to go all the way out to Hawaii for an allstar game AFTER the season is over, you should expect several players to take a pass, especially ones who played the entire playoffs and didnt win the superbowl.

Maybe so. But it doesn't matter if its the Pro Bowl, or the NHL All Star Game or the MLB All Star Game. If a player is selected, he should go. Especially the Pro Bowl. Its in Hawaii after the season. The game its self is half speed. Players will use the fact that they were selected to a Pro Bowl during contract negotiations (although in Brady's case that wouldn't matter one way or the other at the present time). I think it should be a requirement of every CBA (personally I think All Star Games are bogus) since the players and teams would be no where without the fans. Does it really kill you to show up for an exhibition game at the end of season? If your injured, fine give your spot to a healthy player. But if you just don't feel like going? I don't feel like going on half the business trips I go on. But its part of my job.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Maybe so. But it doesn't matter if its the Pro Bowl, or the NHL All Star Game or the MLB All Star Game. If a player is selected, he should go. Especially the Pro Bowl. Its in Hawaii after the season. The game its self is half speed. Players will use the fact that they were selected to a Pro Bowl during contract negotiations (although in Brady's case that wouldn't matter one way or the other at the present time). I think it should be a requirement of every CBA (personally I think All Star Games are bogus) since the players and teams would be no where without the fans. Does it really kill you to show up for an exhibition game at the end of season? If your injured, fine give your spot to a healthy player. But if you just don't feel like going? I don't feel like going on half the business trips I go on. But its part of my job.

So Luongo should have gone the the NHL one? I think an injury is fine and at the end of the season, and youre beat up from playing 19 games in 22 weeks, you should be able to waive the invitation too. I think Niedermayer should have waived his invite this year as should Fitzpatrick the year before (if he was invited) but those are for different reasons.

The aim of the Probowl/Allstar games is all wrong... the league and some fans take it too seriously. It should be laid back and aimed solely at fun. I doubt any player really enjoys the game itself but does enjoy the camaraderie. The system is broken and I am in favor of removing allstar games completely.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

So Luongo should have gone the the NHL one? I think an injury is fine and at the end of the season, and youre beat up from playing 19 games in 22 weeks, you should be able to waive the invitation too. I think Niedermayer should have waived his invite this year as should Fitzpatrick the year before (if he was invited) but those are for different reasons.

The aim of the Probowl/Allstar games is all wrong... the league and some fans take it too seriously. It should be laid back and aimed solely at fun. I doubt any player really enjoys the game itself but does enjoy the camaraderie. The system is broken and I am in favor of removing allstar games completely.

Not that I'm defending Moss but he's the only example I have right now. Let's say he goes to the pro bowl and gets injured.....he's up for a contract, Why risk your personal health for a meaningless game that could jeopardize your contract situation?

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Not that I'm defending Moss but he's the only example I have right now. Let's say he goes to the pro bowl and gets injured.....he's up for a contract, Why risk your personal health for a meaningless game that could jeopardize your contract situation?

That is a legitimate concern. I think for most players it is an honor and most young players would be pretty excited to be selected. The guys that don't show are the mega stars like Moss or Barry Bonds. I kind of get the attitude that they think they are above such petty things such as All Star Games.

Like I said above, I don't like All Star Games. But I still don't think a player should be able to blow it off because they don't feel like going. When my boss asks me to go to Saskatoon for a week next month I doubt he will be ok if I tell him I don't feel like going and I want to stay home with my family.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Not that I'm defending Moss but he's the only example I have right now. Let's say he goes to the pro bowl and gets injured.....he's up for a contract, Why risk your personal health for a meaningless game that could jeopardize your contract situation?

All you need to say is Robert Edwards

He rushed for 1,115 yards for the Patriots in the 1998 National Football League season, before blowing out his knee at a NFL rookie flag football game in Hawaii. Edwards barely escaped the injury without having his leg amputated below the knee, and he was told he may not walk again.

Edwards would not play football again until 2002, when he made his return with the Miami Dolphins. In his first game back, against the Detroit Lions, Edwards caught a touchdown pass and ran for another score. He spent the rest of the season sharing third-down back duties with fellow running back Travis Minor. After the season, he lost his spot on the roster to Leonard Henry.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

That is a legitimate concern. I think for most players it is an honor and most young players would be pretty excited to be selected. The guys that don't show are the mega stars like Moss or Barry Bonds. I kind of get the attitude that they think they are above such petty things such as All Star Games.

Like I said above, I don't like All Star Games. But I still don't think a player should be able to blow it off because they don't feel like going. When my boss asks me to go to Saskatoon for a week next month I doubt he will be ok if I tell him I don't feel like going and I want to stay home with my family.

Ideally, players should go because they want to give back to the fans. But a lot of players would rather take an extra 2-3 days off and spend time with family/healing. I propose that every other year the NHL takes time off for the Olympics/World Cup and then plays through (with a small break) the other seasons.

And for the record, Bonds only missed the 2000 all star game, because he was injured.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

But a lot of players would rather take an extra 2-3 days off and spend time with family/healing.

That makes sense for MLB, NBA, or NHL. But for the Pro Bowl, the season is over. The game is in Hawaii. I think most players treat it as a vacation. Take the family and relax. The game is laid back. The practices they show on NFL Network don't look that strenuous.

[troutman]

Moss has assault allegations to deal with.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by troutman

Moss has assault allegations to deal with.

He's also hurt.

Was limping noticibly after the game.

[Clever_Iggy]

Alright. I want honest opinions - I know there are several carded members of the RaiderHater club on CP. Is there hope for my Raiders? Im moving to the Bay Area permanently and I had hoped that they would be turning the corner for my arrival.

Now Kiffen might be canned, we went 4-12 again and we're handing the keys of the team to Russell with no weapons for him to rely on.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Alright. I want honest opinions - I know there are several carded members of the RaiderHater club on CP. Is there hope for my Raiders? Im moving to the Bay Area permanently and I had hoped that they would be turning the corner for my arrival.

Now Kiffen might be canned, we went 4-12 again and we're handing the keys of the team to Russell with no weapons for him to rely on.

Firstly sorry about moving to the bay, if it is anywhere near Oakland.

Second, get around to anything cool for the game last weekend? Good thing that rain on Monday wasn't a day early

Thirdly, man, at least teams like the Cards and Browns seemed pointed in the right direction. Davis has just lost it ... and I love it . That guy is preoccupied with being the boss instead of being preoccupied with a committment to excellence. He has had 3 great young coaches in the last 15 years, has managed to scare the first 2 off, and is working hard on the third. Russell has a big arm but the raider model is to draft/sign or trade for guys with big hype but simply are not leaders or winners. They'd pick up every over celebrated SB MVP they could find for awhile, now they are busy turning very early 1st round tackles into guards.

I see alot of early first round picks in their future.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

Firstly sorry about moving to the bay, if it is anywhere near Oakland.

Second, get around to anything cool for the game last weekend? Good thing that rain on Monday wasn't a day early

Thirdly, man, at least teams like the Cards and Browns seemed pointed in the right direction. Davis has just lost it ... and I love it . That guy is preoccupied with being the boss instead of being preoccupied with a committment to excellence. He has had 3 great young coaches in the last 15 years, has managed to scare the first 2 off, and is working hard on the third. Russell has a big arm but the raider model is to draft/sign or trade for guys with big hype but simply are not leaders or winners. They'd pick up every over celebrated SB MVP they could find for awhile, now they are busy turning very early 1st round tackles into guards.

I see alot of early first round picks in their future.

I think it's clear that Skeletor is the problem with that franchise and being "preoccupied with being the boss" is the perfect way to put it. If he's not feuding with the city/NFL over the franchise's location he's firing coaches just because he can.

We've been the worst team since 2002 after having one of the worst Superbowl appearances ever. We have put a ton of money into the likes of Gallery and Russell and I dont have a lot of confidence in our choices.

Sigh.

[KTown]

Keyshawn to Miami??????????????

Parcells you called the wrong Johnson, get me CJ!!!


http://cbs4.com/sports/keyshawn.john....2.646600.html

[moon]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Alright. I want honest opinions - I know there are several carded members of the RaiderHater club on CP. Is there hope for my Raiders? Im moving to the Bay Area permanently and I had hoped that they would be turning the corner for my arrival.

Now Kiffen might be canned, we went 4-12 again and we're handing the keys of the team to Russell with no weapons for him to rely on.

I am not a member of the Raiderhater club but I will give you my two cents. I don't know if it is more or less relevant being a fan of a fellow god awful organization and the only one that can give the Raiders a run for worst organization of the past 5 years.

I think they are in for a long stretch of bad years with or without Davis. I think it will be less if Al is gone but even in that case there are a lot of problems at key positions for this team.

Russel has a long way to go before he is going to be a solid NFL QB let alone a good to great QB. They have nobody close to filling in while he learns the ropes. The RB's are okay but there is nobody there that can be looked at to effectively carry the load as a #1 guy. There is no decent receivers, Curry is good as a third guy and maybe can morph into a #2 but no big threat there isn't going to help with the running game or a young QB.

The defense looks pretty good which is a plus.

The main problem of course is Al Davis. He makes dumb decisions based on personal feelings/whims. He gets enamored with guys/skills and lets that trump common sense/football knowledge. I think so long as Davis is there any progress the Raiders make will eventually be undone by his meddling and ego.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Im moving to the Bay Area permanently and I had hoped that they would be turning the corner for my arrival.

Look at it this way. You should be able to get great season tickets. Unless your scared of going to that stadium. Raider fan or not. That place is a sewer. I'm talking from personal experience. Never in my life have I been to a sports stadium (no I havn't been to them all) where people just urinate on the floor.

[habernac]

Nice! Went to a few ballgames in Philly 5 years ago at old Veterans Stadium. We made the mistake of staying at a hotel near the stadium. One of the girls with us was asked if she was a day guest or a night guest. LOL! Classy!

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by habernac

Nice! Went to a few ballgames in Philly 5 years ago at old Veterans Stadium. We made the mistake of staying at a hotel near the stadium. One of the girls with us was asked if she was a day guest or a night guest. LOL! Classy!

Did they ask you if you wanted the nightly rate or the 15 minute rate?

[To_be_Quite_Honest]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

All you need to say is Robert Edwards

I saw some defensive guys working out in the sand, they were doing a sort of series of standing long jumps in the sand, it was an explosion drill designed that every time you jump you sink more into the sand so it gets harder and harder.

Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were going at it side by side, and i was thinking that was four ACL's that the Ravens could not afford to see damaged.

I could feel them tearing as i watched it. lol