NFL 2023

[unclevlad]

Well...apparently the rookies are starting to report today;  training camps start opening early next week.  So, it's time for a thread for the new season.

 

And ugh...this isn't exactly the best way to start things out, but ESPN's Outside the Lines team is showing a story regarding who leaked the emails that led to Jon Gruden's firing.

 

The story is massively ugly.  We start with Dan Snyder, but that's no surprise now.  They don't accuse individuals per se, but make cases for...Goodell, DeMaurice Smith (head of the PA), and general league officials and even owners, who were MORE than happy, apparently, to force Gruden out.  They also suggest Snyder had a strong hand in influencing how Gruden was terminated...under threat of releasing his implicating emails.  THAT part backfired, as that appears to be the last straw, and Snyder himself was forced out.

 

Quite the sordid affair to kick off the season.

[death tribble]

The Vikings to win the Superbowl at the end of the 2023-24 season

[Pariah]

With a competent head coach (finally), the 2023-24 Donkeys surge to a 9-8 record, good for 3rd in the AFC West but only 8th in the conference, missing the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year. Russell Wilson has a bounceback season cut short by a blown ACL in week 12-14, leading the team to take the cap hit and release him in the offseason. Denver enters the 2024-25 season with uncertainty at the quarterback position once again. 

[unclevlad]

Wow, Mr. P, you're such an optimist!!!  Even more that the Fuzzlord!!!!

[Starlord]

Thinking Wilson will be gone after next year does seem pretty optimistic....

[unclevlad]

Oh, very much so.  But the Vikings to win a single playoff game?  Better odds playing Power Ball.

 

EDIT:  for amusement purposes only.

https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/football/nfl?category=team-futures&subcategory=winner&wpsrc=Organic Search&wpaffn=Google&wpkw=https%3A%2F%2Fsportsbook.draftkings.com%2Fleagues%2Ffootball%2Fnfl%3Fcategory%3Dteam-futures%26subcategory%3Dwinner&wpcn=leagues&wpscn=football%2Fnfl

[Logan D. Hurricanes]

[unclevlad]

But we all know that any SB odds posted before training camps even start are all hype and hot air.  Denver last year.  Cowboys, many years...because lots of people bet the Cowboys with their........well, I'd best not say.  NOT their brains, let's just leave it there.  Rodgers has been grotesquely overvalued for the last several years.

[Logan D. Hurricanes]

The Tennessee Titans are expected to sign free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.  

 

In news of no interest to anyone else, The Jags and TE Evan Engram have finally reached an agreement. 

[unclevlad]

Preseason prognostications and the countdown to opening day......

 

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

 

[Logan D. Hurricanes]

 

[unclevlad]

The Browns don't need a new logo, they need to be relegated to the MAC.

[Pariah]

...with Northwestern.

[Old Man]

Apparently Brownie the Elf was the midfield logo at the Pound for last season.  So a comeback is not impossible, for the logo anyway.

[unclevlad]

1 minute ago, Old Man said:

Apparently Brownie the Elf was the midfield logo at the Pound for last season.  So a comeback is not impossible, for the logo anyway.

 

Nah.  Brownie just woke up from a Rip van Winkle...looked around, and decided the nap was a far, far better idea....

 

And I tell ya, Mr. P, Northwestern should be relegated to Division III.  

 

I mean, I'd say "why so much MAC hate"....but I stuck the Browns there, so that kinda kills THAT argument................

 

[Pariah]

I'll forbear commentary on how much this makes them look like the other team in Ohio...

 

Browns unveil new white helmet as part of alternate uniform that will be worn for three games in 2023

 

There was also a teaser a few weeks ago suggesting that the Donkeys might also be unveiling a white alternate helmet soon. If it's real, they would apparently be wearing it with the orange Color Rash uniform.

[unclevlad]

There has to be a point where the cost of special production for limited use exceeds the value of sales of the alternative jerseys.

 

And no doubt every team will test where that is.

[unclevlad]

https://sports.yahoo.com/why-nfl-running-backs-devalued-190757210.html

 

HOW badly are they devalued now, you ask?

 

Quote

Result? The average salary of a kicker ($2.26 million) is greater than that of a running back ($1.81 million) in 2023, according to Spotrac.

 

Here's a clean layout of the numbers:

https://thefootballusa.com/average-nfl-salary

 

Only punters make less...and not much less.

[Pariah]

Sorry, but I don't have a lot of sympathy for a guy making almost 2 million dollars a year and crying that he's "undervalued". Get a real job like the rest of us, champ. 

[Logan D. Hurricanes]

Jags assistant comes out as gay in NFL milestone

 

In Florida, of all states. A cool first for the Jags. 

[Old Man]

Looks like the Commies are getting sold for $6.05B.  (And Snyder is getting fined $60M.)

[unclevlad]

Yeah, Danny was a very, very bad boy.  There's a story here:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10083427-commanders-rumors-pretty-good-chance-team-will-change-name-after-dan-snyder-sale

 

During Snyder's tenure, the Commanders had more serious investigations...federal, NFL, attorney general...than playoff berths.  They had more of each type of investigation than All-Pros.

 

Don Van Natta opines that the new owners, who should be in place fairly soon now, might well want to change the name again, just to wash away as much of the Snyder slime as they can.  I don't know if that's possible for this season;  it seems reasonable to say the league needs some notice, and the season starts in, what, 6 or 7 weeks.  That might be a bit short for the league PR machine.  

[Old Man]

8 minutes ago, unclevlad said:

Yeah, Danny was a very, very bad boy.  There's a story here:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10083427-commanders-rumors-pretty-good-chance-team-will-change-name-after-dan-snyder-sale

 

During Snyder's tenure, the Commanders had more serious investigations...federal, NFL, attorney general...than playoff berths.  They had more of each type of investigation than All-Pros.

 

Don Van Natta opines that the new owners, who should be in place fairly soon now, might well want to change the name again, just to wash away as much of the Snyder slime as they can.  I don't know if that's possible for this season;  it seems reasonable to say the league needs some notice, and the season starts in, what, 6 or 7 weeks.  That might be a bit short for the league PR machine.  

 

Oh goody, another name change!  Beltway Bandits?  Swamp Things?

[Pariah]

Yeah, Commanders is a stupid name. 

 

BREAKING: Washington Commanders Expected To Undergo Another Name Change After NFL Owners Approve Sale Of Team To Josh Harris

 

Don Van Natta Jr. of ESPN said he "would not be surprised at all if we see a name change and a complete rebranding". Might that include a change in (for example) team colors? How extensive a rebranding are we talking about?

[unclevlad]

50 minutes ago, Pariah said:

Yeah, Commanders is a stupid name. 

 

BREAKING: Washington Commanders Expected To Undergo Another Name Change After NFL Owners Approve Sale Of Team To Josh Harris

 

Don Van Natta Jr. of ESPN said he "would not be surprised at all if we see a name change and a complete rebranding". Might that include a change in (for example) team colors? How extensive a rebranding are we talking about?

 

Yeah, I posted that too, but calling it "expected" is atrocious clickbait.  It makes very good sense, but the ONLY "source" for this is a writer, and he only said "would not be surprised."  How the bloody heck does that become "expected"? They're trying to create news, when there's nothing there.  Right...that's a web site to toss to the side forever..........