2012 NFL Off-Season Thread

[SUPERECWFAN1]

The Bears' WR Johnny Knox ended up on IR towards the end of the 2011 season, after breaking his back on a truly gruesome freak hit where he was bent backwards at the waist. After spending months in a brace, Knox lost 30 pounds from his already light 185 lb. frame. He's begun training againn, and has gained back 10 so far. But in an interview yesterday, he acknowledged that his comeback might take longer than he'd like. He's considered the possibility that he'll miss the 2012 season.

I'd say he should take 2012 off completely. Let his back heal , let him regain weight and work out. If he wants to really come back ...2013 would be his best move.

[Vibranium]

NFLPA files lawsuit against the NFL - alleging owners conspired to set "secret salary cap"

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/79...collusion-2010

[Nick Soapdish]

NFLPA files lawsuit against the NFL - alleging owners conspired to set "secret salary cap"

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/79...collusion-2010

Now this is something that I think the NFL could be in trouble with. I'm not too surprised that the Redskins and Cowboys lost their appeal because their best argument was that the NFL was illegally colluding and then they'd be shooting themselves in the foot.

I'm expecting the NFL to settle here so that they don't have to go before Doty. After all, they don't have an anti-trust exemption.

[Vibranium]

but the burden is on the NFLPA to PROVE there was collusion

[Nick Soapdish]

but the burden is on the NFLPA to PROVE there was collusion

I don't think that's much of an issue. They're imposing salary cap penalties for breaking a salary cap on a year when there wasn't a salary cap or agreement with players to have a salary cap. I think that the bigger issue is what has changed since the players tacitly agreed to the cap when the NFL raised the salary cap, despite it being supposed to decline based on the new agreement and revenues, and agreed to spread the penalty around to the other teams. It seems like it was basically understood back then.

OTOH, there are obviously some facets of this case that I don't understand since the NFL essentially admitted to collusion by implementing the salary cap penalties.

[JDogindy]

So today after work I stopped in an antique store and saw an old 1984 Street & Smith Football book. It detailed predictions for the 84 season and what had happened in 1983. Several things in looking back would crack some up. Here goes....

- The Raiders had won the Super Bowl that last season and was strongly considered for a repeat. In fact one article detailed the "Raiders Empire..." . The Raiders sadly would never make it to a Super Bowl since. The team did make it to the AFC Championship in 1985.

For the hell of it, what did the article say about the Colts' sudden move from Baltimore to Indianapolis?

[SUPERECWFAN1]

For the hell of it, what did the article say about the Colts' sudden move from Baltimore to Indianapolis?

From what I read ... the Colts move was basically mocked more or less. They discussed that the coaching staff and owners likely named Mark Herrmann the starting QB since he was from that area and to get fans for the team. Herrmann more or less was a failure and quickly was benched it seems for Mike Pagel .

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Another funny thing that weirdly is happening ...is the USFL talk. The league was going into its 2nd season and many felt the new league was really starting to hurt some NFL teams. They were raiding players like Brian Sipe and more to play that hurt depth at times. Those disgruntled could make some ok money going there. The league the 1st season as the book details was built around running backs that 1st year. The 2nd season saw them add Steve Young , Jim Kelly and Sipe .

In todays NFL article , Jeff Garcia is on the board of the new USFL who are launching as a spring league in 2013 ...

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...headline_stack

[Paradox]

USFL? Why in the world would you restart such a spectacular failure? He says they learned their lesson, but obviously did not. People are simply NOT going to flock to watch second- and third-stringers play spring football.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

USFL? Why in the world would you restart such a spectacular failure? He says they learned their lesson, but obviously did not. People are simply NOT going to flock to watch second- and third-stringers play spring football.

USFL? Why in the world would you restart such a spectacular failure? He says they learned their lesson, but obviously did not. People are simply NOT going to flock to watch second- and third-stringers play spring football.

Well to bring up the last spring league (XFL) there was some things that have to be brought up. Yes TV ratings were terrible in prime time for the league and the NBC deal was one where the league pulled Jay Leno in prime time numbers (Leno actually years later did worse than the XFL !) . But here is where things are often ignored. The XFL for the most part actually drew very good attendance at games. A fact that it was joked more people wanted to go watch the games live than actually watch on TV !

Also the prime time schedule of games hurt the league. One executive pushed that the league should air games on Saturday or Sunday ala the NFL during the spring the next season. To stay out of prime time hours and grow that way. Also cut the schedule down to a Feb to May or March to May deal. McMahon and Ebersol at this point weren't into building the XFL into something (they wanted quick results) and said fuck it.

But the USFL can work ...it just needs a few things.

1.) Be radically different. The XFL's OT was unique ...3 shots to score inside the 20. There had to be a TD scored . If the other team couldn't score a TD on their chance...game is over.

Make the uniforms unique and game ball. I'd suggest a Red , white and blue football personally . One that would make people go WTF...

2.) Keep it short and sweet. A mid Feb. to May schedule works best. That is 4 months. If you do 8 teams in each conference and all , you can do the league and start playoffs in April and the league championship that May.

3.) Do not piss in the NFL's cornflakes. The old USFL constantly seemed to wanna piss off the NFL. It was like they ran a contest to piss on the NFL. This league needs the support and help of the NFL to make it. The new USFL will also benefit if teams decide that development players and ones they wanna get playing time get pushed there. The NFL teams can place players there they want to get playing time.

Once the league ends play in May , those players can come into the start of training camp with playing experience and possibly help their teams. The NFL hasn't had a league to help develope players since the World League was folded back in the 2000's. Here now , they can have a league help them.

4.) Salaries - The USFL failed mostly because of owners like Donald Trump who felt he needed to pay huge salaries to players like Brian Sipe and Hershel Walker. The new league needs a XFL salary situation to make it. Teams must have personal salary caps set at ...$500,000- $1 million a team. Yes its cheap salaries. But the league is wanting to exist and not spend itself out.

5.) Keep it in the spring outta prime time - The League can not do prime time games. NBC , ABC , ESPN... whoever signs the league now needs to realize , this isn't gonna be a ratings gold mine. Keep the league playing on Saturdays/Sunday 1pm/4pm games.

[Vibranium]

I totally agree with #3....they should do their best to encourage a relationship with the NFL....not piss it off and get crushed because Goodell doesn't like the way you look at him

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I also wanna clear up that when I meant 8 teams , I meant in total. 4 teams each conference . An "East" and "West" division.

[Vibranium]

Colts came up 3,000 short on season tickets....and they blew through the wait list

[Nick Soapdish]

USFL? Why in the world would you restart such a spectacular failure? He says they learned their lesson, but obviously did not. People are simply NOT going to flock to watch second- and third-stringers play spring football.

I dunno. The USFL was doing pretty well for their first two seasons, but they expanded too fast and moving to fall was a disaster. Part of their problem was that they weren't a developmental league, but outbidding the NFL for some players without having anywhere close to the same revenue.

[worstblogever]

HBO's "Hard Knocks" will be back again this year... in Miami, with the Dolphins.