NFL 2012 Regular Season Thread

[kalorama]

I agree...but the unwashed masses don't want to hear about "defensive schemes", they want big throws, offense, and lots of points

I shower daily, so I can't speak for the "unwashed masses." Personally I love seeing teams play defense. I'd like to see the Skins play more of it more consistently.

[Vibranium]

and Paul Tagliabue vacated the 4 players on the Saints involved in the BountyGates scandal

par for the f'ng course for a guy who as commissioner didn't do shit about player discipline, which is why Goodell has had to institute and enforce the personal conduct policy

[kalorama]

I'm okay with what Tagliabue did. He's basically saying that, while the players were at fault, this thing is ultimately the fault/responsibility of the coaches and management and that giving the players the same penalty as the guys in charge is disporortionate punishment. And I agree with that, because the way the NFL is structured, players don't really have the option of telling the coach "You're wrong and I'm not going to do what you say."

[Vibranium]

and Im fine with that part, he is laying it at the feet of the coaching staff

but to completely absolve the players of any responsibility is no bueno

[kalorama]

He didn't absolve anyone. He stated pretty clearly that the players were involved in conduct detrimental to the league. But his job was only to determine whether the suspensions originally levied by Goodell were fair and should be allowed to stand. There were basically only two things he could do: let them stand as is or overturn them. And having decided (correctly) that Goodell came down too hard on the players in relationship to management, voiding the players' suspension was his only recourse. He didn't have the authority to levy new player penalties that he thought were more appropriate. Any additional penalties levied against the players have to come from Goodell.

EIDT: Okay, I just reread the ESPN story on it and Tagliabue does mention that he considered instituting reduced penalties, so I guess he did have the authority. But he also gave a pretty reasonable explanation for why he didn't do it.

[Crawford]

Unfortunately it sounds about right. You can get cheaper tickets, but it'll usually cost around at least $100 (before parking, food/drink, souvenirs, etc.). It's fun for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but I prefer to be at home in a comfortable, temperature controlled room with a big-screen and live-rewind/pause capabilities.

Thanks FFF, getting tickets for Giants game, very excited!

[DennyK]

No. No he has not. This Colts team is massively different to the one that played last year. The most valuable employee in the Colts franchise this year was Ryan Griggson, not Andrew Luck.

Now, it is fair to heap praise on Luck for how well he's played, and I'm continously flabbergasted at how he comes up big in high-pressure situations again and again, but this was not the same team that Curtis Painter and Dan Orslovsky "ran" last year, with the exception of a few notable names.

When they make Most Valuable Employee an actual award please get back to me, until then, I can't take that part of your statement seriously. I'm looking at the Colts roster as I write this, and there are no less than 13 rookies on the roster, and that doesn't include the 3 on injured reserve. So maybe, in fact, you may be right that this roster is massively different than the one that played last year; however, that only goes to further my point.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Everyone knew Taglibue wasn't gonna punish the players after Goodell's authority was deemed to be too much and its why it was upheld and handed to Taglibue. I think we all knew that the message was sent that the players won then and will continue to win at times. Paul Taglibue's hands were tied really. He couldn't give them a stiff punishment because it likely would have been upheld again and the process would repeat itself.

[The Once And Forever]

When they make Most Valuable Employee an actual award please get back to me, until then, I can't take that part of your statement seriously. I'm looking at the Colts roster as I write this, and there are no less than 13 rookies on the roster, and that doesn't include the 3 on injured reserve. So maybe, in fact, you may be right that this roster is massively different than the one that played last year; however, that only goes to further my point.

That Luck has had a massively positive influence on the development of the team? Of that there is no doubt, but that's been known and discussed since this summer. My issue was with the same team theory.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

The Cardinals put Kevin Kolb on IR after a setback happened with his recovery from his ribs he hut weeks ago. Kolb is expected to be released due to them owing him $11+ million this upcoming off season and the franchise not gonna pay it. Kolb will likely be attractive in free agency due to his numbers in the 4-2 start.

[Vibranium]

Drew Brees had some comments about the whole Bountygate decision and some pointed comments about the Commish

way out of line IMO

[finfangfool]

Man loves his team, and it obviously had an effect beyond what I would have thought possible. I figured with Brees slinging it they were good for at least 9 wins, and a 12 or 13 win season wouldn't have shocked me (and a lot of the "experts" I listen to/read felt the same way). Distractions and coaching apparently do play a larger part than we thought. I don't blame Brees for being upset, less out of line than a lot of things I've seen players say or twit.

[Vibranium]

considering the players involved got a f'ng gift from that clown shoe Tagliabue, Brees should be grateful

[Nick Soapdish]

The players may have been treated harshly by Gooden. I personally think that they were guilty, but never saw enough evidence to be "beyond a reasonable doubt". However, that isn't true with the coaches who admitted to their involvement.

*Full disclosure. I'm a Vikes fan and I've always felt that the Saints were playing dirty against the Vikes in the championship game, but that doesn't mean that they were doing it for money. The chance to win a Super Bowl is a much bigger enticement. But halfway through the game, I was (almost) hoping that the Vikes would start cheap-shotting Brees. Fine, they might pick up a few personal fouls, but if it knocks him out of the game or limits his effectiveness. Which is an excellent examples of the hypocrisy of fans wanting safer play, but still cheering the big hits.

[JDogindy]

The Cardinals put Kevin Kolb on IR after a setback happened with his recovery from his ribs he hut weeks ago. Kolb is expected to be released due to them owing him $11+ million this upcoming off season and the franchise not gonna pay it. Kolb will likely be attractive in free agency due to his numbers in the 4-2 start.

Is it wrong to question why Kevin Kolb was so desired in Philadelphia? They basically wanted him to be the future, but three years later, he is just a high-priced bust.

Also, I'm glad Jacksonville put Blaine Gabbert out of his misery a month or so ago. His one goal was to not have a bad season, and he managed to play even worse than he did in his rookie year. He is not an NFL player at all.