NFL 2011 Post-Lockout, Pre-Season Thread

Gumbie wrote:

Alex Smith 19-31
Vince Young 30-18

Man, that VY is just a winner, how did you let him get away?

I think you could have bested Alex Smith's W-L record by putting on a Titans jersey and handing off to CJ.

Also helps having a legitimate NFL defense on the field when it's not your turn.

Aw, good old fashioned PFT sniping at ESPN. Now football really is back.

Eli thinks he's elite. Let me get a bowl of snack mix and a couple drinks before you guys go to town with this.

Edit: Best line I've ever heard on PFT Live:

CSN Chicago's John Mullen in regards to Jay Culter wrote:

If people don't like him for his pouty face, they're not going to like him anymore.

Replace "Jay Cutler" with any of the banner members of the *Legion* Douche Face Scale.

garion333 wrote:
Enix wrote:

Well, Cam didn't suck. Sure, he threw off his back foot a lot. But his two sacks weren't his fault, and he had a couple of pretty throws.

Even better, the Panthers' new OC is taking some chances downfield. The 3-and-long draw play apparently is not in his playbook!

From the looks of it Greg Olsen must be loving it in Carolina. People actually throw the ball to him!

Jay Cutler threw the ball to him, he just didn't catch it that often. I'm pretty sure he's been Chicago's most targeted receiver each of the last two years.

kaostheory wrote:
garion333 wrote:

From the looks of it Greg Olsen must be loving it in Carolina. People actually throw the ball to him!

Jay Cutler threw the ball to him, he just didn't catch it that often. I'm pretty sure he's been Chicago's most targeted receiver each of the last two years.

Last year, Earl Bennett, Johnny Knox and Devin Hester were all targeted more. In 2009 you would be correct. In 2008 only Hester was targeted more. In 2007 Muhsin Muhammad had more targets.

So, you're correct, mostly. He was pretty far down the target list last year, but that's to be expected with Mike Martz running the show. I know it's claimed that Olsen plays soft and he probably does. Maybe he'll play harder in Carolina as he's a primary target for any of their QBs, really. Rookies always need their security blankets.

Eli Manning = Tom Brady, according to Eli Manning.

OK, I'm a Giants fan, and even I'm laughing at that one. For one shining moment in Super Bowl XLII, Eli was equal to Brady, but the buck stops there. Brady's been to 4 Super Bowls (fighting through a scrappy AFC East, as well as AFC powerhouses such as Indy, Pitt and San Diego), won 3 of them, and is arguably the best QB in the league. Eli Manning came up huge on 1 Super Bowl winning drive, but is no where near the Top 5 in the league, let alone side-by-side with Brady.

With that said, he's not as bad as most people criticize him to be.

*EDIT*

Rat Boy wrote:

Eli thinks he's elite. Let me get a bowl of snack mix and a couple drinks before you guys go to town with this.

Rat Boy beat me to the punch, lol.

OK, now here's where I stand up for my QB (take shots where you may):

2009: 4021 yards passing, 62.3 Comp %, 27 TDs, 14 Ints
2010: 4003 yards passing, 62.9 Comp %, 31 TDs, 25 Ints
(He didn't have Plaxico Burress during these two years either, which most people say he hasn't been the same QB since Plax left. They're right, he's better)

Yes, definitely not Tom Brady numbers, but those are pretty good numbers. Yes, the 25 Ints are glaring, but a good number of those Ints went off WRs hands into the waiting arms of the opposition. Not making excuses for the man, but he's right, he's not a 25 Int QB. My argument is, people generally make Eli Manning out to be a horrible QB, he's not. He's an above average QB, that's playing under the pressure of NYC and its media and fans. Yes, he's not better than Brady, Peyton, or Brees. But I think he's better than Cutler, Rivers, and Romo, who are some of the middle of the pack QBs in the league.

EDIT: Also wanted to mention he's very durable, hasn't missed a game since he took over, and that's including taking a helmet shot to his bare skull in last year's pre-season. I think he's a pretty tough QB (even though his demeanor does not always show it, lol)

There are really only two elite QBs in the league: Manning the Elder, and Brady.

You could make a case that Manning the Younger is in that second tier of Brees, Rivers and Rodgers. Even though Eli has a ring, I'd put him in that third tier with Big Ben and Matt Ryan.

Shoot, Trent Dilfer has a Super Bowl ring. Doesn't mean he ever was elite.

Enix wrote:

There are really only two elite QBs in the league: Manning the Elder, and Brady.

You could make a case that Manning the Younger is in that second tier of Brees, Rivers and Rodgers. Even though Eli has a ring, I'd put him in that third tier with Big Ben and Matt Ryan.

Shoot, Trent Dilfer has a Super Bowl ring. Doesn't mean he ever was elite.

I think Aaron Rodgers is in that first tier. He won't be officially recognized in that tier until he further extends his career accomplishments. But just as the early part of Tom Brady's starting career was only retroactively recognized as first tier later on, I think Aaron Rodgers' time right now will be as well.

I don't have any issue with Eli's comments.

If you read the entirety of what PFT quoted, he's pretty much saying that he believes his ability level to be in the same caliber as Brady's, and that it's up to him to live up to it.

He commented on how Brady has improved over the course of his career, and said that he hopes his next 7 years follows the same arc as Brady's.

He also commented on how his INT total last year is something he needs to fix.

None of it reads like Eli proclaiming himself as an elite QB. More like he sees that level as what he's capable of and where his level of play should be. It reads more like he believes he has the tools to get to the top of the mountain, and believes he will get there, as opposed to believing he's already there and claiming that everyone needs to think of him that way.

Fine, let's mock the story with some Manning Faces!

IMAGE(http://manningface.s3.amazonaws.com/images/1290463947_eli.jpg)

IMAGE(http://manningface.s3.amazonaws.com/images/1291598653_eli.jpg)

Muh-muh-muh-Manning Face muh-muh-Manning Face

IMAGE(http://manningface.s3.amazonaws.com/images/1292815989_eli.jpg)

IMAGE(http://manningface.s3.amazonaws.com/images/1290406652_eli.jpg)

Oh Legion, stop reading articles and comment more on headlines. Sheesh.

Edit: If Tom Brady wasn't playing at such a high level I'd say Aaron Rodgers is the best QB right now. Manning, whether it's the cast around him or age, just isn't quite the same. Oh, and I should say I despise Philip Rivers. If he could actually win some playoff games I might respect him, but I just can't stand the guy.

*Legion* wrote:

IMAGE(http://manningface.s3.amazonaws.com/images/1290463947_eli.jpg)

Is he getting a bj or something?

Wow, if you own a PS3 you can buy DirectTV's Sunday NFL Ticket. http://gizmodo.com/5831925/watch-every-football-game-with-sunday-nfl-ticket-on-your-ps3

Tempted to cancel my cable now...

Elliottx wrote:

Wow, if you own a PS3 you can buy DirectTV's Sunday NFL Ticket. http://gizmodo.com/5831925/watch-every-football-game-with-sunday-nfl-ticket-on-your-ps3

Tempted to cancel my cable now...

Tempted to buy a PS3 now...

Elliottx wrote:

Wow, if you own a PS3 you can buy DirectTV's Sunday NFL Ticket. http://gizmodo.com/5831925/watch-every-football-game-with-sunday-nfl-ticket-on-your-ps3

Tempted to cancel my cable now...

It is tempting but $340 is too much for me. Plus I don't think I could stand to watch games without a DVR. Plus plus I assume this will be some type of Netflix-streaming type deal where it comes over your internet connection and will be compressed, not real HD.

Grumpicus wrote:
Elliottx wrote:

Wow, if you own a PS3 you can buy DirectTV's Sunday NFL Ticket. http://gizmodo.com/5831925/watch-every-football-game-with-sunday-nfl-ticket-on-your-ps3

Tempted to cancel my cable now...

Tempted to buy a PS3 now...

They just announced a price drop to $250 Grump!

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

It's finally happening!

LeapingGnome wrote:

Plus plus I assume this will be some type of Netflix-streaming type deal where it comes over your internet connection and will be compressed, not real HD.

Like a DirecTV channel?

Quality is an issue, though. I will likely still be a DirecTV subscriber for this upcoming season, but will see how well the games come in on my PS3. If the quality is good, I may drop the dish and go settop-only next season. I really hope this is just the start of the spread of Sunday Ticket to settop boxes.

please do it for xbox please do it for xbox please do it for xbox . . .

Repeat that many times. MANY times. I have DirecTV because of Sunday Ticket; while I could drop it and buy two PS3s (for up and down), I'm not sure I'm up for that at the moment.

Wow. I've been waiting for this, now just a biiiiit more . . .

Grumpicus wrote:
Elliottx wrote:

Wow, if you own a PS3 you can buy DirectTV's Sunday NFL Ticket. http://gizmodo.com/5831925/watch-every-football-game-with-sunday-nfl-ticket-on-your-ps3

Tempted to cancel my cable now...

Tempted to buy a PS3 now...

Same here. That is really tempting, especially being out of TV market for my team.

garion333 wrote:
*Legion* wrote:

IMAGE(http://manningface.s3.amazonaws.com/images/1290463947_eli.jpg)

Is he getting a bj or something?

Hey! Save your creativi...wait, there's a Manningface website?

Edit: Congratulations, Tony Romo, you had the lamest bachelor party ever.

Psych wrote:
Grumpicus wrote:
Elliottx wrote:

Wow, if you own a PS3 you can buy DirectTV's Sunday NFL Ticket. http://gizmodo.com/5831925/watch-every-football-game-with-sunday-nfl-ticket-on-your-ps3

Tempted to cancel my cable now...

Tempted to buy a PS3 now...

Same here. That is really tempting, especially being out of TV market for my team.

Hell I've never lived in my team's market. That's what happens when you grow up in a state with no NFL team, gotta pick one from somewhere else.

Of course now that I'm near Tampa Bay with blackouts for 8 weeks a year, Sunday Ticket looks even more tempting... hm...

Speaking of Sunday ticket. I've been reading around the web people are calling retention at Direct TV and playing CSR roulette until they get a $250 credit. This makes Sunday ticket like 75 bucks. I may have to try this soon.

Rat Boy wrote:

Edit: Congratulations, Tony Romo, you had the lamest bachelor party ever.

I'm not gonna say that's bad since we all know all the stupid stuff drunk athletes can do.

karmajay wrote:
Rat Boy wrote:

Edit: Congratulations, Tony Romo, you had the lamest bachelor party ever.

I'm not gonna say that's bad since we all know all the stupid stuff drunk athletes can do.

True, still lame. Grown men in the woods hiding from each other. Yup, that's what NFL players do when they can't drink and bang strippers.

Would've been a lot cooler if they were all bombed on mushrooms or something. Now that would've made one hell of a good video.

garion333 wrote:
karmajay wrote:
Rat Boy wrote:

Edit: Congratulations, Tony Romo, you had the lamest bachelor party ever.

I'm not gonna say that's bad since we all know all the stupid stuff drunk athletes can do.

True, still lame. Grown men in the woods hiding from each other. Yup, that's what NFL players do when they can't drink and bang strippers.

Would've been a lot cooler if they were all bombed on mushrooms or something. Now that would've made one hell of a good video.

I'm pretty sure everyone went to have a drink while Romo hid in a bush.

*Legion* wrote:
Enix wrote:

There are really only two elite QBs in the league: Manning the Elder, and Brady.

You could make a case that Manning the Younger is in that second tier of Brees, Rivers and Rodgers. Even though Eli has a ring, I'd put him in that third tier with Big Ben and Matt Ryan.

Shoot, Trent Dilfer has a Super Bowl ring. Doesn't mean he ever was elite.

I think Aaron Rodgers is in that first tier. He won't be officially recognized in that tier until he further extends his career accomplishments. But just as the early part of Tom Brady's starting career was only retroactively recognized as first tier later on, I think Aaron Rodgers' time right now will be as well.

I think Rodgers will make that elite tier one day (maybe soon), but he's not quite there yet. By "elite," I'm thinking future Hall of Famers. Manning and Brady are both first-ballot/first-year locks. I don't think there are any other active QBs who, if their careers ended today, are shoo-ins. That's not to say none of them will make the HoF. I mean, Cam Newton hasn't yet taken a regular season snap.

That's the thing though, can we only talk about elite when they're 9 years into a career? I think it comes down to current play. Aaron Rodgers is playing at an elite level and now he has postseason success. To me, that's top tier.

Douche Bag Extraordinaire in San Diego might be on that level, except he can't win in the playoffs.

Drew Brees has played at an elite level, has the championship ring, but didn't play his best last year. So is he "elite"? To me, not right this minute.

It changes and it's subjective.

garion333 wrote:

That's the thing though, can we only talk about elite when they're 9 years into a career? I think it comes down to current play. Aaron Rodgers is playing at an elite level and now he has postseason success. To me, that's top tier.

Agreed with this. I don't like defining the top tier as "future HOFer" because then guys are only elite after they've played at an elite level for many years, years in which they weren't credited as being "elite" until after the fact.

I certainly agree with the statement that Brady and Manning are the only shoo-in HOF QBs in the game today, but again, we're talking about what these guys did 5 years ago when we have that discussion, instead of just talking about who is elite in 2011.

Douche Bag Extraordinaire in San Diego might be on that level, except he can't win in the playoffs.

IMAGE(http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/154/120/51253520.jpg.2731_display_image.jpg?1266459252)

Drew Brees has played at an elite level, has the championship ring, but didn't play his best last year. So is he "elite"? To me, not right this minute.

Drew Brees is kind of like the ultimate system QB. He has only a slightly stronger arm than Rat Boy. In Sean Payton's system, he's a star, but he can't make all the throws Brady and Manning can. He's accurate as hell, but he doesn't have all the tools necessary to succeed in every system. If Drew Brees had Jay Cutler's velocity, then we'd be talking about a sure-fire first-tier QB. Those limitations make Brees a second-tier QB in my eyes, and there's no shame in that. Brees is still awesome and I would build my team's system to fit him any day.