Has anyone ever heard the phrase, "If it ain't broke..."?
I'm not sure if Roger Goodell is trying to stake his legacy all at once, but the things that he is proposing and implementing are completely mind-baffling considering there is a reasonable chance of work stoppage in 2011.
By now, everyone's heard about the "Hines Ward" and "Tom Brady" rules. You know, where an offensive player can't blindside a defensive player and where a defensive player, when on the ground, can't even extend a pinky to sack the QB. The intent is fine, but bottom line. these are two more subjective officiating rules inserted into the league. If you thought people whined about officiating now, you haven't seen anything yet.
I know it's primarily for the protection of the players, but if they're defending 2 more subjective officiating rules by saying that controversy creates interest (a.k.a. Hollywood stars), then that's really sad. It's not the main motive, I understand that, but I could just see someone saying that Monday morning whining creates interest, which is better than no talk at all.
But that's not all. Get this - Goodell is proposing a 17 or 18 game season and eliminating 2 preseason games. Wait a minute - I thought it was about protecting the QB's? So now you want to ADD 2 more games at full-speed?
Because its really about money. Big name QB's getting hurt is bad for business. Pre-season games are bad for business. More regular season games are good for business.
The one possible rule change that didnt happen was the one I wanted. That was the Jags proposal that playoff seeding be based on record and not have the division winners auto get 1-4 seeds. I am fine with letting someone get into the playoffs because they won their division but winning a crap division at 8-8 should NOT get you a home game over a 10 or 11 win team.
As for the Hines Ward and Tom Brady rule, at least both are now illegal and not one or the other. I don't really know how to say if its good or not. Less injuries are great, but it might be subjective.
It could turn out like the Roy Williams rule. If Roy Williams does it, automatic 15 yard penalty. If somebody else does it, its half and half called.
As for the season structure. That's retarded. Keep it the same. 4 preseason and 16 games. Starters only play 3/4 quarters combined from all 4 games, so its not about the injuries. It's also a great tool for seeing young rookies play like Romo and such. I wouldn't be surprised if the Colts had Manning in the preseason, they wouldn't of been awful the first half of the season.
I do like that playoff rule though. Keep the division winners, but base the playoff seeds as top winning records on down.
It's not up for Owners Meeting discussion, but I also wish pass interference was a 15-yarder like in NCAA. 5 yards for illegal contact, fine. 5 yards for defensive holding, fine. But 50+ yards for pass inteference?
Call me crazy, but isn't the reasoning behind all 3 penalties is that they kept the WR from catching the ball?
No, really listen to this. If the DB bumps after 10 yards on a fly pattern, it prevents a 50+ yarder. If the DB grabs before the ball is in the air on a fly pattern, it prevents a 50+ yarder. And if the DB grabs after the ball is thrown on a fly pattern, it also prevents a 50+ yarder.
Originally posted by Smasandian
As for the Hines Ward and Tom Brady rule, at least both are now illegal and not one or the other. I don't really know how to say if its good or not. Less injuries are great, but it might be subjective.
You have a point. I just don't like because it's annoying as shit when the opposite QB hucks a ball in the air for the reason of pass interference.
I said might because I have no idea if the penalty will be called correctly or not. The defensive player on the ground going for the QB is a easy call to make.
The blindside of a defensive player is subjective because the official has no idea if the player knew the guy was there or not.
But it's like hockey in my opinion. Sometimes a defensemen doesn't know a big forward is going to forecheck him in the boards, but it's his responsibility to look to see if it will happen or not. They are taught at an earlier level to look in their peripheral vision to see.
Originally posted by Smasandian
I said might because I have no idea if the penalty will be called correctly or not. The defensive player on the ground going for the QB is a easy call to make.The blindside of a defensive player is subjective because the official has no idea if the player knew the guy was there or not.
I'm with you, Smas. I said "Might" in jest because I'm convinced that the calling of those penalties WILL be overwhelmingly subjective.
Oh oh kay.
I'm surprised with the blindside one, but not the knee one. I know QB's are considered 'pretty boys', (granted from couch players, the most hardcore of football players), but the hitting at the knees when the QB is throwing is almost guaranteed a injury of some sort. If facemask to facemask is called on the WR that cant protect himself, it only makes sense of the QB's knees shots also. It doesn't happen alot, but its a pretty brutal tackle anyways.
Denver must call Cleveland
March 31, 2009 10:15 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker
If the Denver Broncos want a starting-caliber quarterback in return for Jay Cutler, the team must call the Cleveland Browns.
No other potential trading partner has a quarterback to offer who could give the Broncos anything close to the same value as Cutler. The Browns have two players in Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.
Quinn, a Notre Dame alum, is a prodigy of Charlie Weis, whom Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels learned under while both were with the New England Patriots. The offensive system McDaniels will run in Denver should have similar concepts to what Quinn learned at Notre Dame. That makes for an easy transition.
Sure, Quinn lacks experience. But if McDaniels can tutor Matt Cassel and make him into a star in one year with zero starts since high school, McDaniels could certainly work with Quinn, who played four full seasons in college and has three NFL starts.
In the event Denver doesn't like Quinn, the Browns also have Anderson available. He is physically gifted in terms of arm strength. So if the Broncos want to go deep more often than not, Anderson would be the pick.
Anderson proved with the right tools around him he could be a viable NFL quarterback. He won 10 games with the Browns and threw 29 touchdowns in 2007, which is the year he made it to the Pro Bowl.
So take your pick, Denver, because the Browns have a lot to offer at the quarterback position.
Unless the Broncos believe drafting a rookie quarterback and letting him try and lead the team to the playoffs is wise, then working out a deal with Cleveland is the best move Denver could make.
Originally posted by forumcrew
Broncos gave in, they are trying to trade Cutler (officially)So I wonder who the top suiters will be?
Detroit? Carolina? Jets?
How ****ing retarded is the head coach and GM?
You go into a team that has a pretty damn good young QB, that has a report with another damn good young WR, and you run him out of town. C'mon.....
Another fail for a Bill Belicheck protege.
Originally posted by Röland
Denver must call Cleveland
March 31, 2009 10:15 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's James WalkerIf the Denver Broncos want a starting-caliber quarterback in return for Jay Cutler, the team must call the Cleveland Browns.
No other potential trading partner has a quarterback to offer who could give the Broncos anything close to the same value as Cutler. The Browns have two players in Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.
Quinn, a Notre Dame alum, is a prodigy of Charlie Weis, whom Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels learned under while both were with the New England Patriots. The offensive system McDaniels will run in Denver should have similar concepts to what Quinn learned at Notre Dame. That makes for an easy transition.
Sure, Quinn lacks experience. But if McDaniels can tutor Matt Cassel and make him into a star in one year with zero starts since high school, McDaniels could certainly work with Quinn, who played four full seasons in college and has three NFL starts.
In the event Denver doesn't like Quinn, the Browns also have Anderson available. He is physically gifted in terms of arm strength. So if the Broncos want to go deep more often than not, Anderson would be the pick.
Anderson proved with the right tools around him he could be a viable NFL quarterback. He won 10 games with the Browns and threw 29 touchdowns in 2007, which is the year he made it to the Pro Bowl.
So take your pick, Denver, because the Browns have a lot to offer at the quarterback position.
Unless the Broncos believe drafting a rookie quarterback and letting him try and lead the team to the playoffs is wise, then working out a deal with Cleveland is the best move Denver could make.
Maybe Jay Cutler should rethink this....no offense to you, but Cleveland is way worst off than Denver right now.
Originally posted by Pezmerga
Maybe Jay Cutler should rethink this....no offense to you, but Cleveland is way worst off than Denver right now.
But I really think that a trade will happen through the Browns. It was rumored, when this Cutler shit started, that there was going to be a threeway trade between Denver, Cleveland and the Jets. Where the Jets get Cutler, we get a 1st/2nd round pick from the Jets and Denver gets either Quinn or Anderson. But that was all just rumors so who knows?
Originally posted by Barker
Cuntler on Browns?Soz Roland.