NFL Regular Season Thread (Or Duck, Duck, Grey Duck and other Children's Games)

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I hate OSU too, but I'm not cheering spinal injuries.

Well, yeah, you appear to not be insane.

[NobodyHere]

The NFL really needs to get tougher on cheap shots that injures players. Thugs like Rob Gronkowski can blindside a player and yet may not even miss a game. The player he hit is in concussion protocol and will in all likelihood miss a game.

Isn't that kind of f'd up?

[Kodos]

I've always said on injuries that result from cheap shots, the offender shouldn't return until the player they hurt can return. (As a bonus, the offender's salary should go to the injured player during that time.)

[stevew]

Juju and the anonymous Bengals safety each suspended for a game.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by stevew

Juju and the anonymous Bengals safety each suspended for a game.

Was Juju suspended for taunting?

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Was Juju suspended for taunting?

According to the reports, he was suspended for the hit. I guess he got a penalty for taunting during the game.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

The NFL really needs to get tougher on cheap shots that injures players. Thugs like Rob Gronkowski can blindside a player and yet may not even miss a game. The player he hit is in concussion protocol and will in all likelihood miss a game.

Isn't that kind of f'd up?

Gronk was suspended

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

The NFL really needs to get tougher on cheap shots that injures players. Thugs like Rob Gronkowski can blindside a player and yet may not even miss a game. The player he hit is in concussion protocol and will in all likelihood miss a game.

Isn't that kind of f'd up?

When the teams get tired of the cheap shots, the cheap shots will be removed from the game.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

According to the reports, he was suspended for the hit. I guess he got a penalty for taunting during the game.

Thought the hit looked clean. The taunt was definitely over the line.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Seems worth pointing out the number of high profile receivers who've openly pleaded for defenders to hit them high, not low.

[stevew]

I guess you aren't allowed to blindside block and contact the head or neck area of a defender. That being said, if he doesn't taunt after he knocked Burfict the fuck out, he probably doesn't get suspended.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Thought the hit looked clean. The taunt was definitely over the line.

Looking at replays, my default is that it was clean but I feel like if a defender hit a receiver in a similar fashion with today's sensibilities, it would have been a flag, fine and suspension.

For me, a defenseless player is a defenseless player even if his name is Burfict.

[miami_fan]

Yo,Snowflakes. Quit preaching. The Violent World of Sam Huff sold NFL football to the masses. The Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders gave us a little sex with our violence. Deal with it!

— Brent Musburger (@brentmusburger) December 6, 2017

[Suicane75]

I can't wait for the day when two teammates share a passionate kiss after a hard fought victory. Then I'll be served, then I'll be complete.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Looking at replays, my default is that it was clean but I feel like if a defender hit a receiver in a similar fashion with today's sensibilities, it would have been a flag, fine and suspension.

For me, a defenseless player is a defenseless player even if his name is Burfict.

How was he defenseless? He was running straight at him. Does the other player have to confirm that he is seen first? It's not the receiver's fault that he wasn't looking where he was running.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

How was he defenseless? He was running straight at him. Does the other player have to confirm that he is seen first? It's not the receiver's fault that he wasn't looking where he was running.

We're not far from having any player who gets hit being declared "defenseless" so ...

[stevew]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

How was he defenseless? He was running straight at him. Does the other player have to confirm that he is seen first? It's not the receiver's fault that he wasn't looking where he was running.

It's the "Hines Ward Rule". Not allowed to make contact with the head or neck at all on a blindside block.

I got zero issue with him jacking that POS Burfict up but do it within the rules and don't taunt. Refs should have tossed him.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

How was he defenseless? He was running straight at him. Does the other player have to confirm that he is seen first? It's not the receiver's fault that he wasn't looking where he was running.

Look, I have no problem with the hit. Burfict was trying to involve himself in the play and JuJu laid him out. That is the football that I know and I knew for the first 40 years of my life. 5-10 years ago, we would have told Burfict to keep his head on a swivel and he would have been added at halftime to the JACKED UP segment. We would also have said the same thing to JuJu if Burfict would have done the same thing to him if for example if JuJu were chasing down someone after an interception and blew him up unexpectedly. We don't think that way anymore.

Here is the quote from the NFL VP of Football Operations Jon Runyan to JuJu:

You are suspended for the dangerous and unsportsmanlike acts you committed during the fourth quarter of last night’s game. Specifically, with 7:10 remaining, on a passing play to a running back, you lined up a defender and delivered a violent and unnecessary blindside shot to his head and neck area. You then “celebrated” the play by standing over him and taunting him. The contact you made with your opponent placed the opposing player at risk of serious injury and could have been avoided. Your conduct following the hit fell far below the high standards of sportsmanship expected of an NFL player.”

Before I continue, a quick aside. Jon Runyan is a part of the system that lays down punishments for cheap shots in the NFL?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

My only point was that if a defender hit a receiver in that manner, he would have been deemed defenseless because.... If that is the case for a receiver coming across the middle, it should be the same for the receiver against the defender. My objection is to punishing one side of the ball while allowing the other side to go unpunished for the same thing.

[Thomkal]

Somewhere Jerry Jones is crying...

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell signs contract extension

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Somewhere the whole NFL world is crying...

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell signs contract extension

Fixed

[Abe Sargent]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Yo,Snowflakes. Quit preaching. The Violent World of Sam Huff sold NFL football to the masses. The Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders gave us a little sex with our violence. Deal with it!

— Brent Musburger (@brentmusburger) December 6, 2017

And in a total non-sequitor, you can check out the adventures of Sam Huff, arguably the greatest WVU football product of all time and a Hall of Famer, at least in name, in my Blood Bowl Dynasty as a pretty cool Blitzer.

[cuervo72]

The Sad State of Sam Huff | ESPN 980

His nickname when he played was “Snowflake.” In those violent collisions with the likes of Brown and Taylor, he was sometimes knocked out cold. There was no concussion protocol in the 50’s and 60’s, so Huff would just shake it off and get back in the game. And to give you a idea of the ignorance of the time, as what were likely concussions piled up, teammates would joke that all it took was a snowflake to knock Huff out.

Now at age 81, court papers say he suffers from dementia, like many former football players. Yes, there’s a legal battle over Sam Huff that’s downright sad.

Guess he should just deal with it.

[Abe Sargent]

I met Sam a few times. Loved him. Along with Jerry West and Jeff Hostetler, Sam Huff is an icon in my state for being one of the best and big names of his sport. Born, raised, and went to WVU, and then made the HOF.

By the way, did you know some WV players who didn't make it to WVU the flagship school are also in the HOF? It's true! WVU had two, Sam Huff and O Lineman Stydahar. West Virginia Wesleyan had two, and Marshall one, soon to be two with Randy Moss.

C Frank Gatski, Browns, Marshall
RB Cliff Battles, Redskins, WV Wesleyan
End Earl "Greasy" Neale, WV Wesleyan, multiple teams in pros, 1910s.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Guess he should just deal with it.

Without the game, none of us would have the slightest idea, nor care remotely, w.t.f. Sam Huff is.

Same with today's pampered athletes.

[miami_fan]

Cleveland Browns fire personnel czar Sashi Brown

Is this move similar to the one the Sixers made? Are they abandoning the "Process" for a more traditional "football man"?

Something has to change and at this point, I am willing to give Jackson another season. With the front offices taking a more active role in decisions on the field, I don't know how much blame to put on the coaching staff.

[NobodyHere]

I assume they hire Kevin Costner now?

He can hardly do worse and he might be able to act like a GM.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Without the game, none of us would have the slightest idea, nor care remotely, w.t.f. Sam Huff is.

Same with today's pampered athletes.

Too bad if he doesn't know who he is.

[stevew]

Sashi Brown fired for doing exactly what a rebuilding team should. Wentz obv way better than expected but you could make a case that a dozen teams misfired on that opportunity. Watson probably is going to be great but need to see a bit more than 5-6 games. Garrett looks like an obvious stud. If he stays healthy he's easily a 100+ sack type talent.

[Thomkal]

Ryan Shazier Undergoes Spinal Surgery; Reportedly May Not Play Football Again | Bleacher Report

[stevew]

Yeah he probably should go into coaching. Humongous loss and all but guarantees that Big Ben will never win another super bowl

[bhlloy]

Wasn’t there clearly time on the clock right there when the refs blew the whistle?

[albionmoonlight]

Penalties, injuries, and obviously tired players. Thursday Night Football at its most typical. Feel bad for any non-fans of those teams that sat through that game.

[Logan]

That INT saved the shit out of Dan Quinn for that moronic decision to decline the penalty.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by Logan

That INT saved the shit out of Dan Quinn for that moronic decision to decline the penalty.

With the play they ran on 3rd down you knew they were going for it on 4th. Take the penalty, make it a 50 yarder if you stop them on the next play.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

With the play they ran on 3rd down you knew they were going for it on 4th. Take the penalty, make it a 50 yarder if you stop them on the next play.

I saw a good line on Twitter. It was something like "Dan Quinn declined that penalty because Dan Quinn would have kicked it on 4th down".

edit: Found it.

Dan Quinn didn’t accept the penalty because Dan Quinn would have probably kicked the field goal on fourth down.

But Sean Payton is not Dan Quinn

— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) December 8, 2017

[sabotai]

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features...s-not-working/

Picture this common scene on a Sunday afternoon. Your team could really use a scoring drive to turn the tide. On a 3rd-and-10, before the quarterback is even pressured, he quickly throws a 2-yard pass, and the receiver is tackled a few yards later to bring up fourth down. The crowd grumbles, the offense casually jogs off the field and the punting unit comes on. Better luck next time.

Sure, once in a blue moon the offense may throw a bubble screen on 3rd-and-33 and end up with a 52-yard touchdown, like the Rams did with Robert Woods against the Giants in Week 9 this season. But that is the rarest of exceptions.

Generally, safe passes like that don’t accomplish much, and we have the data to back that up. How does that 2-yard pass on 3rd-and-10 work out? According to the ESPN Stats & Information Group, quarterback passes thrown no more than 2 yards beyond the line of scrimmage on third down with at least 10 yards to go have been converted only 10.9 percent of the time this season. On throws that travel at least 10 yards, quarterbacks have converted 38.6 percent of the time. So an offense can more than triple its conversion rate just by doing the most obvious thing when trying to move the chains: throwing the ball past the imaginary yellow line on your TV screen.

And yet despite this, NFL teams are leaning on the short pass more than ever. The same league that transformed into a passing league over the past 10 years is slowing morphing into something else: the dump-off league.

[henry296]

Originally Posted by sabotai

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features...s-not-working/

How often is that downfield pass intercepted. Need to also show the increased risk before making that claim.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by henry296

How often is that downfield pass intercepted. Need to also show the increased risk before making that claim.

That risk only changes field position though. A failed 3rd down conversion is almost literally the same thing as a turnover.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

That risk only changes field position though. A failed 3rd down conversion is almost literally the same thing as a turnover.

It's a field position switch that:

1. Will almost certainly be 20 yards closer to the opponent's end zone
2. Gives the opponent more game time to score (if near end of game or half)
3. Gives the opponent a solid opportunity to return a touchdown when closer to the end zone and amidst the play chaos of a turnover and against offensive players unused to tackling, as opposed to the punt return risk in a set special teams play further up the field.

Those are significant downsides to increasing the chances for an interception.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Good points. Would love to see stats on interception rates. Can't imagine you're talking about a more than 10% greater chance, and the conversion rates have interceptions baked into them already (those would be failures to convert on third down), they just don't address field position / greater return TD chance.

[EagleFan]

There are a lot of factors that go into it. Will the extra 5 yards make it an easy field goal? Will it at least put you in position to pin the other team deep with a punt? Are you the Cleveland Browns? Many factors.

[mckerney]

On throws that travel at least 10 yards, quarterbacks have converted 38.6 percent of the time. So an offense can more than triple its conversion rate just by doing the most obvious thing when trying to move the chains: throwing the ball past the imaginary yellow line on your TV screen.

But how many of those short passes are thrown because the route beyond the sticks are covered? If teams went with the "We absolutely have to throw beyond the sticks," the conversion rate on those passes would plummet along with an increase in interceptions and sacks.

EDIT: The other thing that seems like it's getting ignored is if the 10+ yard pass isn't open then at least gaining something is still better than an incompletion. The 6 yard gain on 3rd and ten may give your kicker a better chance to hit the FG or be the difference between the other team getting into FG range or not on their next possession.

[SirFozzie]

That Buffalo Snowstorm....

[SirFozzie]

When even the Lord of Snow Kicking Adam Vinatieri can't hit a 33 yard FG, you know it's a huge snowstorm/windstorm

[EagleFan]

Could be a big day for Shady, if he can repeat what he did against the Lions in the snow.

[Atocep]

John Fox won a challenge. Truly, anything is possible.

[MrBug708]

I hope the Browns buy into the Rosen negativity and pass on him so he can end up in New York. Even if the team is probably in bigger shambles. A jew on the Giants just makes too much sense.

[PilotMan]

Cincy looked about as bad as I've seen them look this year. It's like the gas tank is fully on E and the season and injuries have just finished them off.

[bhlloy]

Sean McDermott continues to make bizarre decisions. What good does a tie do in that situation? Almost like the Bills aren’t trying to make the playoffs.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

That Buffalo Snowstorm....

Just now saw this.

Crazy.