NFL 2021 Regular Season Thread

[Edward64]

Isn't Ryan Leaf at least a top-3?

The Chargers won their first two games but Leaf made several mistakes with fumbles and interceptions.

After being hospitalized for a viral infection, Leaf posted one of the worst stat lines in NFL history.

In Week 3 against Kansas City, Leaf went 1-for-15 with two interceptions and four fumbles.

Leaf cursed at a reporter in an altercation after the game.

Things got worse as Leaf tossed four interceptions in Week 4 against the New York Giants.

The losses kept stacking up for Leaf as he lost seven of his final eight starts in 1998, finishing with two touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

A shoulder injury caused Leaf to miss the entire 1999 season.

[QuikSand]

I think there are two different events happening there... Leaf is a classic bust who just never showed much of anything in the NFL, a "fall from grace" implies NFL success followed by decline. Wentz had MVP hype at one point, Goff got his team into the SuperBowl, both rather quickly became GTFO guys (albeit a contract extension too late in both cases).

And RGIII is surely the blazing fall-from-grace candidate from recent memory.

[thesloppy]

I think I've managed to completely forget the period when RGIII was good. Does Vince Young fit in this conversation somewhere?

[Atocep]

Don Majkowski comes to mind. Got the '89 Packers to 10 wins after winning 4 the previous season, finished 2nd in the MVP voting, and then lost his job the following year.

[jbergey22]

Daunte Culpepper

Injuries and the loss of Moss sealed his fate. In the early 2000s he seemed like he was going to be a MVP candidate for years.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Don Majkowski comes to mind. Got the '89 Packers to 10 wins after winning 4 the previous season, finished 2nd in the MVP voting, and then lost his job the following year.

Great memory and yes. His fall was majestic.

It is funny looking back. Yes, that one season was memorable and he was great at the time. When you look at his number now 27 TDs w 20 Ints and a 59 percent completion percentage. He would be on the verge of being benched in the current NFL.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Don Majkowski comes to mind. Got the '89 Packers to 10 wins after winning 4 the previous season, finished 2nd in the MVP voting, and then lost his job the following year.

Fun fact, I was running a fantasy football league and had Don Majkowski on my team that year.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

I think I've managed to completely forget the period when RGIII was good. Does Vince Young fit in this conversation somewhere?

RGIII had an absolutely brilliant rookie season. The decline was probably multiple things (a serious injury, teams figuring out the gameplan advantages, coaching stubbornness) but it was precipitous - he was never anything like the same player.

Vince Young, I think, was just a slow-developing bust, overall, as an NFL player.

[cartman]

I hadn't heard this one before.

Austin emerges as possible relocation spot for Bills amid new Orchard Park stadium negotiations, per report - CBSSports.com

[Arles]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Great memory and yes. His fall was majestic.

It is funny looking back. Yes, that one season was memorable and he was great at the time. When you look at his number now 27 TDs w 20 Ints and a 59 percent completion percentage. He would be on the verge of being benched in the current NFL.

Here are some QB completion & TD-INT numbers in 1989 for the leading yardage QBs:

Majkowski: 59%, 27 TDs and 20 INT
Everett: 59%, 29 TDs and 17 INT
Marino: 56%, 24 TDs and 22 INT
Rypien: 59%, 22 TDs and 13 INT
Moon: 60%, 23 TDs and 14 INT
Kozar: 59%, 18 TDs and 14 INT


If you look at INT % & completion %, Majkowski was 12th and 7th in QBs who qualify. Guys like Sims, Marino, Elway, Krieg, Jim Kelly & Everett were worse. The late 80s were a different ERA for QBs when it comes to those stats.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Arles

Here are some QB completion & TD-INT numbers in 1989 for the leading yardage QBs:

Majkowski: 59%, 27 TDs and 20 INT
Everett: 59%, 29 TDs and 17 INT
Marino: 56%, 24 TDs and 22 INT
Rypien: 59%, 22 TDs and 13 INT
Moon: 60%, 23 TDs and 14 INT
Kozar: 59%, 18 TDs and 14 INT


If you look at INT % & completion %, Majkowski was 12th and 7th in QBs who qualify. Guys like Sims, Marino, Elway, Krieg, Jim Kelly & Everett were worse. The late 80s were a different ERA for QBs when it comes to those stats.

Back in the good ole days where the defense had a fighting chance. I miss these type of stats just like I miss the ole pro set offense.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Carson Wentz headed to see foot specialist after missing practice, out indefinitely, per multiple reports - CBSSports.com

Looks like the Eagles won't be getting that 1st round pick from the Colts next year.

So indefinitely means 5-12 weeks as Wentz will be getting foot surgery after previously saying he wasn't getting the surgery.

[QuikSand]

Fascinating how IND basically has no plan at all behind Wentz, whose pre-injury situation seems to be about as precarious as any starting QB in the league, right? He's a guy who might be pretty good if the line plays great and if he overcomes his yips or whatever-the-hell it was last year, and whatever other contingencies there might be.

And this isn't a doldrums team here, it's not the DeShaun-less Texans, the Colts have a serious playoff roster other than at QB. I get they soured on Brissett, fine, so at least you have... I dunno... someone in there, right? You're going with Jacob Eason? Brett Hundley? This guy?

[bob]

So do the Texans and NFL just hope everyone forgot about the Deshaun Watson legal trouble with everything else that's going on? I keep seeing more articles about him maybe getting traded than anything else.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Fun fact, I was running a fantasy football league and had Don Majkowski on my team that year.

I don't miss the old days of having to wait for the newspaper to get the box scores.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Fascinating how IND basically has no plan at all behind Wentz, whose pre-injury situation seems to be about as precarious as any starting QB in the league, right? He's a guy who might be pretty good if the line plays great and if he overcomes his yips or whatever-the-hell it was last year, and whatever other contingencies there might be.

And this isn't a doldrums team here, it's not the DeShaun-less Texans, the Colts have a serious playoff roster other than at QB. I get they soured on Brissett, fine, so at least you have... I dunno... someone in there, right? You're going with Jacob Eason? Brett Hundley? This guy?

100%

I am guessing that Reich's familiarity with Wentz made them too confident.

30 other teams might have taken a chance on him but thought--what if he sucks? Indy is the one team who might have thought that they pulled off the heist of the decade by reuniting Wentz with Reich and figured they didn't need a backup plan. (Or, like, a backup anything really)

[albionmoonlight]

Dola:

As a Saints fan, I would not be opposed to a panic trade in which they way overpay for Jameis and the Saints have a funky and strangely fun 4-13 year with Taysom before drafting a real QB next year.

Better in some ways than the conventional 8-9 season with Jameis that I am expecting.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Fascinating how IND basically has no plan at all behind Wentz, whose pre-injury situation seems to be about as precarious as any starting QB in the league, right? He's a guy who might be pretty good if the line plays great and if he overcomes his yips or whatever-the-hell it was last year, and whatever other contingencies there might be.

And this isn't a doldrums team here, it's not the DeShaun-less Texans, the Colts have a serious playoff roster other than at QB. I get they soured on Brissett, fine, so at least you have... I dunno... someone in there, right? You're going with Jacob Eason? Brett Hundley? This guy?

Insert Nick Foles doing the Cody Rhodes listening meme here

[bhlloy]

It’s shitty football time! Tomlin appears to be trying to kill Najee Harris already.

[albionmoonlight]

I laughed.

Live look in at Vikings training camp: https://t.co/oLBVvdKqJo pic.twitter.com/Wywcdb4CcW

— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) August 5, 2021

[QuikSand]

WTAF Mike?

Jeff Duncan: How unanswered calls contributed to delay in Michael Thomas' surgery | Jeff Duncan | nola.com

In-depth look here via @JeffDuncan_ on on the state of #Saints relationship with Michael Thomas, who didn’t return his trainers & coaches’ calls for 3 months this offseason before reporting in June with his injured ankle “still not right.”https://t.co/8C344O4lrI

— Evan Silva (@evansilva) August 7, 2021

[albionmoonlight]

Sigh.

He managed to go two years without contributing AND killed his trade value.

[Kodos]

Peyton Manning is a great ambassador for football.

[bhlloy]

After a shaky start Justin Fields is looking damn good

[Atocep]

I was really high on Fields coming out of OSU, but you never know with QBs. However, watching his first preseason game, he has better control of the offense and throws the ball better than than what I saw from Mitch after 4 years.

That's not to say it's been perfect or anything. He's made some rookie mistakes, but this is actually refreshing to see and after the shitshow at qb the bears have been my entire life it's hard to not get at least a little excited.

[bhlloy]

Yeah. Obviously it’s mostly against backups but I think you can see the level of talent there for sure.

[Coffee Warlord]

Didn't see any of those wildly inaccurate throws that were the hallmark of Trubisky. Numbers woulda been even better were it not for a couple bad drops by some 3rd stringer receivers.

[Edward64]

Welp, unsubscribed to Sling and subscribed to youtube.tv. Looking forward to the NFL and SEC games!

[NobodyHere]

So first Tim Tebow gets cut and now this is a penalty?

I don’t want to live in a world where this minor level of enthusiasm after steamrolling the entire defense is a 15-yard penalty what’s wrong with you @NFL pic.twitter.com/4kAk3NEkKy

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 15, 2021

The No Fun League returns!

[miami_fan]

John Mara: Taunting is a point of emphasis because we're "sick and tired of the talking" - ProFootballTalk

[thesloppy]

I think I knew there were only 3 preseason games and 17 regular season games in the NFL this year, but I forgot until I actually started looking through a schedule and spent 5 full minutes trying to find that fourth preseason game. Still don't like it.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

So first Tim Tebow gets cut and now this is a penalty?

I don’t want to live in a world where this minor level of enthusiasm after steamrolling the entire defense is a 15-yard penalty what’s wrong with you @NFL pic.twitter.com/4kAk3NEkKy

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 15, 2021

The No Fun League returns!

I get it, but if he hadn't turned directly to the last guy and started jawing, that's not a penalty. I'm guessing the line is "non-targeted enthusiasm is fine, but once you appear to be taunting one specific person, that's a penalty." In this case, I don't think he had any particular beef with the last guy, he just happened to be the last guy and dude couldn't hold back his enthusiasm before he could turn to the open field to start yelling about how HE'S THE MAN!

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I get it, but if he hadn't turned directly to the last guy and started jawing, that's not a penalty. I'm guessing the line is "non-targeted enthusiasm is fine, but once you appear to be taunting one specific person, that's a penalty." In this case, I don't think he had any particular beef with the last guy, he just happened to be the last guy and dude couldn't hold back his enthusiasm before he could turn to the open field to start yelling about how HE'S THE MAN!

This will be like all the other rules changes. They will call it a ton in the pre season then back off when games count.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

I think I knew there were only 3 preseason games and 17 regular season games in the NFL this year, but I forgot until I actually started looking through a schedule and spent 5 full minutes trying to find that fourth preseason game. Still don't like it.

Thats a shame, I usually make a ton of money betting pre season games.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Lathum

This will be like all the other rules changes. They will call it a ton in the pre season then back off when games count.

Then the problems come when they do decide to call it. There will be no consistency. Some will be get screwed while others get the "no call".

Can a coach challenge and say it should/should not have been called? With the inconsistency this is going to have, and I hate to say this, the coaches should be able to challenge. Yeah, let's go to replay and see if there was eye contact or was the player looking elsewhere?

Its a can of worms the NFL should have left alone. Don't like that RB talking after a play like that? Put him on his back next time he gets the ball. It was working fine "as is".


+1 to the NFL (no fun league).

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Thats a shame, I usually make a ton of money betting pre season games.

What's your strategy?

[Kodos]

If he loses one bet, he doubles the bet the next game.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

What's your strategy?

Hammer the unders and bet the Ravens. Harbaugh is 15-1-1 in the preseaon. Unders went something like 14-2 this week. Plus follow twitter, etc...to see what coaches are saying about playing time for starters, etc...

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Kodos

If he loses one bet, he doubles the bet the next game.

Ha!

Can't lose!

[albionmoonlight]

Y'all are awesome.

Didn't realize the bit about the unders. Kind of neat.

[Lathum]

You just have to be careful in week 2 because the books make adjustments and starters play more.

In a normal pre season week 4 is where you can also do well because a lot of coaches run a very vanilla offense. Not sure is week 3 will be that way this year

[Ksyrup]

Per CBS, the Washington Football Team has a shortlist of three possible new names drawn from the list below. Honestly, it’s not the worst list ever. (Spare “Presidents”; that’s just kinda lame.) pic.twitter.com/4ZJ7AuZKAa

— Martin Austermuhle (@maustermuhle) August 18, 2021

[Ksyrup]

Technically, Washington Football Team should just be Football Team, otherwise they would be the Washington Washington Football Team.

[QuikSand]

I generally and instinctively dislike collective, non-plural team names... but if I can get past that, both Armada and Brigade are pretty solid I think.

I could see WFT just gaining some sort of iconoclastic momentum and being the choice, which in time would just look/feel stupid, I think. It's kinda novel right now, but I think it would be a poor long term name.

[BYU 14]

Redwolves or Defenders for me, though I still think they missed the boat not jumping on Guardians before Cleveland did

[AlexB]

I quite like the sound of the Washington Spare Presidents!

[bhlloy]

Given recent events can I suggest the Washington Poorly Planned Pullouts? It even feels strangely appropriate for Dan Snyder for other reasons. A double entendre if you will.

[QuikSand]

Washington Gridlock has a fitting ring to it, and on a very superficial level sounds footballish

[miami_fan]

You guys and your PC BS.

They should maintain the current name and not bow to public pressure to change it. To quote a fan of the team, "It's going to mess around with the fan base, and it's not an easy thing for the fan base to do a name change like that,". Another fan said "They changed the name, but that doesn't mean it's going to change me."

WFT to the death.

[molson]

I just hope they drag it out for another 10 years.