NFL 2020 Season Thread

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

I am pretty sure that he is the first of the "vaunted" QB draft class of 2011 to get a ring.

1. Cam Newton
2. Jake Locker
3. Blaine Gabbert
4. Christian Ponder
5. Andy Daulton
6. Colin Kaepernnick
7. Ryan Mallett
8. Rickey Stanzi
9. T.J. Yates
10. Nathan Enderle
11. Tyrod Taylor
12. Greg McElroy

No other rings, right?

Tyrod Taylor was a backup on a title-winning Ravens team, I'm pretty sure.

[albionmoonlight]

I really thought that Brady in Tampa would be one of those subpar final years by a Hall Of Famer on a different team that we would all silently agree to forget ever happened.

Now, it is part of whatever his legacy ends up being.

And, hell, as much as I roll my eyes at the "eat nothing but kale" thing, it sure looks like it is working. We might have another 3 years of Brady in Tampa before it is all said and done.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Tyrod Taylor was a backup on a title-winning Ravens team, I'm pretty sure.

You are correct. I missed that one. So Tyrod and Blaine are the greatest of their class because rings.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

The KC time out with 45ish seconds left in the first half was a head scratcher. "Wait Andy Reid think they're going to have a chance to score here?''

That is the Andy Reid I love to root against. He come through just so often.

That ed to a score that won us the half-time score in my wife's pool, so I'm all in favor of it.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Tom Brady is an alien weirdo. But if an alien weirdo is going to win 7 Super Bowls and 5 Super Bowl MVPs, he might as well be a University of Michigan alien weirdo!

[nilodor]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Tom Brady is an alien weirdo. But if an alien weirdo is going to win 7 Super Bowls and 5 Super Bowl MVPs, he might as well be a University of Michigan alien weirdo!

It's crazy to think that he has more rings than any other team.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by nilodor

It's crazy to think that he has more rings than any other team.

In the Super Bowl Era, Tom Brady has played in 10 Super Bowls and the Detroit Lions have participated in 13 playoff games and the Lions had a good 33-34 year or so head start.

[Brian Swartz]

Originally Posted by Honolulu Blue

In the Super Bowl Era, Tom Brady has played in 10 Super Bowls and the Detroit Lions have participated in 13 playoff games and the Lions had a good 33-34 year or so head start.

Brady is ... 34-11? ... in the playoffs. Lions are 1-12.

[albionmoonlight]

Speaking of championships, Robert Horry is trending on Twitter right now b/c Tom Brady finally got as many rings as Horry has.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Here's a fascinating article with an international take on American sports media coverage of things like Tyreek Hill's past.

[molson]

Also kind of Lions related. In between Brady's first and most recent Super Bowl, Calvin Johnson played high school football for 3 years, had a great college career at Georgia Tech, had a great career with the Lions, retired for 5 years, and then was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

[Lathum]

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Here's a fascinating article with an international take on American sports media coverage of things like Tyreek Hill's past.

It is kinda sad that our country uses talent as an excuse to sweep bad actions under the rug. If Hill wasn't such an explosive player, he'd be long gone.

[sterlingice]

Kevin Harlan is wonderful

SI

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Ghost Econ

Aside from a brief mention about his son near the end, did they even mention Andy Reid the rest of the game? It was almost like they were told not to mention him. I don't even remember seeing a shot of him.

I think Andy Reid was on screen about 20 times throughout the game.

[MIJB#19]

Tom Brady played great and all, but he wasn't on the field on the two dozen plays where Patrick Mahomes was running for his life. Brady was great yesterday, I'm not disputing the greatest ever stuff, but in football that's not quite enough, you need help from your team to step it up. Was Brady the inspirational leader of the Buccaneers to play this well? Sure, we can even credit him for that.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

You are correct. I missed that one. So Tyrod and Blaine are the greatest of their class because rings.

Cam Newton might end up getting a bust of his likeness in Canton, Ohio.

Colin Kaepernick could be the best known football player outside the USA, but with no credits to his football skills whatsoever.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by molson

Also kind of Lions related. In between Brady's first and most recent Super Bowl, Calvin Johnson played high school football for 3 years, had a great college career at Georgia Tech, had a great career with the Lions, retired for 5 years, and then was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

That is amazing.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

I think Andy Reid was on screen about 20 times throughout the game.

Yeah, even lightly room surfing I saw him at least a half dozen times or more.

[miami_fan]

The Britt Reid story has me a bit conflicted. On one hand, I appreciate the restraint that the media has shown given the many unknowns even though he admitted being intoxicated. On the other hand, I know that the media's treatment of this story is the exception and not the rule. I don't know if I want to know why this story is being treated differently.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

On the other hand, I know that the media's treatment of this story is the exception and not the rule.

I'll just say that the "he's pretty low profile" shouldn't be entirely discounted. If not for his dad being famous, this would have been a story that probably lasted no more than a day.

[Kodos]

Anyone else feel like Megatron doesn’t deserve to get into the HOF?

[cartman]

Still the only two guys to beat Brady in the Super Bowl pic.twitter.com/vnfSotHaGK

— Jacob Rubashkin (@JacobRubashkin) February 8, 2021

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Anyone else feel like Megatron doesn’t deserve to get into the HOF?

It could definitely be debated.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Anyone else feel like Megatron doesn’t deserve to get into the HOF?

You'll have to hang out on that limb without me I'm afraid.

His "most similar" points tell the tale for me
Yr 5: Art Monk, Terrell Owens
Yr 6: Drew Pearson, Larry Fitzgerald
Yr 7: Steve Largent, Andre Johnson, Drew Pearson
Yr 8: Largent/Pearson/Johnson
Yr 9: Largent, James Loften, Johnson, Pearson

All of those mentioned who are eligible are (now) in the HoF

[molson]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

I think Andy Reid was on screen about 20 times throughout the game.

I kept noticing his mask looked funny. He looked like one of those plague doctors with the beak on their masks.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by molson

I kept noticing his mask looked funny. He looked like one of those plague doctors with the beak on their masks.

Exactly why I noticed him honestly. I was wondering what sort of construction his mask had to push it off his mouth so far.

[Kodos]

I think Reid has a microphone under the mask. His setup right now is actually much better than earlier in the season, when he had a plexiglass shield and a mask. It has always bulged out from his face in an unnatural way, I think due to the microphone.

=======

My argument on Johnson is that he wasn't around long enough to deserve the HOF. If he'd played longer, yeah, he should be in.

[Kodos]

Also, I don't have anything against Johnson personally. He just wasn't around enough.

[Ksyrup]

Two things:

I think in football, we tend to give way more leeway on the longevity thing. Even as a Broncos fan, I question Terrell Davis, for instance. He played in like 75 games, I think?

I think the Lions thing plays into it. He's the second Lions HoFer of the same general era to quit early. His career didn't end due to ineffectiveness or injury - like Barry Sanders, his career ended due to lack of will to go on from years of being a Lion. I believe voters and the general public essentially tack on a few more years at the top of their games because of that.

[Ksyrup]

Put another way, Calvin Johnson is basically Ken Griffey Jr. if Junior had simply walked away from the game around 2000. If we didn't see the injuries and just imagined him battling Bonds for 70+ HR.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Anyone else feel like Megatron doesn’t deserve to get into the HOF?

I think he belongs.

Kind of the opposite of the Philip Rivers discussion we had on here a couple of weeks ago.

As we discussed, Rivers has really good numbers. But at no point during his career did Rivers have that "He's the best guy at his position" vibe. At no point did he inspire "You're not stopping Rivers" feelings.

Megatron is the opposite of that for me. For most of his career, he was the best guy at his position (or in the discussion). And he certainly had that "you just can't stop him" feelings.

I know this is the era of analytics, but my defense of Megatron is basically just "I was there, and this guy is a Hall of Famer."

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I think Reid has a microphone under the mask.

Ohhhhhhh. I didn't even think of that.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I know this is the era of analytics, but my defense of Megatron is basically just "I was there, and this guy is a Hall of Famer."

Agreed on my end. It's a shame that the Lions basically ended his and Barry Sanders' careers too soon.

[sabotai]

It's weird to me that someone would think that 9 years isn't long enough. Especially since he didn't miss a significant amount of games due to injury over those 9 seasons.

Calvin Johnson started 130 games. I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find HOFers who played for 12 seasons who started in fewer games due to injury and/or for being a backup for years 1-2.

[sabotai]

Here's Calvin Johnson's PFR page. Rookie season, 48 catches, then for 8 years he produced at a high level

Calvin Johnson Stats | Pro-Football-Reference.com

For comparison, here's Michael Irvin's. Years 1-3 not great, shortened 12th year due to injury, and 8 seasons producing at a high level in between.

Michael Irvin Stats | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Both of these receivers made their case in those 8 seasons. So does Johnson get punished for not having 3 years of so-so stats to start his career?

[Kodos]

That's partially just me relying on my memory, rather than going to check out his stats. I thought he'd retired earlier than 9 seasons in. My bad. Still kinda short, but probably "good enough".

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by sabotai

Here's Calvin Johnson's PFR page. Rookie season, 48 catches, then for 8 years he produced at a high level

Calvin Johnson Stats | Pro-Football-Reference.com

For comparison, here's Michael Irvin's. Years 1-3 not great, shortened 12th year due to injury, and 8 seasons producing at a high level in between.

Michael Irvin Stats | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Both of these receivers made their case in those 8 seasons. So does Johnson get punished for not having 3 years of so-so stats to start his career?

Irvin did win 3 rings which is a slight difference

I don’t think you need to make these types of comparisons - Megatron was the dominant receiver for a good number of years, and deserves a HOF nomination on his own merit

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Butter

Agreed on my end. It's a shame that the Lions basically ended his and Barry Sanders' careers too soon.

Agreed. And definitely agree. The three best players the Lions have had the 30 years or so have either retired early rather than continue to play for the franchise - Barry and Calvin - or demanded a trade (Stafford).

That they traded Stafford to his preferred destination - the Rams - is actually being viewed locally as the Lions organization starting to finally get things right in terms of how it treats players. I think they will, also, finally mend things with Calvin Johnson.

This organization has been a shit show for so long. You don't win a single playoff game in 63 years without being terrible through and through. Hopefully. Sheila Ford-Hamp, Brad Holmes, Speilman, the rest of the management crew, and Coach Knee-Biter and his staff will finally start to turn this thing around.

[miked]

I had no idea he was from Tyrone, GA...that's where my wife's cousin is from. Just outside Peachtree City, seems fairly random but I'm guessing that area has some talent.

[Qwikshot]

So if Wentz goes to the Bears, and Foles comes back to Philly, it would blow my mind.

I think it has fallen apart so fast for the Eagles. I'll be stunned if they recover.

They really should've fired the GM.

[Swaggs]

I always sort of thought Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson were similar, first ballot guys. I still think that, but looking over their stats and comparing them to their contemporaries (thinking about guys as wide ranging as Moss, Antonio Brown, Torry Holt, Anquan Boldin, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, and Andre Johnson), maybe it’s just sort of a golden era for receivers and receiver productivity.

I think Fitzgerald and Johnson have the size and look of freak athletes and have Hall of Fame numbers, but may also have benefitted, statistically, from playing on teams that had to come from behind and throw more often.

[Vince, Pt. II]

It's a golden era for passing in general, and I think the caliber of the WRs in the league reflect that. There are a ton of great WRs around, and we're starting to see rookie WRs perform at a high level as well. Historically that has very rarely been the case.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by miked

I had no idea he was from Tyrone, GA...that's where my wife's cousin is from. Just outside Peachtree City, seems fairly random but I'm guessing that area has some talent.

Yeah, played at Sandy Creek. Ironically perhaps, the team fared better after he graduated (and after coaching legend Rodney Walker departed, turning the team over to his son Chip). The Patriots never made it out of the first round with Calvin, finally winning a playoff game the year after he graduated.

It was the next to last stop on the well-traveled (10 HC jobs in 42 seasons) elder Walker's career. His son would stay at Sandy Creek for 12 years, winning three state titles before taking on the task of rebuilding the program at Newnan (a process now heading into year five

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I'll just say that the "he's pretty low profile" shouldn't be entirely discounted. If not for his dad being famous, this would have been a story that probably lasted no more than a day.

I would buy that if it was not Super Bowl week. To be fair, in a normal year, the Chiefs would have already been in Tampa, he probably would not have been driving on Thursday etc. However, anything and everything is a big deal if it involves the teams on Super Week. Yes, he is the head coach's son and that is a factor. He is also the outside linebackers coach of one of the teams in the Super Bowl. It probably shouldn't have been the story of the weekend. But I believe it would have been a story for the weekend.

Like I said, I commend the media for not making it a big deal given the sensitive nature of the incident. It proves that the collective media can show a level of restraint when it wants to. In 2021, it stands out.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Marty Schottenheimer in hospice.

RIP

NFL coaching legend Marty Schottenheimer dies at 77

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by miked

I had no idea he was from Tyrone, GA...that's where my wife's cousin is from. Just outside Peachtree City, seems fairly random but I'm guessing that area has some talent.

I went to high school at McIntosh in PTC. Back then, Tyrone was a pass-through on the way to the mall and considered a less than favorable place to live. Fast forward like 10 or 15 years, and I find out it's built up and they put a new high school there that has become a sports factory.

The only people of note who came out of McIntosh that I know of were Jeff Sheppard (UK basketball and at one time, my brother's best friend) and Brian Harris, who I graduated with and was a starting pitcher at FSU. Our football team was absolutely wretched. And then Sandy Creek came along right down the road a few years later...

[miami_fan]

Super Bowl on CBS draws audience of 96.4 million viewers

[Vince, Pt. II]

Seems odd to me that Super Bowl ratings would be lower during the pandemic. What else did people have to do and what else was on? Was it more viewers on the internet/streaming?

[ISiddiqui]

Sports in general have been having ratings issues. And it's generally across the board. One suggestion is that live crowds (and full ones) really added something to the experience of even watching it at home.

Though, of course, it's Brady, again, vs a team that just won last year. I think the last 3 Brady SBs have dropped in ratings.

And the blowout likely didn't help matters (I turned it off after the Halftime Show). If it was close late, others may have jumped in to watch.

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