NFL 2022-23 Season Thread

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

His charity just broke $1M. Amazing!

Up to 1.6 less than an hour later.

[CrimsonFox]

i'm IN cincy and my facebook feed flooded with thoughts and prayers and worries. I have a friend who was AT the game and home now, worried as fuck thinking it's been too long and that what if he's braindead etc etc

he's even thinking of going over to UC hospital whioch is a TERRIBLE idea

[albionmoonlight]

Thought this was a pretty good reflection:

Damar Hamlin and the Most Terrifying Night of Football - The Ringer

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

been wondering if he broke ribs

Morning radio show said he had a cardiac arrest.

[Edward64]

Prayers for him & family.

Watched the replay. Looked like a normal tackle/hit. Scary how he got up and fell backward. Gives me the chills.

[HomerSimpson98]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Up to 1.6 less than an hour later.

Almost $3.65M at 9am CT. Sucks it takes an event like this to bring people together

[Toddzilla]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

The suspension only came after pretty much zero players made any movement to use the five minute warmup period to do anything to prepare to resume play.

To be fair, the Bengals offense was warming up - Burrow was throwing to get his arm ready - and the Bills defensive unit was on the field. Everyone had their helmets on expecting to play.

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Umm, the NFL ordered the game to resume within five minutes of the player being carted off the field.

The suspension only came after pretty much zero players made any movement to use the five minute warmup period to do anything to prepare to resume play.

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Any link for this btw?

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Joe Buck said it on the broadcast.

Isn't the 5 minutes just standard procedure for a "major" stoppage. I find it difficult to believe that someone called the NFL, told them there's a player down on the field getting CPR, and they said, "um, give it five minutes and then just roll him to the sideline".

Secondly, I'm surprised that ESPN is not prepared for something like this. There have been earthquakes, bomb threats, serious injuries, etc. in sports since the dawn of sports broadcasting. I'll give them the first few minutes of confusion but there should have been someone ready with a plan. They look like idiots. Once you know it's a long delay, play a fluff piece with 5 minute check-ins and break in with any new news but don't send me to Shefty and Booger to say, "thoughts and prayers" one more time and cut to yet another commercial. Be prepared.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Bobble

Isn't the 5 minutes just standard procedure for a "major" stoppage. I find it difficult to believe that someone called the NFL, told them there's a player down on the field getting CPR, and they said, "um, give it five minutes and then just roll him to the sideline".

Secondly, I'm surprised that ESPN is not prepared for something like this. There have been earthquakes, bomb threats, serious injuries, etc. in sports since the dawn of sports broadcasting. I'll give them the first few minutes of confusion but there should have been someone ready with a plan. They look like idiots. Once you know it's a long delay, play a fluff piece with 5 minute check-ins and break in with any new news but don't send me to Shefty and Booger to say, "thoughts and prayers" one more time and cut to yet another commercial. Be prepared.

Different strokes for different folks. Here is just one example of the opposite POV last night.

NFL Network has been airing A Football Life episodes with no real substantive coverage other than some quick hits during a few commercial breaks. Not a good look at all. https://t.co/30nX4i2mCx

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 3, 2023

I think it is a no win situation for both networks. It's Monday Night Football with those teams playing one of the games of the year. Unless there was a weird lightning storm, the story for both networks last night was the game. Once the emergency occurs, that is now a news story. I get the criticism if they were not prepared for a news story. I am not sure what is supposed to be the plan for a player needing CPR on the field. I did not see the coverage from either network. I have seen more people give credit to the ESPN crew for how they handled it as opposed to the NFL network. I think I would have preferred the ESPN approach. If you were still watching ESPN at that point, you did not want to see a fluff piece at that point IMO. I do think this was an occasion where ESPN execs wished they could have called on someone like a Bob Ley to anchor the coverage.

[Lathum]

99% of coverage I have seen has been positive criticism of ESPN and how they covered it. I agree with that assessment. Just an incredibly difficult situation but what I love is not one time did I hear and speculation. Rare in todays news media

[Ryche]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

been wondering if he broke ribs

He will have multiple broken ribs after going through 9 minutes of CPR, otherwise they were not doing it right.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Bobble

Isn't the 5 minutes just standard procedure for a "major" stoppage. I find it difficult to believe that someone called the NFL, told them there's a player down on the field getting CPR, and they said, "um, give it five minutes and then just roll him to the sideline".

That would be my guess. Nobody at the stadium has the authority to even suggest calling the game off, so they just did what they always do after a serious injury.

I don't know what Bart Scott has against the Bengals, but saying that Higgins is responsible for this is really shitty. I bet that guy has enough guilt already for what looked like an everyday football play.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

That would be my guess. Nobody at the stadium has the authority to even suggest calling the game off, so they just did what they always do after a serious injury.

I don't know what Bart Scott has against the Bengals, but saying that Higgins is responsible for this is really shitty. I bet that guy has enough guilt already for what looked like an everyday football play.

Wow. Thats a shitty thing to say.

[Ksyrup]

Especially since it was just a normal tackle. I could see if it was a cheap shot. That's a weird comment to make given the circumstances.

[CrimsonFox]

Can't help thinking...tinfoil hat type...was it a freak hit in a freak spot...or were other factors involved....like an unknown to him heart condition...or some substance he took (prescribed or un) ...something pushed it

[Ksyrup]

NFL says the game will not resume this week, leaves open the possibility it may be finished at a later date.

[CrimsonFox]

the family made a statement thanking people
no other update. i guerss that's good news.

he's probably sedated and being run by machines

[Ksyrup]

Realistically, what could they do if they wanted to finished that game? Move up the CIN/BAL and BUF/NE games to Friday and have them resume Monday or Tuesday? I don't know what the end game is without making adjustments now.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Realistically, what could they do if they wanted to finished that game? Move up the CIN/BAL and BUF/NE games to Friday and have them resume Monday or Tuesday? I don't know what the end game is without making adjustments now.

Not sure what they can do other than declare the game a defacto tie.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Bobble

Isn't the 5 minutes just standard procedure for a "major" stoppage. I find it difficult to believe that someone called the NFL, told them there's a player down on the field getting CPR, and they said, "um, give it five minutes and then just roll him to the sideline".

Secondly, I'm surprised that ESPN is not prepared for something like this. There have been earthquakes, bomb threats, serious injuries, etc. in sports since the dawn of sports broadcasting. I'll give them the first few minutes of confusion but there should have been someone ready with a plan. They look like idiots. Once you know it's a long delay, play a fluff piece with 5 minute check-ins and break in with any new news but don't send me to Shefty and Booger to say, "thoughts and prayers" one more time and cut to yet another commercial. Be prepared.

I still remember the 1989 World Series that was interrupted by an earthquake. That was crazy. Having an earthquake in a series were both teams were just a bridge apart.

[rjolley]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Not sure what they can do other than declare the game a defacto tie.

Looking at the playoff implications, I think this is the best option. A tie gives KC control of gaining the #1 spot, but otherwise, no other teams are impacted as far as seeding. Can't see the NFL wanting two of their best teams playing 3 games in <10 days.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

Can't help thinking...tinfoil hat type...was it a freak hit in a freak spot...or were other factors involved....like an unknown to him heart condition...or some substance he took (prescribed or un) ...something pushed it

From what I've seen speculated the hit had to occur exactly during a 40 millisecond phase the heart was in order to send it into afib and hiccup.

[Solecismic]

I'm not fond of the tinfoil speculation. There's a simple explanation that fits - hard hit to the chest, common enough football play, at just the wrong point in the heartbeat.

If someone wants to turn this into some sort of political or social statement (vaccines, drug use, etc), I'm just not interested. A young man nearly died and is still in critical condition.

The NFL has plans for moving games around - they did it in 2001 after the terrorist attacks. It's a bigger challenge with the playoffs starting, but somewhere in all those stacks of legal agreements is a framework for this kind of thing. I'm sure they're meeting right now and working on it. It's good that they've already let Buffalo and Cincinnati know that they don't have to go back out there in the next day or two.

I'm not sure what makes sense other than moving everything back a week and removing Media Week before the Super Bowl. Otherwise, you can't have teams playing twice in ten days, then on shortened rest again for the playoffs. The other solution is a designated tie, but that awards the division to Cincinnati, which plays Baltimore next week.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Not sure what they can do other than declare the game a defacto tie.

Could they simply nullify the game and have both teams have one less game played, and go by percentages and all other records? Instead of it being a tie? I suppose, from a legal standpoint, that the other teams in contention could press legal issues saying they were denied a certain opportunity there. There's enough lawyers willing to fight that fight I'd wager.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Could they simply nullify the game and have both teams have one less game played, and go by percentages and all other records? Instead of it being a tie? I suppose, from a legal standpoint, that the other teams in contention could press legal issues saying they were denied a certain opportunity there. There's enough lawyers willing to fight that fight I'd wager.

The league undoubtedly has an agreement in place that it can designate playoff teams by any method it wants, perhaps in conjunction with the NFLPA.

There's no way to award or not award ties that doesn't A) give Cincinnati the division title and B) deny Cincinnati a shot at the bye and make Buffalo's path much harder (they hold the tie-breaker over Kansas City). Both teams had a lot on the line yesterday.

I think removing Media Week is the best solution. Cincinnati and Buffalo would then be the only teams playing in what would be week 19.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Could they simply nullify the game and have both teams have one less game played, and go by percentages and all other records? Instead of it being a tie? I suppose, from a legal standpoint, that the other teams in contention could press legal issues saying they were denied a certain opportunity there. There's enough lawyers willing to fight that fight I'd wager.

That would be the most fair way of dealing with the extortionary circumstance. But then a home playoff game is worth millions of dollars, so I imagine there is no way a fight about this is not coming.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

I'm not fond of the tinfoil speculation. There's a simple explanation that fits - hard hit to the chest, common enough football play, at just the wrong point in the heartbeat.

If someone wants to turn this into some sort of political or social statement (vaccines, drug use, etc), I'm just not interested. A young man nearly died and is still in critical condition.

The NFL has plans for moving games around - they did it in 2001 after the terrorist attacks. It's a bigger challenge with the playoffs starting, but somewhere in all those stacks of legal agreements is a framework for this kind of thing. I'm sure they're meeting right now and working on it. It's good that they've already let Buffalo and Cincinnati know that they don't have to go back out there in the next day or two.

I'm not sure what makes sense other than moving everything back a week and removing Media Week before the Super Bowl. Otherwise, you can't have teams playing twice in ten days, then on shortened rest again for the playoffs. The other solution is a designated tie, but that awards the division to Cincinnati, which plays Baltimore next week.

it's not a political or social statement. Plenty of prescrption things can mess with the heart. Cold flu stuff even. sudafed affects the heart. Nor is it a shaming if it he did do dope or something harder. so many people do drugs nowadays...it's just a thing. i don't care if they do either.

have also known plenty of people with weird heart abnormalities that wouldn't affect them in normal life that could in that situation.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

I think removing Media Week is the best solution. Cincinnati and Buffalo would then be the only teams playing in what would be week 19.

I agree, this late, with this much on the line, that this makes the most sense. But we have no idea what's going on with the teams themselves and their state of mind either.

[GrantDawg]

“I think it is a done deal if he gets an offer."

Here is our updated story on Jim Harbaugh/NFL 2.0 with @josephperson's reporting this morning that Panthers owner David Tepper has talked with Harbaugh about the Carolina head-coaching vacancy: https://t.co/q4VrLN7OLu

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 3, 2023

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

That would be the most fair way of dealing with the extortionary circumstance. But then a home playoff game is worth millions of dollars, so I imagine there is no way a fight about this is not coming.

There are a lot of little things like this that feel like they aren't appropriate to talk about right now, but have to play into the decision-making. What happens to all the folks who bought tickets for hundreds of dollars and spent money on hotels or bought luxury boxes, etc? What about all the local businesses (hotel, transportation, food) that benefit from a home playoff game? It's really a tough call with what to do. It seems like the obvious choice is to either call it a tie or just a no contest, but that impacts other teams/franchises/cities unfairly. Goodell and the admin will be earning their salaries with this decision.

[PilotMan]

Exactly, on the surface here there seems to be some easy ways to handle it, but when you dig deep into the minutiae of the ripples of those options it gets really cloudy, really fast.

[molson]

I've read it floated that the Bills might not play the Patriots either.

We're so used to clean, perfectly balanced league structures, but necessary logistics changes really aren't the end of the world. They happened in the earlier days of American sports all the time - teams not playing the same amount of games for whatever reason. College basketball teams have had to cancel games and the season and tournaments just get adjusted on the fly. I remember the '88 Stanley Cup when the Oilers got 4 out 5 of the games at home due to the Boston Garden lights going out in one game. The 1908 NL Pennant was won by 1/2 game when the last game was tied when it got too dark to play. Sometimes teams folded and a bunch of games just got cancelled.

It's not perfect, it's not ideal, the major leagues have mostly avoided anything like this aside from the COVID season, but, sometimes things happen and they just have to do whatever they can and we all move on.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by molson

I've read it floated that the Bills might not play the Patriots either.

We're so used to clean, perfectly balanced league structures, but necessary logistics changes really aren't the end of the world. They happened in the earlier days of American sports all the time - teams not playing the same amount of games for whatever reason.

If that's the case, then why would they be OK to play just a few days later against Baltimore or the Chargers? I don't think anyone would want that. And Goodell agreeing to a plan that most affects the Patriots? Patriot Nation would be livid.

Yes, the NFL world would adjust quickly. The standings are forgotten when the playoffs begin. I think a lot depends on how Hamlin is doing a couple of days from now. Even if it's career-ending, but he still can enjoy life, his teammates (and we've heard the term brotherhood a lot) and the rest of the league will be in an entirely different place.

[Ryche]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

“I think it is a done deal if he gets an offer."

Here is our updated story on Jim Harbaugh/NFL 2.0 with @josephperson's reporting this morning that Panthers owner David Tepper has talked with Harbaugh about the Carolina head-coaching vacancy: https://t.co/q4VrLN7OLu

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 3, 2023

I could see him going to Denver. The Wilson situation isn't ideal but if things continue going badly Harbaugh can cut him loose and get his own quarterback. Lots of Stanford ties in the new ownership and the GM has zero power at this point so Harbaugh would get to run the show.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg




Bleah! Not surprising given this owner's desire to win. But I think the interim coach should get a shot at it first.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by Ryche

I could see him going to Denver. The Wilson situation isn't ideal but if things continue going badly Harbaugh can cut him loose and get his own quarterback. Lots of Stanford ties in the new ownership and the GM has zero power at this point so Harbaugh would get to run the show.

The part that makes the most sense to me is the rumor that Harbaugh is simply done with the college game. Recruiting is awful now - tying together money and offers and there isn't even an effective scholarship limit any more. The portal offers immediate free agency. It can't be much fun to be a college coach.

I want no part of the current college football landscape - I follow and root for Michigan because it's part of my blood, I guess - but if I think about it, why? What makes college football different from the USFL at this point?

I didn't know Harbaugh as a kid and I certainly don't know him now, but if that's his reasoning, I get it. Otherwise, I wish he would shoot these rumors down, even if he thinks it's undignified to respond. So I guess he's in play.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by molson

I've read it floated that the Bills might not play the Patriots either.

I wonder how many games a team can miss before owners start threatening to take away pay.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by HomerSimpson98

Almost $3.65M at 9am CT. Sucks it takes an event like this to bring people together

Nearly to 4.6M at 3pm Eastern. The page has been updated to reflect:

This fundraiser was initially established to support a toy drive for Damar’s community, sponsored by the Chasing M’s Foundation.

However, it has received renewed support in light of Damar’s current battle and we can’t thank all of you enough. Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us.


If you would like to show your support and contribute to Damar’s community initiatives and his current fight, this is the place to do so. This is the only current fund that is being used by the Hamlin Family.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Ryche

I could see him going to Denver. The Wilson situation isn't ideal but if things continue going badly Harbaugh can cut him loose and get his own quarterback. Lots of Stanford ties in the new ownership and the GM has zero power at this point so Harbaugh would get to run the show.

That Wilson extension hasn't even kicked in. There is no way they can get rid of him.

For what it's worth, I'm not as down on Wilson as others. He's not worth that massive contract and is definitely in decline. But I also don't think he's as bad as people are acting. I still think he can be a mediocre starting NFL QB with the right system.

[Ksyrup]

This would require a final decision this offseason that Wilson is done so that he can be cut right after June 1, but if the Broncos don't think he is salvageable, here is a thread from November where someone lays out the plan to cut him, make other cuts, and some renegotiations, and end up in not a terrible place:

If the Broncos cut Darby, Glasgow, Edmonds, Martin, Albert O, OJ, Cush, and McManus, and restructure Sutton, Patrick, DJ, and Bolles, they could cut Russell Wilson this offseason (as a post-June 1st designation) and still have more than $70M in available cap space

It's possible

— Zach Segars (@Zach_Segars) November 28, 2022

Here's a couple more tweets from this thread that further explains it:

Now, the tricky thing is actually 2024 cap space. How the post-June 1st designation works is that is splits the dead cap over two seasons.

$39M of that would hit in '24. $68M would hit DEN in '25.

That's painful, but as you can see here, it's still navigatable in terms of cap pic.twitter.com/dyk2goidJR

— Zach Segars (@Zach_Segars) November 28, 2022

[thesloppy]

I'm not sure an empty cupboard with like 25% less available cap space than the rest of the league is going to attract top coaching candidates.

[molson]

I bet it would attract the very best FOF player though.

Edit: Isn't the idea though you'd be rid of Wilson, get a tank year, a top draft pick, and then a billion dollars in cap space and free-spending owners? That seems pretty good.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

I'm not sure an empty cupboard with like 25% less available cap space than the rest of the league is going to attract top coaching candidates.

Not sure how being stuck with a washed QB is all that appealing either.

[Ksyrup]

Guys like Harbaugh and Payton are getting 8-10 years. 2 years of cap handcuffs isn't that big an issue.

[Ryche]

More likely they would ditch Wilson after next season if things don't improve significantly. That would keep them from paying 40 million on that contract and spread out the cap hit a bit more easily.

[thesloppy]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Guys like Harbaugh and Payton are getting 8-10 years. 2 years of cap handcuffs isn't that big an issue.

I guess I'm in the minority but I think NFL owners and fans are fickle as hell & 2 years of losing will put practically anyone on the hotseat & their legacy in question, regardless of what was said on hiring day (See Bill Belichick, who went from 'greatest coach of all time' to 'was it all Tom Brady?' in that same time span). Why would folks take that gig over literally any other coaching job?

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

I guess I'm in the minority but I think NFL owners and fans are fickle as hell & 2 years of losing will put practically anyone on the hotseat & their legacy in question, regardless of what was said on hiring day (See Bill Belichick, who went from 'greatest coach of all time' to 'was it all Tom Brady?' in that same time span). Why would folks take that gig over literally any other coaching job?

If the alternative is working under David Tepper I might take it.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

it's not a political or social statement. Plenty of prescrption things can mess with the heart. Cold flu stuff even. sudafed affects the heart. Nor is it a shaming if it he did do dope or something harder. so many people do drugs nowadays...it's just a thing. i don't care if they do either.

have also known plenty of people with weird heart abnormalities that wouldn't affect them in normal life that could in that situation.

The thing that really got me thinking about this was the House mentality of the situation. And I DID get a diploma in watching House so I can say without a shadow of a doubt that it's not lupus

[Ksyrup]

I love how news outlets have to report things so straight-forwardly. The article I just read says that Harbaugh doesn't plan to ditch Michigan. The actual quote: "Although no one knows the future, I think I will be coaching Michigan next year." That's as wishy-washy a statement as someone can make without acknowledging he's talking to NFL teams and there's a chance he takes one of the jobs if offered.

I suppose that's preferable to the Saban lecture journalists got when he was at Miami, but reporting this in such a naive, matter-of-fact way is kinda ridiculous.

[Ksyrup]

Mike Glennon lives!

Only because Josh Johnson is already on a roster...