The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

[Rumplebeanskin]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

Year 5 19/20 - Week 4

Gridiron Scoop Dot Net

Everything NFL on the Down Low, Yo!

Top 26 Under 26


Dexter - @DexterScoop247

So, don't let it be said that I'm not open to change. I liked my free agent preview piece, it's been a staple on my site now for a lot of years. But sometimes it sure is nice to flex those creative muscles and try something new. So I went back to the drawing board and thought, what do people really like about this league? And it hit me.

Star. Power.

Everyone loves quality play. But, dear reader, anyone can turn on the TV and see Aaron Rodgers or Khalil Mack being legit. And guess what, Momma Dexter could see that too, if she was watching.

But where do stars come from? Well, that's where I come in, and my drawing board, and my new column! Using a super secret formula, each season I'll bring you the top 26 players under the age of 26 across the league. That way when some guys are up there with the best and brightest and bringing in Championships, you'll be able to say you were watching their careers with interest right from the start.

The ranking isn't numerical, I'll be splitting the 26 up by position so you can see the best guys on both sides of the ball and how the talent is breaking down across the league. I'm sure if I let you guys battle it out in my comments section with your own rankings, that should be a lot of fun for me to read!

Top 26 Under 26 - Year 5 2019/20
#	Player	Team	Pos	Age	Round - Year
1	Nate Gray	Cleveland Browns	QB	25	2nd - 2017
2	Marcus Mariota	Tennessee Titans	QB	25	1st - 2015
3	Rob Pickett	Indianapolis Colts	QB	21	1st - 2019
4	Mike Stark	Washington Redskins	QB	25	2nd - 2016
5	Tyson McBride	Dallas Cowboys	QB	23	2nd - 2017
6	Jack Riley	New York Jets	QB	25	1st - 2016
7	Max Shaw	Oakland Raiders	QB	25	4th - 2016
8	Herschel Robinson	St Louis Rams	QB	25	2nd - 2016
9	Zach Nelson	Baltimore Ravens	QB	23	1st - 2018
10	Paul Milton	Carolina Panthers	TE	24	1st - 2018
11	Rashawn Martin	Dallas Cowboys	TE	23	1st - 2017
12	Rommell Taylor	Houston Texans	TE	25	2nd - 2016
13	Dulan Nunley	New England Patriots	T	25	2nd - 2016
14	Connor Graham	New Orleans Saints	G	25	2nd - 2017
15	Phil Mason	Mexico City Diablos	G	25	2nd - 2016
16	Bradley Patrick	Houston Texans	G	25	2nd - 2016
17	Harris Fletcher	Kansas City Chiefs	C	24	2nd - 2018
18	Casey Redmond	Washington Redskins	C	23	3rd - 2018
19	Stephan Austin	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	DT	24	1st - 2018
20	Andrew Gutierrez	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	DT	25	1st - 2016
21	Dominique Caldwell	Indianapolis Colts	DT	25	1st - 2017
22	Montra Blake	San Francisco 49ers	DT	25	6th - 2017
23	Javonte Givens	New York Giants	OLB	25	2nd - 2018
24	Shaman Parker	Washington Redskins	S	25	1st - 2016
25	Derron Scott	New Orleans Saints	S	25	1st - 2016
26	Connor Blalock	Indianapolis Colts	S	24	1st - 2016

Some interesting little bits to look at. 3 selections for the Colts after their trade of Andrew Luck. The Seahawks have tanked of late, did the Colts win that trade?! One of the selections for Indy is 21 year old Rob Pickett. He might make everyone in Indy forget about Andrew Luck real quick, but we said that about Blake Bortles. Yikes!

12 of the 26 were first round picks, showing just how important hitting that first selection of a draft can be. Props to Montra Blake in San Fran as a 6th rounder.

2 defensive tackles for the Bucs on the list. What an awesome young pairing to build a defence around for Jim Tomsula.

9 QBs, just goes to show that teams know you have to have one to get success.

Can't wait to see you guys crash my site as you try and put that group in any kind of rank order. For me, I think I'd have to start with one of those big DTs, Gutierrez maybe, or Max Shaw if you make me go QB!

Peace Out!

Dexter

[Rumplebeanskin]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

Year 5 19/20 - Week 5


Your One Stop Shop For Everything Pro Football!



Carson Dietrich, Senior Writer

Week 5 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Record
1 ()	Carolina Panthers	4-0
2 ()	Cincinnati Bengals	3-1
3 ()	Seattle Seahawks	3-1
4 ()	Green Bay Packers	3-1
5 ()	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3-1
6 ()	Dallas Cowboys	3-1
7 ()	St. Louis Rams	3-1
8 ()	Minnesota Vikings	2-1
9 ()	Indianapolis Colts	2-1
10 ()	Jacksonville Jaguars	2-1
11 ()	Pittsburgh Steelers	2-2
12 ()	San Francisco 49ers	2-2
13 ()	Cleveland Browns	2-2
14 ()	Tennessee Titans	2-2
15 ()	Miami Dolphins	2-2
16 ()	New York Jets	2-2
17 ()	Buffalo Bills	2-2
18 ()	Philadelphia Eagles	2-2
19 ()	New England Patriots	2-2
20 ()	Houston Texans	2-2
21 ()	Denver Broncos	2-2
22 ()	New Orleans Saints	2-2
23 ()	Kansas City Chiefs	2-2
24 ()	Chicago Bears	2-2
25 ()	Washington Redskins	1-2
26 ()	New York Giants	1-3
27 ()	Baltimore Ravens	1-3
28 ()	Mexico City Diablos	1-3
29 ()	Oakland Raiders	1-3
30 ()	San Diego Chargers	1-3
31 ()	Detroit Lions	0-4
32 ()	Arizona Cardinals	0-4

[Rumplebeanskin]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

Just on vacation. Be back early next week

[Rumplebeanskin]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

Year 5 19/20 - Week 6



Your Path To The Hottest Draft Talent!


Lloyd Bowerman, Senior Draft Writer

Draft Preview - Offence

Unsurprisingly, expect this draft to be completely consumed by Jared Cole. As always, I'll bring you what I have for the complete class, but Cole's shadow will loom large over every month, week and day of coverage as the college season plays out and we get closer to the draft itself.

OFFENCE

QB

• What more needs to be said about Cole? The offence in Florida is the closest to a professional outfit that I've seen in my time covering the College Football. I'm afraid that just like every other guy out there, I can't find fault with his game. He will go #1.
  
• With Cole's presence, it's possible that some will overlook the rest of this group. Whilst there isn't anyone close to the Florida man, Sam Doyle especially could carve out a solid career for himself once all is said and done. Possessing both solid arm strength and good accuracy, neither are elite but he should be able to help a team.
  
• Max Morris from West Virginia has plus arm strength, perhaps a top 3 in this class, but he is very erratic with it. The number of interceptions in his career to date for the Mountaineers tells the story. He is a real project, nothing more than a late rounder at this stage.

RB

• This is something that shouldn't get lost in the media hype. The running back class coming out this year is the best in at least a decade for me, probably longer. There is elite talent here.
  
• I have 5 different runners with a 1st round grade. I've only had 8 RBs with a 1st round grade in the last 4 years combined. There is also a great blend of power and speed in the group, the best of both worlds.
  
• The top back could be Felix Spencer, the speedster from LSU. Keep an eye on his combine performance, it should jump off the page. Kahlil Patton from UCLA has powered Jim Mora back into the NFL discussion for head coaching positions, he is a beast of a runner and so hard to bring down. Picking a top of this group is difficult, but there is a lot for teams to go at.

WR

• The polar opposite of the RB class. These receivers may be the worst in a while, and I've been doing this a long time. I've got no guys with a 1st round grade and it wasn't even close.
  
• The main issue with the class is it's lack of explosive speed amongst it's best prospects. David Lunsford from UCLA is perhaps the top of this group but his hands don't warrant him being off the board until at least the 2nd round.
  
• Every year there is a small school prospect that woos the public playing against minnows. This year it's Angel Lattimore from Mississippi Valley State. Don't get me wrong, he is putting up numbers, but he couldn't cut it at Auburn before he had to move for academic reasons and he has a lot of holes in his game.

TE

• If the running backs are up this year, and the receivers are down, lets say the tight ends are somewhere in the middle. I've seen worse, but we've had better recent draft classes to. There's no Rommell Taylor to get excited about, that's for sure.
  
• Will Phillip is the man most likely to come off the board first, but it probably won't be until the late 1st round picks, more likely the 2nd round. He has great physical ability for a guy who is 6'5" and 254lb. There is a lot to work with here.
  
• Opinion is divided on Devonte Crawford. I like him a lot, but I spoke to a number of scouting guys in the last few weeks who can't get past his hand position when he's catching across the middle. He seems to make it work, but the consensus is that his poor technique will cause issues before long.

T

• I see some real buyers remorse from this tackle group. Just like most, I hear the things that are said about players across the country in print media, during telecasts, online, each week. I disagree with most of it when it comes to this group of tackles. Perhaps pro teams will as well.
  
• Taz Robinson is being touted as a probable top 5 pick. I don't even have him in the first 2 rounds. His footwork is lazy, his upper body doesn't get the correct angle when engaging with blocks and he doesn't read the game well enough. I am lost as to why this kid has received so much praise this season.
  
• As for top of the class, this is a seriously XXL group. Some like Nick Lattimore from Texas, the 6'7", 336lb wall that has excelled for much of the last 2 seasons due to his fierce run blocking especially. For me, I prefer Kevin Parker from Florida State. 6'5", 315 and a well rounded player capable of moving into space as a lead blocker. A big, strong guy who can move? Sign me up.

G

• As teams continue to wait on Guard talent in the draft, it becomes harder and harder to evaluate. A 2nd or 3rd round grade for these guys is beginning to look like a 1st rounder by conversion. With that in mind, I can see 2 or 3 good players that should do well in the league, but won't go in round 1.
  
• Gordon Gardner from Tennessee and Javonta Graves are two of the best interior run blockers in college right now and that should translate to the next level. Graves needs work on his footwork in passing situations, but lacks a little size compared to Gardner, and you can't teach size.
  
• A different beast is Michael Reedy from Oklahoma. He excels as a pass first specialist, which is rarer based on my observations in recent years. A lot of his success comes from his athletic frame, he moves very fluidly for a man of 6'4". That wont be as apparent as he steps up a level, but it will still serve him well.

C

• A very boom or bust position for me, the group of centres has 3 talented guys then a severe drop off. If a team waits and misses the boat by the time their selection comes back around, it won't end well.
  
• Top grade goes to Gordon James, who could crack the first round for me. The Wisconsin Badger is undersized at 6'1" but you wouldn't know it from watching him play. He has the strength and toughness of a significantly larger man and the mental side of his game can't be understated, a real key attribute for the position.
  
• Alan Scott and Dillion Finley are the other two prospects I like and both should find a new home on day 2 for me. Finley may go earlier than some expect, I like his physical ability and first movement off the snap. After these 3 guys though, it is a very forgettable group. There might not be any other centres taken.

[Rumplebeanskin]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

Year 5 19/20 - Week 7


Covering your teams better than anyone else


Hayden Rudland, Featured Columnist

Sir Richard Branson Wins Tender Process, Announced as New Owner of London Franchise

The NFL has now concluded its lengthy process to sell the former Washington Redskins franchise, relocated to London for the start of next season. English billionaire and business magnate Sir Richard Branson came out as the eventual selection and is thought to have beaten out a number of very impressive candidates from across the globe.



Branson built his fortune first through music, founding Virgin Records in the mid 70's before moving on to communications, software and eventually Virgin Airways by the mid 1980's. Branson's Virgin empire now stretches into every facet of life, from banking, shopping, cars, energy, radio, transport and even space travel. It is thought he is worth around $5 billion, a figure in the upper echelons when compared to other NFL owners such as Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft.

"Why not?" Branson quipped when he was unveiled as the new owner of the team and asked his reasoning behind the purchase. "I've had a growing interest in the sport for close to a decade or so now, I've learned to enjoy what it represents and how the NFL is seen and I wanted the chance to be involved and bring that sport to other people. I look forward to adding this franchise into the Virgin Group, another invaluable tool for shared service."



The NFL may well have New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to thank for introducing Branson to the sport, inviting the 70 year old to Foxboro a number of years ago as a guest. A contest between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning that day was enough to plant a seed in the investors mind that has now blossomed into the ownership of one of the league's incredibly valuable franchises.

When questioned on his intentions for the team, Branson was more than happy to elaborate. "To be the best. I know that sounds a little foolhardy, and no doubt somewhat arrogant to established sectors of the sport, but I, we, devoted, interested British fans, have this team to make it the best it can be. I can facilitate that and I will, both on and off the field. But the drive will come from those fans and I can't wait to be a part of that and help them do it. The world will finally be able to see what the UK thinks about this sport.

[DynasticJumper]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

Redskins to Europe? That's an interesting move. Bet the Washington fans are happy hahahaha

[Rumplebeanskin]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

Redskins to Europe? That's an interesting move. Bet the Washington fans are happy hahahaha

They were a fairly realistic one to move, aside from them being in the capital of course. In real life they are currently wrangling for a new stadium, however that pans out. Plus the Redskins angle and the issues it causes. You have to think, this is 2019. The world of the future is a significantly more tolerant place

Plus, as mentioned previously with realignment not being an option, an East coast team pretty much has to remain East, and vica versa. Just a limitation of Madden unfortunately, otherwise I may have sent them elsewhere.

[Rumplebeanskin]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

Year 5 19/20 - Week 9


Your One Stop Shop For Everything Pro Football!



Carson Dietrich, Senior Writer

Mid Season Power Rankings

Half a season in, and nearly 9 months removed from the Super Bowl, and it still sucks to think back. I might put the Bengals at #32 of my Power Rankings from here on out. Stupid Dalton.....

32) San Diego Chargers - 1-6
32nd in Offence and most of the first 8 weeks lost to injury for an increasingly frail looking Philip Rivers. I'm sure it looks better on defence though? Nope. Dead last in sacks with just 8, and -6 in the turn over battle, that's worst in the league to. Oh, and Ryan Shazier went down last week and is out for a month at least. It is getting pretty bleak in San Diego this season for Brady Leland.

31) Oakland Raiders - 2-6
This could be that Jon Gruden is taking a little time to adjust from life on camera to life in the locker room, or maybe he just doesn't have it any more? This team is playing pretty well but not really getting anything for it. Max Shaw is as strong as ever with 2,302/15/4, Eldrin Garner has an impressive 84 tackles, Khalil Mack has 8 sacks, but they are 2-6. This team could be due an improvement in the win column if they keep going.

30) New York Jets - 2-6
The Jets just can't keep Jack Riley on the field and it's killing a team with so little talent. If you don't have much to work with, taking your star QB out of the mix isn't going to be a good look for you. Tolliver has also been out since week 1 with a pretty serious shoulder injury. 30th running the ball, and 28th overall on D. It's a tough start for Lane Kiffin and you can't do too much work with a QB always on the physio's table.

29) New York Giants - 2-5
The Giants couldn't sustain their successes from last season but it isn't all bad. Bryson Tracy just looks to have hit that 2nd year slump pretty hard, with 9 Tds and 7 interceptions, the offence is putting up a 31st best 20.3ppg. The D for the G-Men has needed more support than that in recent times. Odell Beckham hit IR this week as well so things are unlikely to get much better.

28) Mexico City Diablos - 2-5
It will be interesting to see how the Mexico public react to a real downturn in quality from their team. They don't look like fair weather fans, but Nick Foles is doing his best to turn the locals off. 31st in offence isn't really going to put a lot of fans in seats.

27) Arizona Cardinals - 3-5
It just isn't working for the Cards right now. 31st in D and 32nd in points allowed. Russell Wilson is one of the top QBs in the game but he has 16 interceptions and I'm at a loss as to how and why, I'm sure he is to. Patrick Peterson hitting IR has also hurt, but this team is tanking right now, and hard.

26) Miami Dolphins - 3-5
Another team is beginning to realise the grass isn't always greener on the other side of Mike McCarthy. The former Packers HC took this team to an AFC Championship game but Ken Whisenhunt has them spluttering. 1st in penalties, Ryan Tannerhill looks ineffective again and the team are 31st in the league passing the ball. I thought Ken was meant to be a QB whisperer?

25) New England Patriots - 3-4
That water sure is warming up for Nick Saban again. They can't run the ball and it is really hurting them. Even in the times of Terrific Tom, the team could still move the ball on the ground when it really mattered, this side is 31st running the ball and Coach Saban doesn't appear to have an answer for it. They are 32nd overall with 16.5 ppg as well. What they wouldn't do for Tom Brady right now.

24) Detroit Lions - 3-4
Jameis Winston hasn't really been all that impressive for the Lions so far, but he went down in week 5 and hasn't been back since. Behind him, we watched Mark Sanchez have a go, then he went down and it was on to Ryan Mallett. Such spotty QB play was always going to hurt Detroit, or any team, but their lack of defence has been as big a blow. Just 9 sacks so far from this talented front 7.

23) Washington Redskins - 3-4
The Skins look like they're going to leave town with a bit of a whimper. The fact they're 4th in defence makes them a tough play, but their passing offence is out of sync. Considering it utilises both Mike Start and AJ Green, I find that one a little bit of a head scratcher. Perhaps whatever scheme Mike Shanahan is running down there is taking some time to mesh.

22) Denver Broncos - 3-4
Peyton Manning is beginning to find this coaching thing isn't as easy as he'd like it to be. He's got Ryan Nassib going, he has over 2,000 yards right now and 17 touchdown passes, but the offence is dead last running the ball making them pretty one dimensional. Chris Harris has missed some time and the team has 4 interceptions all season. An uptick is needed or this could be another lost season.

21) Buffalo Bills - 3-4
Some of the magic might be wearing off for Rex Ryan as he tries to get production from some less than stellar players. Only 3 interceptions is a league low, but MLB Preston Brown leads the league in tackles. Derek Carr's 7 TDs to 9 interceptions though 8 weeks is also killing them.

20) Seattle Seahawks - 3-4
Mike Tomlin continues to battle with this defence and they seem to battle him back more than they battle on the pitch. It looked like a great match when he moved over to Seattle, but they personalities within that unit just haven't worked. Cliff Avril is injured, but the rest of the defensive stars may as well be sat on the bench to. It's a shame as the offence is being paced by Luck and the impressive Keithen Dotson, he has nearly 500 yards and 5Tds on the ground. A coach change is on the horizon barring a 2nd half of the season miracle.

19) Pittsburgh Steelers - 3-4
Another team that might be due a coaching change, there isn't a lot of spark to this Steelers team right now. Granted that is difficult when your best players go down, but it is what it is. 3rd year QB Hudson Grayson is at QB with Big Ben missing time, and Le'veon Bell is out as well right now. The effect is seen in the teams 21.1ppg, 29th in the league. The Steelers need Ben and Bell back, fast.

18) Chicago Bears - 4-4
Looks like the Bears are putting together another one of their "good" seasons. As in, not getting a top 3 pick, but still middle of the road. Nate Patterson is injured. He's missed a bunch of weeks already and may miss some more yet. Still, AJ McCarron has this offence firing under OC Adam Gase and they're 3rd in the league in production on that side of the ball. If the D can catch up, they could finish the season as a real dark horse. Or Bear. Whatever works.

17) Baltimore Ravens - 4-4
The Ravens have already matched their win total from a season ago, suggesting improvement is on the horizon if not here already. Mike McCoy will no doubt enjoy a little less heat from the fans, but he hasn't had it easy this season. Joe Flacco going down has forced the team to look to 2ns year man Zach Nelson, who has looked steady if unspectacular. Jesus Bell and Dematrius Ford look a solid 1-2 combo at running back as well. Flacco could be back in a few weeks, the Ravens will be hoping he pushes them up to the 8 win mark by season's end.

16) Kansas City Chiefs - 4-3
Things seem to have stabilised for Ron Rivera in Kansas and he's done it just how he did in Carolina, that defence is roaring. 4th in sacks, 5th in overall defence. Rookie Nick Sims has taken his talent from Ohio State and transferred it straight to the NFL, he has 8.5 sacks. Justin Houston has 8 tackles for a loss as well. With some tough running on offence, or an offence controlling the clock, this would look a lot like the Kansas team that won a Super Bowl in the not too distant past.

15) San Francisco 49ers - 4-3
That 3 headed RB monster in SF is working pretty well right now, sometimes you really can't have too much of a good thing. Carlos Hyde has 719 yards and 8 scores, Ameer Abdullah has another 285 and 4 scores, and don't sleep on Knile Davis, he's been handy as well. It makes this 49ers team a tough out as they can really control a contest and before you know it you're down a few scores and its the 4th quarter. Good work from John Harbaugh for sure.

14) New Orleans Saints - 4-3
The plan to grab Matt Ryan from Mexico worked in so much as it weakened the Diablos, but it appears to have weakened Ryan as well, he's missed 3 weeks to date and could well be out another 2 to 3 more. That has left Riley Swanson as the man in charge under centre and he's given it a good go, all told. 1,577/12/13 isn't the best, but he is slinging it around and good on him.

13) Indianapolis Colts - 4-3
It was always going to be tough for Blake Bortles to be as bad as he was last year and as expected, he's pulled it together somewhat. 1,991 yards, 9 scores and 4 picks is hardly lighting it up, but it really is all the Colts needed to be competitive. If they can get more pressure up front on defence, they only have 10 sacks so far, this side could push for the division title.

12) Jacksonville Jaguars - 4-3
The AFC South is developing into a real solid group of teams. The Jags aren't far removed from a Super Bowl loss, the Colts and Texans are improving and the Titans just threw a ton of cash at people. Anyway, The Jags are solid up front and keep eating QBs and RBs for breakfast up front, especially Dante Fowler. They lead the league in sacks with 26. Losing Doug Martin for a month will hurt, but Tyrod Taylor will try to do his thing and pick up wins without really excelling.

11) Tennessee Titans - 4-3
This Titans team shouldn't really be as high as they are but they have scraped 4 wins from somewhere. 31st in interceptions with 3, 30th in turn over differential with -5. Marcus Mariota is pretty middle of the road with 1,800 yards and 13 scores, and the team is struggling to get to opposition QBs as well. It is hardly the recipe for success in a competitive division.

10) Cleveland Browns - 4-3
I've said it before, but stop presses! The Browns really are putting together a solid team. The offence is pretty impressive right now. 32.8ppg leaves them 5th in the league in that category, and Nate Gray is doing everything he needs to do. A split of 18TDs/4INT has him managing games, and 1,844 yards passing means he is moving the chains to. The defence is holding up well and this team has the look of a team that you'll have to work hard to beat.

9) Carolina Panthers - 4-3
The Panthers are keeping the wheels on the cart despite time on the injury list for Cam Newton. He missed about a month and may miss a week or two more. 4th year Jared Leonard hasn't impressed at all but the Panthers are still in a reasonable position and that is all they would have hoped for. Josh Norman has 6 interceptions this season, he is an elite talent.

8) Houston Texans - 5-3
Once again, Matt Stafford is injured, clearing the way for Arryn Carroll to run the offence. And he has done well, as he did last season. Deandre Hopkins is closing in on 1,000 yards already, and he has 51 catches, 7 of them for TDs. Brian Cushings is turning back the clock and has a surprising 6 interceptions. The Texans lead the league in that category with 15. That field position is really helping the team right now.

7) St Louis Rams - 5-3
This Rams team is once again a top 10 side for me, but they aren't exactly firing on all cylinders. Daryl Mack will be frustrated to be injured and unable to really grasp the opportunity of Todd Gurley departing. The defence is an uncharacteristic 29th against the run, but Aaron Donald has 8 tackles for a loss. Perhaps something isn't right in the locker room here, a little bit of a funny one.

6) Green Bay Packers - 5-3
A return to form for the Packers as Aaron Rodgers shows no signs of slowing down. He has 2,505 yards, 17 scores and just 3 interceptions. It looks like Lacy has come to play this season to with just under 700 yards rushing, 5.9ypc and 8 scores. Randall Cobb looked strong, and had 1,000 yards receiving at the half way mark but he hit IR yesterday and that's a big blow. Former Panthers DE Kony Ealy has been a solid pick up, he has 5 sacks but their defence is still unsurprisingly 32nd in the league. Rodgers doesn't care though.

5) Dallas Cowboys - 5-2
This team are one close loss away from 6-1 and you KNOW I'd have put them at #1! Tyson McBride is my single biggest man crush right now. He has 22 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. The McBride train ain't stopping any time soon, that train puts up 40+ points per game on offence, best in the league, unsurprisingly!

4) Minessota Vikings - 5-2
Brian Billick got this team hot last season, grabbing 10 wins and he is on course to see them grab as many this season, if not more. Xavier Rhodes has been a talisman for this defence, which ranks 3rd in the league. Rhodes has 4 interceptions and that certainly helps. Teddy Bridgewater is quietly pacing a strong offensive unit, he has 1,943/14/6. Julius Shaw has been a non-factor through injury, opening the door for Vick Ballard, but the 30 year old has struggled to really make an impact. Bright times ahead for this team though.

3) Philadelphia Eagles - 5-2
I hate the Eagles, but man this league makes me chuckle sometimes. RG3 goes down injured, as expected. BJ Blake steps in, gets injured as well. Season lost, right? Wrong, Geno Smith, yes, THAT Geno Smith, rises from #3 on the depth chart to lead the way and get some W's. The Eagles are leaning on the run game of course, but still, as if!

2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 5-2
Its been a roller coaster in Tampa Bay recently. First Winston bolts for Detroit and things are doom and gloom. Then Morgan Lucas
is traded for and life is good. 2 games in, Lucas has a horrible injury and goes straight to IR. Nightmare! Backup Will Patrick steps in and shows the team why they should have trusted him all along instead of trading for Lucas and the Bucs are one of the hottest teams in the league right now. Can they keep it up?

1) Cincinnati Bengals - 6-2
Bengals suck.

4th in offence. Jeremy Hill having a nice year with 800+ yards and over 5 YPC. That's all you're getting.

[Rumplebeanskin]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

Year 5 19/20 - Week 10


Your One Stop Shop For Everything Pro Football!



Boo Carling, Senior Writer

From Hero to Zero, The Cruel Reality of the NFL

Things can change in the blink of an eye, as they say. Situation, circumstance, opportunity, luck. It can happen for many reasons and the volatile nature of the NFL means that something can arrive at your door without notice and depart just as quickly, before you had a chance to grasp it or even realise it was there. Aaron Murray was presented with just such a situation in January 2017 and he grasped it with both hands. Since that point, things have been a little less straight forward for the young man from Tampa.

BC: Aaron, it's great that you could find time to sit down with me and chat about your career.

AM: No problem, Boo. It's great to see you again.

BC: Lets start right at the top, mentally, metaphorically. February 2017. Stood with a Lombardi Trophy.

AM: Just a blur, still, to be honest. Even now with so much time passed I struggle to sit down and think about what happened. Alex went down after the Bengals game, he didn't look right in the 4th quarter but we scraped through. From there it was on to Foxboro and that game was tough, hardest I've played in for sure. I just kept focusing on doing the basics, don't make silly mistakes I guess. The game against the Packers, the guys on D won that game, make no mistake. To keep Aaron Rodgers to 17 points was ridiculous.



BC: Very modest of you to say. I watched both games of course and thought you looked very calm, composed, made the right decisions, smart plays rather than the biggest ones. How much could you draw on your experiences at Georgia?

AM: To be honest, that is all I could really draw from. I'd taken about 60 snaps in the NFL at that point, and they were all preseason. I'd never seen any game time in live action until we walked out to face the Patriots. Those big SEC games are something special, but this was a different level.

BC: Yeah, I saw a lot of you at Georgia. Mark Richt is a good buddy of mine, caught up with him a lot when he was at the Noles in the 90s. He told me to come take a look at you as he knew he had something special.

AM: Wow, thanks! I called Mark once I found out I'd be starting the New England game. He said some thing that were tremendously helpful, grounding. I was very thankful for that.

BC: So you win in New England, then do the unthinkable and topple that strong Green Bay team. What then? That Packers team could go down as one of the best offences to not win a title.

AM: After the Super Bowl was a bit surreal. During the playoffs, I don't think I had a chance to look around and take stock at all. It was a very singular focus. Once the dust had settled, I was delighted that I had a ring, we'd won, it's what you dream of as a kid and all the times you play growing up. Then the penny started to drop that life still goes on, there's always a next day, a next month, a next season.

BC: Absolutely, it sounds tough. To go from such euphoria back to the day job, as it were. That can't be easy?

AM: Yeah, it wasn't even like I went crazy either. A few drinks here and there, you know? Some of the guys went a lot wilder, but that isn't my style. Before long, I had to have a sit down and sought the team out for a chat, Andy Reid and the guys upstairs.



BC: That must have been some meeting to be a part of!

AM: Of sorts. I was there for the first one as I wanted to be present and put my case across, but I knew that things weren't going to go great after that initial meeting so I left it to my agent.

BC: That doesn't sound promising. I know that it's public knowledge that the relationship soured somewhat, I'm sure people would like to hear your side of things.

AM: I felt I'd done my part for them and I'd done enough to deserve a shot. I'd learnt the system, I'd listened, worked hard, applied myself, and when it mattered I was able to step up and we got the job done. I just wanted the shot to step up and do it again. The team had other ideas. Not only did they decide to stick with Alex [Smith], they went out and drafted Drew [Carter] with the last pick of the 1st round. The league is a business, but it was pretty loud and clear the message that was being sent. I was 25, but the team wanted to replace me with a guy just a few years younger than me. It wasn't like I was over the hill.

BC: Coming back down from such a pinnacle, from winning the number 1 prize in the sport, that must have been very difficult.

AM: I'll not lie, it was. I didn't feel the team had been fair to me and to be honest, I said and did some things that looking back weren't the smartest. But we're all human and in my eyes it just showed that I cared. Me and Kacie [McDonnell, Murray's long time on again - off again fiancee] hit another rough patch, things weren't going great there either and football was the release for me. To be told you basically weren't wanted, thanks, but no thanks. Yeah, that didn't go so well for me.



BC: Understandable feelings. What happened after that?

Am: Well, I guess things went down hill, that's probably the best way to describe it. I didn't have the stability away from the team to fill my time and point me in the right direction. On the field I felt I'd made it and deserved a shot, and that gave me a lot of anger that I didn't deal with. It all kind of spiralled I guess. I mean, that isn't the kind of thing they help you with you know.

BC: Who do you mean by they, in this instance?

AM: The team. The league. You're taught the skills to pass, to run, to be a great player. You're shown how to make good decisions with the ball, on the field. But you don't get much to help you off the field. Those skills. Those decisions. I made some bad decisions, and I'm lucky things didn't end up a lot worse.

BC: By the middle of the 2017 season, Kansas had suspended you, and then ultimately they cut you. How did that make you feel?

AM: Looking back on it, they did the right thing. If I'm subjective, they had decided I wasn't the QB for them and they had moved on. Everything I did, the drinking, the incident at the training facility, my decline from there, that just made things a lot easier for them. I think at that point Kacie saw what was happening and she needed to help. I'll never forget that, I think it's what got me over things and back to where I am now.



BC: You took some time, sorted yourself out and things came back for you. Did you think you would get back to where you are now? Did it feel like that during your final weeks in Kansas and after that?

AM: Jees, that's a tough one. Before Kacie came back I don't know what I was thinking. Once she got me to come back around, slowly but surely, I started to get that belief back again. That was what I had knocked out of me and I needed it back. I didn't have it until she was involved. I'm a lucky man. We're getting married next summer, you know?

BC: From the smile on your face I can tell you're sure it's the right thing to do! Life looks a lot more settled, and football is now to?

AM: Yeah, I'm back in the league. It took me a while to get myself sorted and I still have to work with the guys at the substance abuse programme and check in with them fairly regularly. In the field I was out of shape from the amount I'd been drinking, so that took time, but that helped get my head in the right place to. I'm really pleased to be in Philadelphia and doing what I can to help them succeed.

BC: Did it surprise you that Andy Reid was the man that gave you a call? He wanted you in Philly? I know Andy, he's a real great guy, but that must have been a little strange?

AM: He sat me down, said the past was in the past, and he wanted me to come in and compete. I'm not starting, Geno [Smith, the current Eagles starter] is doing a great job, but I'm just happy to be involved, prove my worth and wait for another chance to show what I can do. I think I've come a long way from those Kansas days. It's a distance to fall from being stood atop the podium holding a Lombardi Trophy.

Aaron Murray spoke to Pro Football Almanac's own Boo Carling

[Rumplebeanskin]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

Year 5 19/20 - Week 11



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



NEW YORK - Effective from the beginning of the NFL calendar in 2020/21, The Washington Redskins will be permanently relocated to London, England. After considerable consultation with numerous stakeholders, including new owner Sir Richard Branson, the team will be known as the London Monarchs.



As previously announced, the newly founded franchise is to be based in London primarily, with 4 regular season games and all playoff games being held at Wembley Stadium (90,000 capacity).

The remaining 4 regular season games will be based around the UK on a rotational basis. This rotation will involve a bi-annual tender process. The 4 external sites for the 2020/21 season will be as follows:

• Old Trafford (Manchester, 81,231 capacity)
• Murrayfield (Edinburgh, 76,244)
• Millenium Stadium (Cardiff, 74,500 capacity)
• Lineker Stadium (Leicester, formerly King Power Stadium, 66,000 capacity)

The franchise's training facility will be housed within the National Football Centre, St George's Park, Staffordshire.

The league would like to put on record it's thanks to all parties who made the International series at Wembley such a success and the league feels that the awarding of this franchise to London was a decision taken based on the commitment and passion of the UK fans during those games.

The NFL would like to welcome Sir Richard Branson, his staff and the city of London to the league.

Media Contacts:

Andrew Cole, NFL
[email protected]
212-460-5535

[Rumplebeanskin]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

Year 5 19/20 - Week 12


The 4 Quick Takes From This Week's NFL


Amanda Reditch

No surprises what we are leading on today, the London franchise is on the tip of everyone's tongue! Then we'll dive into some fun free agent talk for the other 3 downs. I do enjoy a good free agency rumour!


1st Down - The London Monarchs

I love the Monarchs move, and I think that was the best way to go with the new name and branding. It will be great to have someone with the pull, resource and reputation of Sir Richard Branson. Mexico City has proved a great success so far with regards to basing a franchise outside of the US, but it will be interesting to see how a team fares when they are much further afield. How will the American media cover it? Are ESPN going to start basing reporters in the UK or will the team suffer in the US market? How will it affect player's marketability? Is the London franchise going to become somewhere that players avoid? I guess we will all find out soon enough.


2nd Down - With Many QBs Set to Retire, What is Next?

Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers and Aaron Rodgers are all set to be free agents at the end of this season. Roethlisberger is 38, as is Rivers, and Rodgers is 36. Peyton Manning has shown us that playing until 40 isn't an issue. Drew Brees retired last year at 40 as well. Will this trio of quarterbacks sign new deals in the off season? If so, for how long? Are the teams planning for the future? None have an established back up waiting in the wings. I think all three teams will milk as much out of their guys as they can. They have been great for a long time, but the wheels can come off at a moments notice, and don't forget the increased risk of injury.


3rd Down - The "Winter" of Gronk?!

We all enjoyed the instagram posts, the coverage, the interviews, as Rob Gronkowski publicised his own unique brand of self promotion each off-season. Whilst his antics may never change, it may be that the New England Tight End needs to find a new place to do it. Sources have suggested to me that Gronkowski may be on his way out of Foxboro as his contract expires at the end of this season. Renegotiations haven't gone well to date, and turning 32 in the near future, the former Arizona University product could be on his way.


4th Down - The Curious Case of Jack Riley

Let me get this out there, I think that the Jets will resign Riley. They have no alternative, invested the 1st pick of the 2016 draft on him and at his best he is the future of their franchise. But he hasn't played a full season since his 2nd year, killing off their chances of success the last couple of years for the Gang Green. So what will the Jets do? As I say, I don't think the team really has much of an option. Injury prone or otherwise, the team need to continue trying to keep him on his feet rather than cutting ties. It is a little like Robert Griffin all over again, and that didn't end well for anybody.

Amanda

[DynasticJumper]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

Are you going to add any complexity to the London team--i.e., players not wanting to play there, fatigue through the season, etc.? Or just let it play out?

[Rumplebeanskin]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

The game gives me a lot of limitations for what I can do on the pitch in terms of simming games and their record/success, but I have plenty of thoughts for what could happen to the franchise, certainly. That'll play out and come to the fore in news stories over the coming years. May do a few random dice rolls to see which way certain events go, purely so it's not just my own opinion.

[Rumplebeanskin]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

Year 5 19/20 - Week 13


Your One Stop Shop For Everything Pro Football!



Carson Dietrich, Senior Writer

Week 13 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Record
1 ()	Dallas Cowboys	9-3
2 ()	Cincinnati Bengals	8-3
3 ()	Minnesota Vikings	9-2
4 ()	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	7-4
5 ()	Indianapolis Colts	7-4
6 ()	Philadelphia Eagles	7-4
7 ()	Jacksonville Jaguars	7-4
8 ()	San Francisco 49ers	7-4
9 ()	Houston Texans	7-4
10 ()	Kansas City Chiefs	7-4
11 ()	Cleveland Browns	6-5
12 ()	Tennessee Titans	6-5
13 ()	Carolina Panthers	6-5
14 ()	St. Louis Rams	6-5
15 ()	Baltimore Ravens	5-6
16 ()	Miami Dolphins	5-6
17 ()	Green Bay Packers	5-6
18 ()	Arizona Cardinals	5-6
19 ()	Seattle Seahawks	5-6
20 ()	Buffalo Bills	5-6
21 ()	New Orleans Saints	5-6
22 ()	Pittsburgh Steelers	5-6
23 ()	Washington Redskins	5-6
24 ()	Chicago Bears	5-6
25 ()	New York Jets	4-7
26 ()	New England Patriots	4-7
27 ()	Detroit Lions	4-7
28 ()	Mexico City Diablos	3-8
29 ()	New York Giants	3-8
30 ()	San Diego Chargers	3-8
31 ()	Denver Broncos	3-8
32 ()	Oakland Raiders	3-8

[Rumplebeanskin]

Re: The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

Year 5 19/20 - Week 14



Your Path To The Hottest Draft Talent!


Lloyd Bowerman, Senior Draft Writer

Draft Preview - Defence

The attraction of Jared Cole may mask the fact that for me, this is a weak class overall. I don't have as first round grades as I'd normally like and I think some teams will wind up making a poor choice before we're done with round 1.

DEFENCE

DT

• Jack Cole should be the first DT off the board, and it should be inside the top 5. The USC shows text book size and speed as a 4-3 DT and can beat his man in multiple ways.
  
• I also have 4 other defensive tackles with a 1st round grade, the strongest class in some time. Unfortunately for some teams, all the top DTs this year are firmly 4-3 guys, but at a stretch Hunter Lindsay's 306lb frame could work at NT.
  
• Some teams may like the look of Miami's Mark Mason, but he isn't for me. I see issues with his tackling once he beats his man, and I'm not sold on his work ethic.

DE

• Austin Moon from Tennessee may be the most talked about player in the draft not called Jared Cole. Opinion is divided as to Moon's potential, but his college production can't be questioned, particularly his senior year. I'm not going to write him off just yet, but for me, he isn't a first round talent.
  
• The guy at the top of my draft board at this position is most likely Ellis Jordan. He shows a great awareness in multiple situations and is a relentless player when looking to make a play. His strength could use some work, and at 243lb he has size to bulk up. He should be very successful in the NFL.
  
• Much like DT, I see very little for 3-4 teams to get excited about. It is a weak year in that regard and I don't see anyone I like that can jump from 4-3 to 3-4.

OLB

• With 7 first round grades at outside linebacker last season, this was always going to be a decrease on that. I still have a couple of guys who should go in the first round however.
  
• Malcolm Cole for Ohio State and Gordon McBride are both hard hitting, tackle first players. Both could use some work in coverage, but as pure tacklers they can't be questioned. Both should be off boards by the end of day 1.
  
• Syracuse's Sam Johnson is still being protected as a round 2 or 3 pick, but I see him much lower. He still hasn't really recovered from the horror injury to his leg last season but you have to take your hat off to the kid's desire to do whatever he can to succeed.

MLB

• For the 2nd year in a row, I don't have a first round grade on a middle linebacker. There isn't anything close for me either, but I'm sure a team or 2 will end up making a reach to fill a need.
  
• The best guy available may be John Bryan. He could well be the best tackler in the entire draft, but he has holes in his game with play recognition and when faced with passing situations. When he has a man lined up one on one though, that isn't in question.
  
• Adaviyan Still from Connecticut has had a miraculous vault up many draft board, but I feel his rise is a related to those viral internet videos than his play on the field. His feats sure do look impressive, but his tape does not. I don't see him as anything more than a late round flier.

CB

• Another divisive talent is Nebraska's Nico Cole. When he is on form, he is an undoubted top tier player. When he isn't on it though, things can go from bad to worse. If the right team can get him in and get him focused, he will have a great future. Does a team spend a high draft pick to find out?
  
• A much safer option in the first round is more likely to be Cole's running mate at Nabraska for the last 3 years, Derek Armstead. He excels as a man coverage corner, something teams will always look out for.
  
• Tyler Mayes from Florida is a player to look out for. Many call him the Jared Cole of their defence, and whilst he might not be quite at that level, he is still a solid corner. Dominant at the line, many collegiate receivers couldn't even beat his press.

S

• Safety continues it's lean stretch of draft classes. I think Emmanuel Howell, the free safety from Tennessee, can be a real star, but there is a drop off once he's gone.
  
• DJ Agurs hits like a linebacker but runs like a corner. He should be coveted by a lot of teams for his prowess as a SS. I'd expect him to be taken early in round 2 due to his issues in coverage, but he may sneak into the 1st round if he wows a team at his pro day.
  
• Stecolian Rosemond from N.C State gets an honourable mention for me. Despite covering college draft classes for over 20 years, I can't think of a single Stecolian coming before him, very unique. Joking aside, he's a steady mid round pick that could get into the 3rd round if he can convince teams on his tackling.