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

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NFC East


London Monarchs - Last Season 5-11

Unsurprisingly, the last year of the Redskins franchise was lacking in passion and fight as a lot of players cast glances towards a future in London. A below par 5 win season saw the team grab 3rd pick but this is a team that has enough talent to be significantly better than that lowly perch. Mike Shanahan will have seen more than enough from this roster last year to know who is worth building around and who can be shown the door. Ageing receivers Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson both decided to retire rather than have their fate decided for them, CB Chris Culliver was also a casualty of the shake up. The club clearly have the intention of building around Mike Stark, and rightly so. The young QB inked a 6 year $135m deal this off season and that is great business for one of the best passers in the game. Stark will be well protected by a very competent offensive line that boasts significant quality at centre and both tackle positions. The loss of Garcon and Jackson mean the Monarchs start life in London with little at WR outside of AJ Green, though Jordan Reid is as good a receiving TE as you will find. RB Alfred Morris is into his 9th year, a remarkable feat considering his work load in recent seasons. On defence the team are reasonable up front but lack standout quality and depth, especially at DE. Corner back is a similar story as Jason Verrett occupies the #1 slot but there is little behind him on the depth chart, though the team has taken steps in this department, using their #3 pick at the position. Gordon Gooden, Antuan Hughes and Aldon Smith are solid at linebacker and have been joined by former #4 overall pick Patrick Hunter, discarded by Jacksonville after his rookie contract was up. Issues remain at safety with 3rd year man Demarkus Boswell set to start as FS, he could get exposed once the season begins.

Notable Resignings - QB Mike Stark, OLB Gorden Gooden
Notable Additions - OLB Patrick Hunter
Notable Losses - WR DeSean JAckson (retired - age), WR Pierre Garcon (retired - age), CB Chris Culliver (age)
Draft Pick - CB Niko Cole


New York Giants - Last Season 5-10-1

The first season for Eli Manning as a head coach was a tough one, getting only 5 wins and seeing Bryson Tracy miss time though injury. The inexperienced head coach will have to hope the form of this roster was just a blip though as the team was relatively inactive in making changes during the off season. Tracy returns of course, but the team still lacks options at running back. Receivers Odell Beckham, Allen Robinson and a resigned Reuben Randle all return. The offensive line continues to struggle inside at guard and centre and rookie left tackle and #5 pick Anton Reeves could well start from day 1, a dangerous combination. Defensively the team has brought in the ever controversial Greg Hardy to work with a solid group of players on the defensive line, including standout DT Kawann Short. NYG continue to stockpile line backer talent and that could well pay the team dividends down the road. Armand Russell and Javien Travis are both becoming established starters and last year's 1st round pick Ben McGee is continually improving. Add in Javonte Givens and the the roster is set at that position. The same can't be said for the secondary which lacks play makers and depth at both corner and safety.

Notable Resignings - DE Vin Curry, OLB Javien Travis, WR Reuben Randle
Notable Additions - DE Greg Hardy
Notable Losses - C Max Unger (age)
Draft Pick - LT Anton Reeves


Philadelphia Eagles - Last Season 11-5

The upswing under Andy Reid continued last season as the Eagles won 11 games and gave Dallas a lot to think about in a division they have dominated of late. One of the catalysts of last season for Philly was a the play of discarded QB Geno Smith. Much like RG3 before him, Smith found success for the Eagles that had eluded him earlier in his career. Unfortunately, that success won't be repeated this season as the former Jets QB hit IR in preseason, leaving BJ Blake as the answer under centre. The retirement of Demarco Murray clears the decks for Latavius Murray to be the bell cow back rather than sharing carries, and WR is somewhat of a reclamation project. Latevin Preston has been resigned despite looking disappointing during the 4 years of his rookie contract. Jeremy Maclin is back from Kansas and looking to get his career going again after a few down years. Former #7 overall pick Oscar Mason has been signed from Detroit after being cut, and former 1st rounder of the Ravens Malcolm Narcisse has also been added. Zach Ertz remains the #1 option in that passing attack though, he is a high quality player these days and the offensive line is very good indeed. That quality is mirrored on the defensive line as well and this Eagles defence has very few gaps in it right now. Corner is perhaps the biggest concern with Byron Maxwell holding a starting spot and there not being much around him. Linebacker is continues to be strong with the likes of Kendricks, Barwin and Alonso ever present. Fletcher Cox should once again dominate from D end and former 4th round pick Jaylen Riley looks to be a solid find at SS, he will surprise people this season.

Notable Resignings - DT Dan Williams (franchise tag), WR Latevin Preston
Notable Additions - WR Oscar Mason, WR Malcolm Narcisse, WR Jeremy Maclin
Notable Losses - RB Demarco Murray (retired - age)
Draft Pick - LG Michael Reedy


Dallas Cowboys - Last Season 12-3-1

The longer this Dallas team dominates for without winning a Super Bowl, the longer questions will continue regarding not when they will win a ring, but if. The Cowboys have now won this division for 5 straight years, the only team to have done so in that span. Jason Garrett's staff was gutted in the off-season with Monte Kiffin and Jason Linehan both finding head coaching gigs, that may be tough to overcome. The Cowboys finally cut ties with Greg Hardy with Boone and Lawrence set to start. MLB continues to be a concern as the team seeks a long term replacement for Sean Lee, and safety is an issue to. 3rd year CB Sinilau Jackson is an under the radar contributor and he is forming a respectable 1-2 tandem on the outside with former 1st round pick Julius Middlebrook. That youth movement has allowed the team to move on from the ageing Sam Shields. The offensive line continues to be the focal point of this offence and Zach Martin and Ali Starks are the latest to get new deals and Jerry Jones is right to keep this unit together as long as possible. Tyson McBride can now be considered an elite QB within the league, a handy thing to couple with the likes of WR Dez Bryan, RB Joseph Randle and TE Reshawn Martin. Former 1st round pick Will Justice is struggling to make a mark at receiver, the front office can't be happy with that moving into his 3rd season in the league.

Notable Resignings - RG Zach Martin, RT Ali Starks
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - DE Greg Hardy (team), CB Sam Shields (age)
Draft Pick - DT Hunter Lindsay

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NFC West


Arizona Cardinals - Last Season 6-10

From 1st to worst for the Cardinals who continue their drop off from winning a Lombardi Trophy. Arizona have kept faith with Sean McDermott but his chances are surely limited after picking #6 in the draft after an average season. It is defence, McDermott's speciality that is tripping the Red Birds up at the moment as they lack talent on that side of the ball and have a number of bloated contracts. Linebacker is a particular area of weakness, more so now that Daryl Washington has retired, as is the defensive line. Jason Pierre Paul has been handed a cheaper contract than his last one, that is owing to his advancing years. JPP is one of the few bright spots on this defensive squad still though, Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu are the others. Offensively things are more stable, Russell Wilson shows no signs of decline and David Johnson is a strong option in the backfield. Floyd and Hurns are useful choices out wide and the offensive line is above average. Rookie left tackle Nick Lattimore could start week 1, he needs to hit the ground running as this is a team that has missed on too many draft picks in recent years.

Notable Resignings - LG Mike Iupati, WR Michael Floyd, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, RB David Johnson
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - MLB Daryl Washington (retired - age)
Draft Pick - LT Nick Lattimore


Seattle Seahawks - Last Season 7-8-1

The union between Mike Tomlin and the Seahawks looks to be one made in heaven. A tough, brash defensive minded coach coupled with a roster that still contained ample talent on that side of the ball. Things just haven't worked out, for either party. Seattle have continued to languish around the 6-8 win mark for the last 3 years and Tomlin is now out of a job. In his place is a throw back coach giving it one last shot in Mike Holmgren who led the team from 1999-2008. Holmgren will still have a decent roster to work with but he will need to get the best from it. Andrew Luck remains his elite self, and Keithen Dotson has a legitimate shot at being a top 10 RB in the next few years. Issues remain at WR where a 9th year Jermaine Kearse is the only reliable option the team has, though TE Eric Ebron sees a lot of targets each week. The offensive line looks shaky and could hold Dotson back, this area needs some investment. The Seahawks continue to pick inside the top 10 and used their selection to once again strengthen up front with a defensive tackle in the form of Mark Mason. The former Miami Hurricane will join 5th year Jermichael Jordan and long serving ends Bennett and Avril to make up a solid defensive line. Linebacker and safety are still well positioned and Richard Sherman once again leads at corner back. The main issue on this side of the ball is once again depth. Seattle's starters are good, but there's little waiting behind should an injury occur.

Notable Resignings - MLB Paul Worrilow, CB Richard Sherman (franchise tag), DT Jermichael Jordan, WR Jermaine Kearse,
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - None
Draft Pick - DT Mark Mason
New Coach - Mike Holmgren


St Louis Rams - Last Season 8-8

Another team pulling the trigger at the coaching position is St Louis. In one of the more bizarre off-season stories, the Rams decided to move on from Joe Philbin after an 8 win season and no playoff place. Taking the helm is recently fired Seahawks coach Mike Tomlin, who appears to be very bitter with Seattle's decision to let him work elsewhere. Worst decision they ever made. They didn't give me a fair shot, now I'm going to show them twice a year what a mistake they made. You watch" Fighting words indeed! The roster Tomlin inherits should play to his strengths in that it is loaded with defensive talent. Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn (fresh off a 6 year, $105m extension) are the pivotal pieces of this unit and the team has both depth and quality in the secondary. Linebacker is equally strong and it is hard to find fault with this side of the ball. The same can't be said on offence. Tired of being surrounded by sub-standard receiving options, Herschel Robinson has left town and won't be sad about it. Replacing him is a two way battle between forgotten man Kirk Cousins and ex-Dolphin Ryan Tannerhill. Daryl Mack returns in the backfield as the team continues to move on from Todd Gurrley and the most established receiver is Dorall Green-Beckham. The offensive line is questionable. Former 1st rounder Quadir Jamison is the starting Left Tackle now Ryan Clady has retired and isn't developing as expected.

Notable Resignings - DE Robert Quinn
Notable Additions - QB Kirk Cousins, QB Ryan Tannerhill, WR Torrey Smith
Notable Losses - LT Ryan Clady
Draft Pick - DT Andre Marsh
New Coach - Mike Tomlin


San Francisco 49ers - Last Season 9-6-1

From worst to 1st for the 49ers, but 4th seed in the NFC wasn't enough to save Jim Harbaugh after his team was bounced in the Wildcard round. San Francisco now have themselves a pair, having sacked both Harbaughs in recent years. Taking the wheel is Ryan Mack who despite turning around the Texans over the last few years was shown the door. Their loss is San Fran's gain and there are certainly some signs of life from this roster after recent struggles. Colin Kaepernick remains at QB but his time could be short after the team used the 24th pick on QB Sam Doyle, who will forever be known as the first QB to be taken in the draft where Jared Cole was supposedly destined to be #1. An improvement at QB should help this team who despite grabbing 9 wins last term still had to enlist the services of long time back up Sean Renfree after multiple injuries to Kaepernick. Carlos Hyde, Ameer Abdullah and Knile Davis will once again prove you cannot have too much of a good thing in the backfield. Mack's receivers in Houston were standouts, he needs to find some of that quality here, there is little to work with and TE Vernon Davis is showing his age. The offensive line remains a mystery, former #2 pick Zach Jose still languishes down the depth chart and Kevin Wright is another high pick creating a log jam at that spot. Like offence, there are pieces to build around on this defence but serious gaps are also evident. DT Poe, OLB Von Miller, MLB Navarro Bowman and a committee at DE are all solid, but the secondary is poor. There is a lack of quality at safety and the team will struggle for depth at corner after Slay and Noble.

Notable Resignings - RT Luis Young
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - WR Torrey Smith (age)
Draft Pick - QB Sam Doyle

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

AFC North


Pittsburgh Steelers - Last Season 7-9

The Steelers look lost at the moment. Usually a franchise with stability, long serving coaches and settled players in key positions, it is all change. Missing the playoffs for the 5th straight season, they have fired 2 coaches in the last 4 years. This time it was John Fox who given the boot and Joey Porter has been given the reigns after spending a long time serving his apprenticeship as a positional coach and then the defensive coordinator. The Steelers were the team that put Jared Cole out of his misery, taking him with the 10th pick of the 2nd round. His surgically repaired shoulder will be tested immediately as Ben Roethlisberger is injured and set to miss 5-7 weeks. How Cole fairs as a starter will be a source of constant media attention. There are few quality receiving options to lean on with Antonio Brown out of the picture, but Le'Veon Bell will be the focus of this offence anyway. That commitment to the run game will be helped by a strong offensive line that excels at centre and guard. Defensively the team could struggle once again. JaVonte Mincy remains the standout at DT, but there isn't much to shout about apart from him. Linebacker offers the brightest outlook with an aging KJ Wright and a much younger Kevin Minter, but DE, CB and both safety sports are issues, particularly FS.

Notable Resignings - C Maurkice Pouncey, RG David DeCastro
Notable Additions - LG La'el Collins
Notable Losses - MLB Lawrence Timmons (retired - age)
Draft Pick - DE Connor Phillip
New Coach - Joey Porter


Baltimore Ravens - Last Season 8-8

Mike McCoy may well be quietly pleased to have been shown the door in Baltimore, let go and replaced by Todd Bowles. The former Jets head coach will no doubt try and establish a defensive dominance that served this team well during the time of players such as Ray Lewis, and it is the former linebacker that joins Bowles staff at defensive coordinator. Lewis and Bowles don't have much to work with at present. Brandon Williams is a pro-bowl calibre defensive tackle and Jernigan and Foster provide enough at DE around him to cause problems. Sam Shields is seeing out his career after signing a short term deal with the Ravens but there isn't much to show at the corner position. CJ Mosley is the heir to Lewis' throne, but there is nothing beside him at OLB. Joe Flacco is entering his 13th year and it will be a coin flip to see if the team stay with him or turn the offence over to Zach Nelson. Aundre Fuller has been recruited from Cleveland to handle RB duties, but his life wont be made easier by a poor offensive line that has lost stand out guard La'el Collins. Receiver isn't good either, with an aging Percy Harvin, a washed up Cordelle PAtterson and a consistently underwhelming Tavon Austin. It's not hard to see why McCoy would have been happy to let this roster go.

Notable Resignings - SS Will Hill
Notable Additions - WR Percy Harvin, RB Aundre Fuller
Notable Losses - LG La'el Collins (coach), DT Michael Brockers (team)
Draft Pick - CB Tyler Mayes
New Coach - Todd Bowles


Cincinnati Bengals - Last Season 9-7

The Bengals have won the AFC North 3 times in the last 5 years but that vein of success may be over with the emergence of the Browns. Still, Cincinnati will be delighted to have captured a Super Bowl in that span. A 37-7 demolition by the Browns in the playoffs sealed the fate of Carlos Calhoun, making it 3 new coaches in the division for this season. Lovie Smith takes control of the roster after 3 years as the defensive coordinator of the team. Things remain mostly unchanged for the Bengals. Kevin Zeitler and Clint Boling are one of the most dominant guard pairings in the game, both have wisely been resigned. Andy Dalton and Jeremy Hill will both enjoy that news and Tyler Eifert is the main receiving option in the passing game but the team has now spent back to back 1st round selections on receivers. The starters are very strong once more on defence but holes are beginning to appear across the defensive side of the ball in terms of quality back ups. DT, CB and FS are all potential banana skins should injuries hit during the season.

Notable Resignings - RG Kevin Zeitler, LG Clint Boling
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - None
Draft Pick - WR Parker Monroe
New Coach - Lovie Smith


Cleveland Browns - Last Season 10-6

After a long period of mediocrity, Gus Bradley has 19 wins in the last 2 regular seasons, a trip to the AFC Championship Game and a 1st AFC North title since 1989. That new upturn will be tested by some key losses in the off season. Aundre Fuller left to join fellow AFC North foe Baltimore. Long time centre Alex Mack has retired and starting RT Mack Moss has also decided to move on. Nate Gray will need to continue to be the talisman for this offence and he is an elite passer. Jacquizz Rogers looks to be Browns answer at RB but if he proves to be a success remains to be seen. The offensive line is still solid with Veldheer at LT and Joel Bitino at LG. The Browns took steps to improve their struggling linebacker corp by drafting Aevry Tillman at #29, but he can't fix things overnight. Fortunately the strength remains on the outside for this team, with Joe Haden back on the franchise tag, Tashaun Gipson and Casey Taylor lining up at safety and strength in depth.

Notable Resignings - FS Tashaun Gipson, CB Joe Haden (franchise tag), SS Casey Taylor
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - C Alex Mack (retired - age), RT Mack Moss (salary)
Draft Pick - OLB Aevry Tillman

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

AFC South


Jacksonville Jaguars - Last Season 9-7

9-7 was only good enough for last place in the AFC South as 3 of the 4 teams all finished with this same record. Harsh as a 4th placed finish was, it still cost Coach Kubiak his job but the team hasn't reached the playoffs since their Super Bowl loss to the Cardinals. Dallas defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin takes a shot for the first time at being the Head Coach of an NFL team and having recently passed 80, he has experience on his side. Kiffin has plenty to work with on the defensive side of the ball, his speciality. Dante Fowler leads a young and emerging group of D-line players and line backer appears to have stabilised after a wobble when Paul Posluszny retired a few years back. Robert Blanton is a solid presence at safety and corner is reasonable and deep, but lacks star power. Offensively the team needs to decide if it wants to stick with Tyrod Taylor or move over to 2nd year Trett Hicks. Question marks also linger at WR and RB but Julius Thomas remains and will contribute heavily when on the field. The offensive line is strong with RG Brandon Linder developing into a top 5 player at the position.

Notable Resignings - TE Julius Thomas, DE Ryan Davis
Notable Additions - OLB Whitney Mercilus
Notable Losses - CB Davon House (salary)
Draft Pick - C Gordon James
New Coach - Monte Kiffin


Houston Texans - Last Season 9-7

Another coach rather harshly shown the door in the division was Ryan Mack, replaced by Jack Del Rio. The former Jacksonville and Oakland man will no doubt be happy to inherit a team on the rise with a relatively settled roster at a number of positions. QB is now set with Arryn Carroll being the unquestioned starter and Jaelen Strong and Deandre Hopkins are a solid 1-2 combo, though the latter will start the season injured and miss the 1st month or so. Running back hasn't really been addressed since Arian Foster left the team but TE Rommell Taylor and the offensive line are also set, the team particularly excels at guard, giving the duo in Carolina a run for best in the league with Brooks and Patrick. The defence has more holes, but also a lot of talent. LB is perhaps the most glaring weakness with Whitney Mercilus leaving the team in free agency and Brian Cushings' retirement would have hurt more if the team didn't have a quality player in Avery Wilkinson waiting to take that spot. Both safety positions are reasonable and so is the defensive line with Clowney, Watt and RJ Ingham. Corner is more of a problem, the team could use some attention at that position. Recent signing Orlando Scandrick isn't going to be the solution.

Notable Resignings - LG Bradley Patrick (franchise tag), TE Jared Lucas
Notable Additions - CB Orlando Scandrick
Notable Losses - MLB Brian Cushings (retired - age), OLB Whitney Merciles (team)
Draft Pick - MLB John Bryan
New Coach - Jack Del Rio


Indianapolis Colts - Last Season 9-7

The Blake Bortles period in Indy is over as Chuck Pagano immediately turned the team over to Rob Pickett who has already gone from strength to strength. Potentially he could exceed Andrew Luck in the next year or 2, an ironic victory for the team and fans. Kahlil Patton should start at RB as a rookie, the 1st round pick could be a star in the making and will benefit significantly from the signing of veteran FB Mike Tolbert from Carolina. Add in wide outs TY Hilton and Kevin White and a strong offensive line and the team is well placed to excel on that side of the ball. Defensively the roster is relatively sound and has good players at all the right positions. A product of hitting with their additional 1st round picks from Seattle, the Colts enjoy quality at safety and defensive tackle particularly. Corner is solid with Demarkus Morris and Vontae Davis to but the team needs a bit of work at OLB and DE, those must be next on the list for the Colts front office.

Notable Resignings - CB Vontae Davis, WR TY Hilton, FS Connor Blalock
Notable Additions - FB Mike Tolbert
Notable Losses - None
Draft Picks - RB Kahlil Patton


Tennessee Titans - Last Season 10-6

In a very competitive season across the AFC where no team really excelled, 10 wins was enough for the Titans to win their division and grab the #2 seed in the playoffs. They used that to march all the way to a championship, the first in their history and a major milestone for Head Coach Chip Kelly. Marcus Mariota paid instant dividends after his monster contract extension last season and the team will hope he has plenty more Lombardi trophies in him. The embarrassment of talent in Tennessee went up another level this season with the unnecessary signing of Mike Evans from Tampa, the team has a ridiculous level of receiving talent in place now with Antonio Brown, Kendall Wright, Jarvis Landry and Jimmy Graham already in place. Rashaun Lauderdale is almost a forgotten man at RB with all the passing talent, but he is quietly becoming a formidable runner. The offensive line has also received a boost with RT Shedrick Matthews resigning, he is a key piece alongside LT Taylor Lewan. The defence still doesn't look great but last season suggested that isn't an issue. With the D-line applying pressure up front, that is the unit's strength and the play of contributors like DE Jurell Casey make up for gaps at corner and free safety. LB is perhaps the greatest area of need right now, but the power of this offence covers up for a lot.

Notable Resignings - WR Kendall Wright, RT Shedrick Matthews, RB Rashaun Lauderdale
Notable Additions - WR Mike Evans
Notable Losses - None
Draft Pick - CB Patrick Rock

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AFC East


New England Patriots - Last Season 6-10

Going from 1st to worst in the AFC East was enough for Robert Kraft to show Nick Saban the door and make him a 2 time flop on the NFL stage. Long time coordinator Matt Patricia has been given a shot with the organisation and will be eager to get to work. Saban managed 25 wins from 48 games, a slump by Patriot standards, but their roster is still competitive. Julius Shaw is the marquee addition to the offence, coming over from Minnesota. His running should help either Garoppolo or Will Phillip, whichever man gets the start under centre. Neither player will have many weapons outside of Shaw though, with an aging Edleman and Terrance Williams out wide and Zach Rudolph at TE now that Gronkowski has left town. The offensive line remains intact and strong, but starting LT Nate Solder is looking like he will miss at least 2 months of the season and that is a big blow with no direct replacement. Defensively the team is still sound and should work well with Patricia. Chandler Jones remains the standout and linebacker is strong with Mayo, Collins and Bostik. The secondary is weak once you get past a recently resigned Stuart Patterson, a wise move considering the retirement of McCourty and Chung from the safety position.

Notable Resignings - MLB Jerrod Mayo, RT Dulan Nunley, RG JR Sweezy, CB Stuart Patterson
Notable Additions - RB Julius Shaw, TE Kyle Randolph, C Nathan Burns
Notable Losses - FS Devin McCourty (retired - age) SS Patrick Chung (retired - age), TE Rob Gronkowski (team)
Draft Pick - ROLB Gordon McBride
New Coach - Matt Patricia


New York Jets - Last Season 6-10

A first season back in the NFL saw Lane Kiffin struggle, much like former Alabama pal Nick Saban. Kiffin is safe for now but needs to produce some positive vibes for a team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 2010. Jack Riley returns once more from a spell on the sidelines. He hasn't played a full season in a few seasons now and it is hurting the franchise. They had to resign him though, and had little choice about the decision with no real alternative available. Desmond Tolliver continues in the backfield and a past his best Eric Decker props up a poor selection of receivers. The O-line is similarly under strength with serious pieces missing, perhaps a key indicator of why Riley keeps getting sacked, and injured. Defensively the team is in a similar position to recent seasons. All the strength is up front on the defensive line and apart from Demario Davis at LB and Calvin Pryor at FS, there is very little to shout about. The Jets did draft a LB to develop with the 9th pick, but this roster is still a way off being able to compete.

Notable Resignings - QB Jack Riley, MLB Demario Davis
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - None
Draft Pick - OLB Philip Carter


Miami Dolphins - Last Season 8-8

Ken Whisenhunt wasn't able to follow up what his predecessor in Miami did by taking the team to the AFC Championship game, but an 8-8 record is about right for this roster. The team selected sought after RB Felix Spencer at #14 in the draft and his partnership with the ever developing Claude McDonald could be a great tandem to watch in the future. The team needs young talent as well as Miami are struggling with cap issues at the moment which isn't helping them. Ryan Tannerhill was the main casualty of the cull to get them back out of the red ready for the season, but his replacement McDonald will have decent support from resigned Quin Scott and promising Mack Duncan on the outside and an All-Pro Jordan Cameron at TE. Mike Pouncey anchors an offensive line that contains 2 2nd year and 2 3rd year players, a unit that should grow together if the Fins can keep it intact. The defence is easily one of the strongest in league and the reason for Miami's cap crunch. Serious bucks have been invested in the likes of Suh and Floyd up front, Vernon has been resigned at DE and Dion Jordan is ever present. MLB James McCray can now be seen as one of the best young MLBs in the league as he enters his 4th year. The only thing to realistically hold this team back is a lack of corner depth, but that is far from a pressing issue.

Notable Resignings - DE Olivier Vernon, WR Quin Scott
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - QB Ryan Tannerhill
Draft Pick - RB Felix Spencer


Buffalo Bills - Last Season 8-8

The Bills managed just 8 games last season but still made the playoffs as things fell their way in a weak division. Buffalo are also one of only 2 teams not to have sacked a coach in the last 5 years, something Rex Ryan will be grateful of. Ryan has taken the team to the playoffs twice in the span, despite sub par players in key positions. One serious upgrade for the team is the signing of Herschel Robinson from St Louis to replace Derek Carr. Robinson will have a lot more to work with than he did with the Rams with LeSean McCoy resigned and Sammy Watkins and 4th year man Griffin Mosely out wide. The offensive line is also reasonable as Cordy Gleen returns and with another 4th year man in Aaron James doing well at right guard this unit looks bright for now. Defensively the team is well placed, no surprised given Ryan's extended tenure. Marcell Darius continues his impressive form and the Bills took their strength at CB and added to it with the selection of Derek Armstead in the latest draft. The former Nebraska man joins a defence that is arguably led by MLB Preston Brown who continues to be a force against both run and pass in recent years. OLB is the main weakness to be exploited by opponents, the Bills front office must be able to see that is high on the priority list for this roster but things are generally positive at the moment.

Notable Resignings - CB Jimmy Smith, RB LeSean McCoy, TE Charles Clay
Notable Additions - QB Herschel Robinson
Notable Losses - WR Percy Harvin (team)
Draft Pick - CB Derek Armstead

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AFC West


Denver Broncos - Last Season 5-11

The Peyton Manning experiment is over in Denver after a series of sub-par seasons. It remains to be seen what the Hall of Fame QB's next move will be, but it won't involve the Broncos. 11 wins in the last 2 seasons sealed his fate and Denver have elected to dip into the college ranks to secure Doug Nussmeier from Florida State. The man who helped develop Jared Cole, Denver interestingly elected to steer clear of the rookie passer in the draft, instead selected a different Cole, Jack Cole, a defensive tackle from USC. Cole should slot into a defence that needs some work, particularly up front. Some positions are more settled though. Denver enjoy 3 high quality corners and may have one of the best trios at that position in the league, led by Chris Harris. Brandon Marshall and Clay Matthews are formidable at line backer and the safety position is also strong. Offensively the team needs more players who can make a difference. Ryan Nassib at QB and CJ Anderson at RB are both serviceable pros but lack star power. Demarius Thomas continues to reign out wide, but there isn't enough elsewhere to stop defences keying their coverage in on him. The offensive line doesn't offer much encouragement either and starting C Nathan Burns walked in free agency, though LT Keifer Tarpley is beginning to show signs of development as he enters his 2nd year.

Notable Resignings - CB Chris Harris, DE Malik Jackson, CB Aqib Talib
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - C Nathan Burns (salary)
Draft Pick - DT Jack Cole
New Coach - Doug Nussmeier


Oakland Raiders - Last Season 6-10

The Raiders front office shared a belief held by many fans across the league last season. This roster is better than 6 wins. Going into his 2nd season, Jon Gruden is already on a hot seat and needs to improve in a winnable division. The former Tampa Bay man can continue to lean on the exceptional talent of Max Shaw and that will be a solid move even with the addition of Doug Martin at RB. WR is also a positive with Amari Cooper and Josh Gorden continuing their partnership with success. The O-line can also be leaned on if Oakland can get Martin going, LG Dee Anthony and C Rodney Hudson are both fine players and received nice extensions in the off season. Defensively the team will always be built around Khalil Mack but Oakland should remember that there are 11 guys on defence, not just 1. The talent level has diminished in recent years and that slide needs to be addressed. The rest of the D-line isn't what it could be, neither is corner, but linebacker is boosted by the presence of Dont'a Hightower which is fortunate considering former 1st round pick Eldrin Garner jumped ship for New Orleans. Eric Weddle was resigned and enters his 14th season in the league. He'll need replacing pretty soon.

Notable Resignings - FS Eric Weddle, C Rodney Hudson, WR Josh Gordon, LG Dee Anthony
Notable Additions - RT Mack Moss, RB Doug Martin
Notable Losses - MLB Eldrin Garner
Draft Pick - LT Taz Robinson


San Diego Chargers - Last Season 7-9

Another team in the league making changes at Head Coach is San Diego who knocked Brady Leland's tenure on the head and went with a questionable hire in Marvin Lewis. After a seriously dodgy time in New York with the Giants, Lewis needs this opportunity to work out or he may not get another look as a Head Coach. Lewis may have feared the worst when long time QB Philip Rivers left in the summer, but both sides eventually kissed and made up and Rivers rejoined the team. Gordon and Allen are back at RB and WR respectively, but after that there isn't much on offence outside of Greg Olsen who is at the end of his career. The team has some quality on defence and like Oakland should really be making more of a fist of winning this relatively weak division. Shazier, Church, Liuget and Te'o are all competent pieces of the puzzle for Lewis, but its what he slots in around them that will dictate how the team fairs. Tyrone Briggs isn't quite breaking out as yet, the former #6 pick didn't do much as a rookie but still has time to develop as the teams #1 corner.

Notable Resignings - QB Philip Rivers, SS Barry Church
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - None
Draft Pick - DE Tomas Brown


Kansas City Chiefs - Last Season 9-7

Kansas took this division with 9 wins last season but fell at the first hurdle to Cincinnati. Still, Ron Rivera's teams have been to the playoffs 4 times in the last 5 years so Kansas will be pleased to have him at Carolina's expense. Drew Carter missed the home stretch of the regular season through injury and getting him back and healthy should be a big boost to this offence. Getting Carter to play at a high level will certainly be required as the offence lacks play makers. Jeremy Maclin was declared over the hill and released and Dexter McCluster remains at RB despite underwhelming last season Brian Quick is slated to be WR1 come opening day, not a good sign but the team did take steps to address that in the draft. The offensive line is probably the biggest positive for Rivera who's teams always seem to exhibit such qualities. Harris Fletcher is a dominant centre and controls the game as well as anybody. Defensively the team also has leaders in 2nd year LB Nick Sims and fellow backer Justin Houston. Former 1st round pick Parker Taylor joins that duo as Tennessee let him go once his rookie contract ended. Allen Bailey is a dangerous weapon at DE and the team looks solid at corner with Smith and McCourty. Eric Berry left the team with a hole at safety but there is more than enough talent around to make up for that.

Notable Resignings - CB Sean Smith, MLB Benadrick McKinney
Notable Additions - OLB Parker Taylor
Notable Losses - WR Jeremy Maclin (age), DT Rashawn Nelson (team)
Draft Pick - WR Derek Jones

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

Year 6 20/21 - Week 1


The Worldwide Leader in Sport


Ed Shakespear, NFL Analyst

Battle Lines Drawn as NFL, NFLPA Once Again Set For War

One of the overriding reflections that so frequently comes after any conflict is that it should never be allowed to happen again. Yet here we are once more, watching as the NFL and NFLPA size each other up and trade barbed comments through the media as a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, or CBA, is put into motion.

The CBA is used to agree and govern a whole host of issues between the league and the players, including distribution of league revenues, health and safety standards, pensions, medical benefits and salary levels. It is the main bargaining chip the NFLPA has to work with when trying to gain as much as possible for the players but it is a fleeting one. Each CBA usually last multiple years, the last one was 10 years long.



Like most issues, this always comes down to money. In one regard, here is where the process becomes ludicrous to the common fan. Billionaire owners complain they need more money, while players who for the most part get paid multi-million dollars deals each season say they aren't adequately compensated for what they do. Show me another job in America where the entry level contract for someone new to a post is paid $500,000 or more per year. But there are two sides to every coin. Owners will point to the continual increase in overheads, a consistently rising salary cap, an increase in the minimum wage for stadium employees and the ever looming bill to reduce taxpayer money being used for the creating or refurbishment of stadiums and arenas. Players will cry foul that they risk life and limb every time they set foot on a field and they play one of the most dangerous and physically violent sports in America. In any single play, a career can be finished and they partake in a league where contracts are not fully guaranteed.

So what to do? Both sides want a bigger slice of the pie and while that pie does keep getting bigger as the juggernaut that is the NFL dwarfs everything around it, it is not limitless. Depending on what each side is asking for depends on how hard both parties will push. The NFLPA and its members have resorted to strike action multiple times in the past, most radically in 1974 and 1987. It is up to the owners if they choose to call that bluff, as they did in '87, drafting in replacement players so the league could continue with the NFLPA involved or not.



The first punch has already been thrown in this bout, but there are many more to come. Current NFLPA Player Representative Aaron Rodgers has unequivocally called for fully guaranteed contracts for all players, "This is a dangerous sport. The career length for a player continues to dwindle. CTE has had it's day in court, we are aware of the issues and those who tried to silence them. The MLB, the NBA, the NHL, all guarantee payment to their workers. That must change in today's NFL". A compelling case. The response from the NFL? This is an untenable request. They won't even entertain it, compelling or otherwise.

Where the two sides meet on guaranteed money and the multitude of other topics will be fought over throughout the season as negotiations are now underway for the next CBA. What is for certain is that this will be another bitter and messy process between two uneasy allies, and ultimately both sides will win, yet neither side will feel they won anything at all.

Ed Shakespear
ESPN

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

Year 6 20/21 - Week 1

Journal Pages 1 & 2

Spoiler

Journal Pages 3 & 4

Spoiler

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

Year 6 20/21 - Week 3


Bringing You The Hottest NFL News Since '99!


Kai Waters

It's Silly Season for Stadium Proposals, and Here's Why

So, you're a billionaire owner. You have in your possession a shiny NFL franchise. People adore you! Thanks rain down from fans far and wide for allowing this team to exist, to be their team, for being a part of the community. You strive to provide the best game day experience you can. Big screen! Plush seats! A home from home experience. But innovation moves on, technology continues to advance. Screens grow ever bigger, seats considerably more comfortable. Your stadium looks.....old! So you open discussions with the state and city about how together, in union, you can refurbish, grow, develop this fine stadium to once again be a ray of excitement for fans, a place to be proud of!

The above description is written with perhaps the rosiest of rose tinted glasses. In truth, stadiums are incredibly expensive to build, maintain and renovate. Owners know they have a lot of the power due to their ability to move their franchise if pushed to do so (see, Falcons, Atlanta). The options for the County are slim. Lose the team, or pony up a good 50% or so of the cost of the build. It's a death sentence for local politicians. Agree and the masses will crucify you for saddling them with crushing debt while a team "they" don't care about gets a shiny new stadium. Let said team walk, and well, that's not much better. How did you let them go?! That's my team! My father's team! My grandfathers team!!



Well, not any more. A bill currently sits in the Senate to limit the amount that any public fund, say your local County or City, can contribute to a stadium build or renovation proposal for the primary use of a professional sports team. The cap is currently set at 15%. Pretty groundbreaking stuff, right? Actually, it kind of is. This is the Country at its highest level, listening to the needs of its people and after decades of escalating prices, burdens and costs, saying enough is enough. Tax payers can't afford for it to continue and no longer will local officials be put in impossible positions. But you know who can afford to spend billions of dollars on stadiums? Billionaire NFL owners!

The date of the bill hasn't yet been agreed, but things are gaining traction. Any plans fully submitted and approved before the bill becomes law are exempt. Everyone is losing their mind and this is the highest of high-roller poker right now. If a County can drag its heels on a stadium plan until this law passes, they're on easy street. Franchises know this and they're time crunched into saying put up or shut up, if we're staying in your city, time is ticking and a lot of teams are asking questions internally about what they want to do. Muddying the picture further are a number of cities trying their hand at the last chance saloon. County holding firm? Come to LA! Or San Antonio! Or Toronto! They don't want you, we do! We'll throw money at you!



Some teams have the luxury of being able to relax. The Chargers and Vikings both have recently built stadiums in the last 5 years and Mexico and London moved into new homes by virtue of relocation. New Orleans' Super Club concept kicks into gear next season when they move out of the Super Dome and into their new stadium. 15 other teams have a stadium that is less than 20 years old but renovations are always an option. Buffalo? Kansas? Miami? Oakland? Jacksonville? If they had plans in place they can push the gas pedal on to get in motion, things could get messy. Silly season indeed.

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

Year 6 20/21 - Week 3

Journal Pages 1 & 2

Spoiler

Journal Pages 3 & 4

Spoiler

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

Year 6 20/21 - Week 4

Gridiron Scoop Dot Net

Everything NFL on the Down Low, Yo!

Top 26 Under 26


Dexter - @DexterScoop247

First off, an apology to you Eagle Eyed readers. I moved the goalposts on this little segment. There's a lil old double count on a few of these boys as they were 25 last season but still appear as 25, but that should all change from here on in. I'm ok, I can eat humble pie. I didn't quite think it through last time for the first article but we're all good now!

Top 26 Under 26 - Year 6 2020/21
#	Player	Team	Pos	Age	Round - Year
1	Herschel Robinson	Buffalo Bills	QB	25	2nd - 2016
2	Rob Pickett	Indianapolis Colts	QB	22	1st - 2019
3	Tyson McBride	Dallas Cowboys	QB	24	2nd - 2017
4	Max Shaw	Oakland Raiders	QB	25	2nd - 2016
5	Zach Nelson	Baltimore Ravens	QB	24	1st - 2018
6	Riley Swanson	New Orleans Saints	QB	24	6th - 2019
7	Jaren Jones	Minnesota Vikings	WR	22	1st - 2019
8	Rashawn Martin	Dallas Cowboys	TE	24	1st - 2017
9	Derrick Barkley	Philadelphia Eagles	T	24	1st - 2018
10	Shedrick Matthews	Tennessee Titans	T	25	4th - 2016
11	Cole Scott	Jacksonville Jaguars	G	25	2nd - 2017
12	Connor Graham	New Orleans Saints	G	25	2nd - 2017
13	Tre Black	Buffalo Bills	G	25	2nd - 2016
14	Casey Redmond	London Monarchs	C	24	3rd - 2018
15	Hooper Lauderdale	New Orleans Saints	C	23	5th - 2019
16	Harris Fletcher	Kansas City Chiefs	C	25	2nd - 2018
17	Stephan Austin	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	DT	25	1st - 2016
18	Javonte Mincy	Pittsburgh Steelers	DT	25	2nd - 2017
19	RJ Ingram	Houston Texans	DT	25	1st - 2019
20	Nick Sims	Kansas City	LB	23	1st - 2019
21	Jelani Hunter	Indianapolis Colts	LB	23	2nd - 2019
22	Armand Russell	New York Giants	LB	24	2nd - 2020
23	Malcolm Pruitt	Chicago Bears	LB	23	1st - 2019
24	Connor Blalock	Indianapolis Colts	S	25	1st - 2016
25	Derron Scott	New Orleans Saints	S	25	1st - 2016
26	Rashaad Lewis	Tennessee Titans	S	25	1st - 2017

Always love to look at these tables and put a spin on things. New Orleans (4) and Indianapolis (3) have for 7 of the 26 picks. Tennessee only had Marcus Mariota in this list last season, but he's too old now and a run to winning the Superbowl has developed a couple of players to take his place.

Nearly half the picks are in the 1st round again, bang on the same from last season despite some players aging and some new guys coming in.

New Orleans have killed it by developing late round talent for their offence. 6th rounder in Riley Swanson and a 5th rounder in Hooper Lauderdale. Both from the same draft as well. Someone needs a pay rise for those 2 selections!

Zach Nelson is on the list but Baltimore still wont pull the trigger and move on from old boy Flacco. Herschel Robinson was on this list last year but the Rams still couldn't keep him and he is now with Buffalo.

Those big boys on the O-Line get some hammer from the draftniks who hand out the grades every year, saying that the talent is dropping, or that the guys aren't worth a 1st round pick. 8 of the 26 guys listed are offensive linemen and only 1 was taken in the 1st round. Just because you don't take a guy early doesn't mean he won't give you quality. You heard it here first!

How is your team looking?

Peace Out!

Dexter

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

Year 6 20/21 - Week 5


Your One Stop Shop For Everything Pro Football!



Carson Dietrich, Senior Writer

Week 5 Power Rankings

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

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

Year 6 20/21 - Week 5

Journal Pages 1 & 2

Spoiler

Journal Pages 3 & 4

Spoiler

Journal Pages 5

Spoiler

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

Year 6 20/21 - Week 6



Your Path To The Hottest Draft Talent!


Lloyd Bowerman, Senior Draft Writer

Draft Preview - Offence

With the free fall of Jared Cole last season, plenty of draft experts, myself included, have been trying to up our game. We couldn't see what was going on with that shoulder, but I know I want to strive to give you the best service and opinion I can, so time to bring the A game from here on in!

OFFENCE

QB

• Some like Logan Woods, the strong armed QB from Miami this season, but I like another product of the Sunshine State in FSU's Jared Todd. For me, he has the biggest arm of anyone that has come out in the last 5 years but exhibits plus accuracy, particularly over a short distance. If a team can get hold of him and polish he poise and delivery, he could be very good indeed.
  
• The opposite can be said of Syracuse's Will Cole. He just seems to be fading fast as this season continues. Once a prominent player on a rising programme, the Orange are dropping like a dead weight and Cole's play is the anchor. Not a good stretch for QBs called Cole.....
  
• Keep an eye out for Rob Crawford. Whilst a lot of recent hype appears to be East Coast-centric, the freshman from UCLA could declare this year and surprise a few people. A solid mobile quarterback with great mechanics, he could rise up draft boards as the season continues.

RB

• It will be tough to eclipse last seasons running back class but there are still some solid players to be had. Sean Cunningham and Rashaud Gordon should both duke it out to go 1 and 2 at the position. They are both elusive backs with incredible speed. Gordon has been known to lower the shoulder to though, that might just tip him over the edge.
  
• There are some serious question marks on some of the classes perceived top talents. I don't like either of the Mack brothers, CJ and Josh, and some have Tavares Lynch in that bracket to. For me, all 3 have question marks and their tape doesn't give me the answers I ened to push them higher than the 2nd or 3rd round.
  
• Cedric Finley could have been a top 64 pick last season. Since then, academic issues, trouble with the law and one of the largest drops we've ever seen from a college prospect. At this stage he is undraftable, but more than anything I hope this kid gets on the right path before it is too late.

WR

• LaMarcus Barksdale is going to make waves in the NFL. at 6'4" and 226lb, he moves like a corner back and has the size of a tight end. College defences haven't found answers for him yet and that is going to excite a lot of teams in the league.
  
• A different proposition is Gordon Marsh. A Florida product that went under the radar with the hype train that was Jared Cole, Marsh is an incredible under sized receiver who at 5'10" still finds a way to catch anything thrown his way.
  
• Neil Wills needs to work on his footwork. Touted as another high pick at receiver, I just don't see it. He loses so much speed out of cuts that he will struggle to create separation at the next level without serious work.

TE

• Last season saw a drought of talent at the TE position but this season answers with a strong class. Jabari Hicks from USC is the premier player at the position and he has the hands that make highlight plays. He doesn't need to blaze down the sideline to make a huge catch. Over the middle, you think he's covered, but he won't be. He should be a great NFL player.
  
• Rob Lucas is another fine talent that may end up being overshadowed by Hicks' OTT ability. The 6'6" man is a beast and blocks like a tackle but can get down the field and overpower most assignments one way or another.
  

T

• This season could see the return of a #1 pick at tackle with a strong class. It is pretty much a slam dunk that at least 1 of the top 3 picks will come from the position.
  
• Evan Mason, Antwan Cooper and Thomas Taylor are all highly talented but differ in slight ways. Mason is more of a run blocker, Taylor a pass blocker and Cooper an all round talent. It could ultimately come down to who is picking high in the draft come the off season and what their style of play is.
  
• Cole Taylor has slipped down some draft boards some are unsure about his ability to match up in the NFL. If he can display a significantly improved confidence against top DEs 1 on 1, he could yet regain some of his draft stock.

G

• History has shown and recently highlighted by others to suggest that O-line talent has slipped in terms of draft place in recent years, but the quality of player has still remained. It is a raw deal for rookies who deserve to get paid straight away, but they have to wait until their 2nd contract to see real money.
  
• LaKieth Bynes is one such player. He could be worthy of a top 10 pick, but will most likely slot somewhere into the late 1st round. That carries a hit of anywhere from $6m-$10m, but he could well be a very productive player in the NFL.
  
• Kashawn Elmore is a player I want to see succeed. He has a high level of ability and constantly stands out on tape. Competing in Maine for his home town college, he could have played significantly higher up the ladder but wanted to stay close to home to look after his mother who has terminal cancer. A real tough story, but the kid deserves to succeed.

C

• This position has me thinking more than any other. Sam Conley, Mitchel Travis and Zac Wade are all 2nd or 3rd round talents for me, but they could all do very well in the NFL. Do they deserve to be so low based on how late teams are picking line talent? One bonus is that a team could snag Jared Todd at QB then Sam Conley at C and have a great C/QB tandem that has played together the last 3 seasons and it would likely only take 2 of your first 3 picks.
  
• Brandon Patrick's recent draft video to get some attention appears to have back fired. "Pulling with Patrick" appears to have hit rock bottom as teams care less about the size of the objects he can shift with a rope to the serious question marks about his footwork.

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

20,000 views. Incredible, just keeps blowing me away.

Thanks to any and all who read, post or like. Just getting started, got a whole host of ideas now I've got a character to control!