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

Apologies for the long delay in an update, I took a bit of an unexpected Christmas/New Year break with the family. I've written plenty of stuff and plan to have it up with a post per day as usual, looking forward to it.

If anyone has any feedback, do let me know. It's been a bit quiet, maybe nobody is reading any of this anyway lol But it is good motivation if I know someone is getting enjoyment from the posts at least.

[Rumplebeanskin]

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

Year 2 16/17- Week 13


The 4 Quick Takes From This Week's NFL


Amanda Reditch

I'm not going to lie to you all, I'm unsure if I can fit everything I want to say into just 4 downs! Maybe we throw a few flags out there, replay a few downs, maybe call it 6 or 7 downs? No? Fine! I'll make do with 4.


1st Down - Mexico City Diablos

I don't think anyone saw that coming. With the NFL's International Series going on in London for 10 years now with the presumption it was so a franchise could be based there. This decision doesn't mean that a franchise can't or won't be based in London, but it appears to have struck out in it's first at bat. Maybe they'll get another trip to the plate before too long, who knows.


2nd Down - Andrew Luck still doesn't have a contract

So the dust has settled on the Andrew Luck deal and we can start to think a little bit more about the future. The Seahawks could still tag Luck, they have just about enough cap room to do that but it would leave them pretty tight. Both Luck and his agent have declined all opportunities to comment about the future, apart from to say he's happy in Seattle and fully committed to them. Right now, his actions and his words aren't linking up.


3rd Down - Speaking of QBs, it's injury season

It appears to be a bad time to be a quarterback. The Saints started the season on fire and at the half way point they were flying. Then Drew Brees got injured and things pretty much ground to a standstill. Since Brees went down in week 10, the Saints haven't won. The real bad news, New Orleans don't know when Drew will be back. The Saints aren't the only ones reeling. The Cowboys found out last week that Tony Romo's shoulder is significantly worse than they initially expected and he could be out until the end of the regular season. They're top of the division right now, can they hold on? A team in a similar position is the Patriots. Brady is dinged up and like Romo, might not be back until week 16 or 17. It's hard to say the Patriots wont get by without him though, they always find a way.


4th Down - Gary Kubiak can probably start looking for jobs

I feel bad for Kubiak, I do. His fortunes were tied to Peyton Manning, and we know how that ended up. Since Manning's retirement, the Broncos don't have a lot at the QB position (though Ryan Fitzpatrick has steadied the ship recently) and Denver are wandering towards another 5 or 6 win season. I just think the house is due for a bit of a spring clean, and that means Kubiak is more than likely heading for the chop.

There's so much more I could add, but I'll be back for another 4 downs as soon as I can!

Amanda

[Rumplebeanskin]

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

Year 2 16/17 - Week 14



Your Path To The Hottest Draft Talent!


Lloyd Bowerman, Senior Draft Writer

Draft Preview - Defence

I'm excited to bring you another installment of our pre-draft guides, there are some elite players that have graded out very highly for me in this class. Let's not waste any more time and dive in for a look!

DEFENCE

DT

• This is a strong group of players, both at the top end with early picks and with later round picks who will be effective at the next level.
  
• I can't split Eric Jennings from South Dakota and Jye Mason from Nebraska. Both are very similar in size and ability, both should be quality 4-3 DTs. The only difference might be the increased mobility of Mason compared to the bull rush ability to beat blockers by Jennings.
  
• Dominique Caldwell is an outside shot at replacing Jennings and Mason atop this class. He is a 3-4 NT and has the size for that role at 6'5 and 330lb. He's the leading 3-4 DT this year by a distance.

DE

• DJ Wilson could be the next big thing. He is athletic, lean, has a great reach and can beat a tackle in a variety of ways. I think he might drop due to character issues, but he is a legit player.
  
• After Wilson, I think Davian Parker and Raysean Quarles are the pick of this bunch. Both show excellent ability to get to the QB and should be active in passing downs for their teams from day 1.
  
• Teams looking for help in a 3-4 scheme may be out of luck. This is a 4-3 heavy class and not many of those prospects possess the attributes to excel in another scheme.
  
• Jaron Lockett has really dropped off the radar. The 6'5 man from Wisconsin was riding high with the Badgers last year, but injury and off the field problems have seen his stock plummet. Someone may draft him late and make something out of him if they can straight him out, but he should be waiting a long time to hear his name called.

OLB

• Last season, teams were spoiled for choice at the top of the draft with outside linebackers. I had 5 guys with a first round grade. This class isn't as deep.
  
• Teams looking for 3-4 help will do well to look at Jason McKinney. The Penn State product was an All-American last season for good reason. He can hit, he can rush the passer and he excels in the open field. A complete player.
  
• Behind McKinney are Cesar Stevenson and CJ Mincy. Both should offer solid value as late 1st or early 2nd round picks. Teams falling in love with them will get burned if they move too soon. This isn't last year's class of OLBs.
  
• Sam Blake could be the first Air Force alum to be drafted in the last 10 years. I have the senior prospect graded in the 6th or 7th round, but I'm sure it would be huge for his institution if he was selected.

MLB]

• Wisconsin are sending a lot of players to the draft this year and James McCray may be one of the best. He reminds me of Luke Kuechly in his ability to tackle, hit and beat runner to the hole.
  
• Middle linebacker continues to be overshadowed by the outside linebacker talent coming out of college. That trend continues this season.
  
• After McCray, there are a trio of players that all stand out. Stacey Winston, Logan Phillips and Evan Dunn. I personally like Dunn from Penn State who is possibly the best pure tackler in this whole draft.

CB

• Last season's CB class wasn't as strong as this season, but it did have Jose Lunsford in it! This class has more depth but less star power.
  
• There are a number of high quality all round corners on display who can play both man and zone equally. The flexibility of DeMarkus Morris, Kevin Bernard and Howard Noble will probably see them being the first 3 corners off the board.
  
• Personally, I like Sean Houston. He plays man coverage very well with an aggressive press and elite speed, confirmed by that blistering 40 time at the combine. I still grade him out into the 2nd round due to character issues, but someone may take a run at him earlier than that.
  
• Jordan Ware is falling fast. He excelled in the first 3 games of the season but since has been exposed a number of times. He has been vocal about his dislike for the Kentucky defence and an attitude like that isn't going to impress scouts. Stay clear.

S

• DeMarcus Griffin is most likely going to be one of the first safeties off the board. I don't like how he sees the game though, and I think that might get exposed when he steps up to the NFL. His physical talent can't be questioned, but he needs to learn and develop.
  
• An interesting prospect is Shaman Parker. The converted wide receiver has excellent hands and could even revert back to wide receiver down the line. I'm honestly not sure how to read this kid or how to evaluate him. As good as his hands are, he sure can tackle as well! The NFL might not have seen a two way talent like this in years.
  
• Rashaad Lewis is the top strong safety prospect, and he is a long way ahead of the rest of the field. There is sure to be a bidding war for his services unless teams want to wait until round 3 or 4 to select a SS.

[Rumplebeanskin]

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

Year 2 16/17- Week 16


The 4 Quick Takes From This Week's NFL


Amanda Reditch


1st Down - End of an era in New England?

Rumours have been swirling for a while now that the Brady/Belichek era could come to an end as soon as this offseason. Coach Belichek was his tight lipped self but Tom Brady was more insightful, suggesting his recent injury had allowed him to put some things into perspective regarding his career. Does that mean he's thinking about the end? Or that he can go for even longer? With only Jimmy Garoppolo on the depth chart at QB behind Brady, Patriot fans will no doubt be desperate for their current QB to play for as long as possible.


2nd Down - Kansas and Green Bay on collision course?

They are as opposite as chalk and cheese. Kansas are winning by grinding teams down with a dominant defence and a slow, methodical run based offence that controls the clock. The Packers will just blow you out of the water entirely. With a mentality of not caring how many points you score because they will score more, Green Bay are setting the NFC alights in much the same way as Kansas are torching the AFC. If they both make it that far, it would make for a very exciting Super Bowl.


3rd Down - Hot Seat time!

With income and revenue rising every year in the NFL, more and more is at stake with every season that passes. With greater income comes greater spending and ultimately, a more desperate need to see a return on that investment in the form of wins on the field. I can see a number of coaches across the league that could face the chop before the end of this season. Some teams are out of contention and will have to seriously examine their coaching situation (John Fox in Chicago, Gary Kubiak in Denver, Lovie Smith in Tampa, Jim Tomsula in San Francisco, Bill O'Brien in Texas) after multiple sub-par seasons. The more interesting dismissals will come from teams who make the playoffs but fall short of internal expectation. It's hard to say that making the playoffs is a bad season, but some teams just expect more from their team, including their coach.


4th Down - Robert Griffin III, Comeback Kid

How good was that piece by Boo Carling earlier this season? A great insight into the mind of RG3. And with only a few games to go, it is pretty likely that the Eagles have sewn up an NFC wildcard spot. It's not out of the question that they catch the Cowboys and win the division, but it is so great to see a player that has battled through adversity and injury regain their form and lead their team.

I'm excited for the rest of the season and I hope you guys are to. Whoever you end up watching, enjoy it!

Amanda

[tdawg3782]

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

Really loving this man. I like the way you do the write ups. Makes it feel like we are part of something. The only thing I'd like to see is maybe a 4 week and 12 week power ranking added but without the report part. Just a little heads up on where teams stand. Also glad to see you were able to expand on my excel file and make good use of it. Awesome job bro.

[Rumplebeanskin]

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

Thanks for the feedback, that's really cool. I see the number of views going up, but it's always good to hear what people think.

I will implement this as soon as I can (it wouldn't take a lot of work at all), but may not be until season 4 as I've simmed 3 but not yet written it up. I may have the right screenshots though!

[Rumplebeanskin]

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

NFL Standings – Year 2 2016/17
NFC EAST	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
1 - Dallas Cowboys	12	4	0	?	88
5 - Philadelphia Eagles	11	5	0	?	83
Washington Redskins	8	8	0	18	80
New York Giants	3	13	0	1	81
NFC NORTH	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
4 - Green Bay Packers	9	7	0	?	89
Minnesota Vikings	9	7	0	19	88
Detroit Lions	8	8	0	17	86
Chicago Bears	4	11	1	4	79
NFC SOUTH	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
2 - New Orleans Saints	10	6	0	?	79
6 - Carolina Panthers	10	6	0	?	89
Atlanta Falcons	7	9	0	11	85
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	5	10	1	5	81
NFC WEST	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
3 - Seattle Seahawks	10	6	0	?	88
Arizona Cardinals	10	6	0	20	86
St Louis Rams	7	8	1	15	85
San Francisco 49ers	4	12	0	2	84
AFC EAST	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
1 - New England Patriots	13	3	0	?	89
Miami Dolphins	8	8	0	16	82
New York Jets	7	9	0	13	83
Buffalo Bills	6	9	1	10	82
AFC NORTH	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
3 - Cincinnati Bengals	10	6	0	?	87
Pittsburgh Steelers	7	9	0	14	81
Baltimore Ravens	7	9	0	12	87
Cleveland Brown	6	10	0	6	83
AFC SOUTH	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
4 - Jacksonville Jaguars	9	7	0	?	81
Tennessee Titans	6	10	0	9	82
Indianapolis Colts	6	10	0	8	80
Houston Texans	4	12	0	3	85
AFC WEST	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
2 - Kansas City Chiefs	12	4	0	?	84
5 - San Diego Chargers	11	5	0	?	82
6 - Oakland Raiders	9	7	0	?	80
Denver Broncos	6	10	0	7	82

*Number Denotes Playoff Seeding

Season Leaders

Passing
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
5,382 yards, 38 touchdowns, 15 interceptions

Rushing
Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
315 rushes, 1,818 yards, 10 touchdowns

Receiving
Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers
111 catches, 1,619 yards, 9 touchdowns

Tackles
Colin McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys
182 Tackles

Sacks
JJ Watt, Houston Texans
17.5 Sacks

Interceptions
Jason McCourty, Tennessee Titans
8 Interceptions

Coach of the Year
Bill Belichick, New England Patriots

[Rumplebeanskin]

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

Year 2 16/17 - Divisional




Daniel Grainger, NFL

Long Time Retired? Don't Count On It!

Less than a week after another 6 win season and a failure to make the playoffs, Gary Kubiak was relieved of his coaching duties by the Denver Broncos. It would appear that for some time the Broncos and John Elway have been lining up Peyton Manning for a sensational return to the NFL. It came as little surprise that Manning would find his way back into the game, but the destination, timing and role were the details providing the buzz around the league this morning.



Asked about his return, Manning was clearly excited for what lies ahead,"It was very good to hear from John (Elway) about this opportunity. I had said to my wife that I was going to take some time and I wasn't in a rush to move back into the game. This was too good to turn down though and I think everyone around me understands that. I can't wait to be back in the facility and helping the fans again and to try and get this great franchise turned around.

The first task for Manning upon his return to Mile High Stadium will be reviving the fortunes of a team that has fallen on hard times during the end of his tenure and subsequent time in retirement. Manning knows offence, and the team he inherits was 32nd in points scored last season. The quarterback position has been in a state of flux. Likely to be high on the list of priorities, Denver need to negotiate with current starter and free agent to be Ryan Fitzpatrick. It is not known if Fitzpatrick currently wishes to stay with the Broncos but his lack of contract at least gives Manning and GM John Elway some flexibility as to how they move forward. This draft is thought to contain 3 or 4 signal callers that could transition to the next level and Denver possesses the #7 pick.

A further issue holding back the development of this Denver team is their 32nd ranked pass defence from last season. Outside of elite corner Chris Harris Jr, the Broncos don't have a lot on offer. There is firm rumour around the team that DeMarcus Ware is set to retire, another move that provides flexibility to help shape the roster moving forward.

While it's not currently known how active Manning will be in recruitment with John Elway firmly in the GM role, Elway is sure to listen to Manning's opinion after pulling him so quickly out of retirement though. One thing is for sure, this role for Manning won't involve anything but coaching. "Playing? Absolutely not, even if we have to hold open tryouts for a quarterback!"

[Rumplebeanskin]

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

Year 2 16/17 - Divisional


The 24-Hour Home of CBS Sports


Jeff Hardy-Grant, Contributor

After Stellar Season, Chiefs Lose QB Smith At The Worst Time

It's rare that a team isn't happy after a 1 point victory in the playoffs, but the mood in the Chiefs camp this morning was anything but jovial. Alex Smith appears to be finished for the season, however long that happens to be, with a concussion. After a 12-4 record and a week off to begin the playoffs, the Chiefs looked rusty from the get-go of their divisional game with Cincinnati. Whilst they escaped from the game with a W, Smith took a number of hits throughout the contest that have taken their toll.

Untested Aaron Murray will take Smith's place the remainder of the way and his shoulders must now carry the burden of a franchise that hasn't won a Championship since Superbowl IV in 1969. One thing that should help Murray in his quest to replace Smith is a team around him playing at an elite level. This Kansas offence isn't built around a dominant QB and the team will continue to lean heavily on All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles. Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid was quick to support his young signal caller "Aaron knows what is expected of him, and he has the tools to succeed. He is the next man up and he has our full support. The past is in the past, all we can do now is look forward."



The first test for Murray, Charles and the Chiefs will be an intimidating trip to Foxboro to play New England on Sunday. With Tom Brady and the Patriots looking very strong as the AFC's #1 seed, Murray will need to find his best form, and quickly.

JHG
CBS Sports

[Rumplebeanskin]

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

Year 2 16/17 - Conference


The Worldwide Leader in Sport


Ed Shakespear, NFL Analyst

After Snowy Night in Foxboro, Patriots Dynasty Ends In Every Way Possible

The ramifications of Sunday's shock 35-24 loss to Kansas City will be felt long after the snow has thawed from the pitch in Foxboro. Before we allow ourselves to get swept up with the off field changes for the Patriots, Aaron Murray deserves a tremendous amount of credit for his performance. Throwing for 2 TDs was significantly more than the Chiefs hoped for but he was measured and in control from start to finish, taking care of the football and giving the Chiefs an opportunity to win.

In the aftermath of a disappointing defeat, the worst was yet to come for the New England Patriots. In press conferences held a day apart, Coach Bill Belichick and Quarterback Tom Brady both called time on their respective careers. As one of the most decorated and successful coach/player combinations in the history of the NFL, the Patriots must now face the herculean task of replacing both men. The response from the NFL community has been vast, praising the achievements of both Belichick and Brady throughout their careers.



Denver have shown us most recently that replacing an iconic player is very difficult. It remains to be seen who Manning's replacement will be under centre for the Broncos and solutions for the Patriots aren't any clearer. Behind Brady sits Jimmy Garoppolo, an untried and untested signal caller drafted in the 2nd round of 2014 out of FCS minnow Eastern Illinois. It was presumably the intent of the Patriots front office that the torch would pass to Garoppolo and that plan will now most likely be tested. What remains unknown is if Garoppolo was the Patriots preference for replacing Brady, or if he was merely the back up for the team when Brady called it quits. That will be the real question as the off-season progresses.

As for who replaces Coach Belichick, that appears more obvious. Despite the lack of a formal announcement, it has been strongly circulated by numerous sources that the Robert Kraft has managed to lure long time Belichick disciple Nick Saban back to the NFL from Alabama. The fire of going 15-17 in his only stint as an NFL coach clearly still burns for Saban and he now has the opportunity to tick one box that still remains unchecked for his career. It is thought Saban will be allowed a relatively unchallenged role with regards to player personnel (something he didn't enjoy in Miami and ultimately drove him back to the college ranks) as well play calling duties on the defensive side of the ball.



We'll bring you further announcements as we have them, but it is bound to be an interesting off-season in Boston. It's an off-season that I'm sure most fans still can't believe has to begin.

Ed Shakespear
ESPN

[Rumplebeanskin]

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

Kansas City Chiefs vs Green Bay Packers
Feb 5, 2017	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)	7	3	0	14	24
Green Bay Packers (9-7)	7	3	7	0	17

Team Stats Comparison
	KAN	GNB
Total Offense	359	358
Rushing Yards	158	88
Passing Yards	201	270
First Downs	16	18
Punt Return Yards	9	0
Kick Return Yards	95	90
Total Yards	463	448
Turnovers	0	1
3rd Down Converstion	10	9
4th Down Conversion	0	0
2-Point Conversion	0	0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	2/0	2/1
Penalties	35	26
Posession Time	28:09	31:51

Kansas City Chiefs PASSING C/A YDS TD INT A.Murray 13/24 201 1 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD J.Charles 22 103 4.7 1 C.Johnson 7 29 4.1 0 K.Davis 4 20 5.0 1 A.Murray 3 6 2.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD A.Wilson 3 80 26.7 1 B.Quick 3 51 17.0 0 T.Kelce 2 10 5.0 0 J.Maclin 2 47 23.5 0 J.Charles 2 1 0.5 0 B.Parker 1 12 12 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD J.Brinkley 12 0 0 0 J.Mauga 11 0 0 0 E.Berry 5 0 0 0 T.Hali 5 2.0 0 0 M.Peters 4 0 0 0 J.Houston 4 1.0 0 0 R.Parker 4 0 0 0 S.Smith 4 0 0 0 P.Gaines 3 0 0 0 A.Bailey 2 0 0 0 H.Ngata 2 0 0 0 H.Bates 2 0 0 0 D.Ford 1 0 0 0 H.Abdullah 1 0 1 0 A.Hicks 1 0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG C.Santos 1/1 3/3 6 39 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 B.Fields 4 173 43.3 2 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD A.Wilson 2 53 26.5 0 K.Davis 2 42 21.0 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD A.Wilson 2 9 4.5 0

Green Bay Packers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT A.Rodgers 26/42 270 1 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD E.Lacy 13 63 4.8 1 D.Thomas 6 17 2.8 0 A.Rodgers 2 8 4.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD D.Adams 7 89 12.7 0 J.Nelson 7 112 16.0 0 M.Lewis 4 20 5.0 0 E.Lacy 2 5 2.5 0 R.Cobb 2 22 11.0 1 D.Thomas 2 13 6.5 0 T.Montgomery 1 9 9 0 J.Kuhn 1 0 0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD N.Johnson 9 0 0 0 M.Burnett 7 0 0 0 H.Clinton-Dix 7 0 0 0 C.Matthews 6 0 0 0 S.Shields 5 0 0 0 S.Barrington 5 0.5 0 0 B.Raji 5 0.5 0 0 T.Brown 3 0 0 0 D.Randall 2 0 0 0 C.Thomas 2 0 0 0 J.Elliott 1 0 0 0 J.Ryan 1 0 0 0 J.Boyd 1 0 0 0 C.McDonald 1 0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG B.McManus 1/2 2/2 5 37 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 R.Quigley 3 131 43.7 1 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD T.Montgomery 3 69 23.0 0 R.Cobb 1 21 21.0 0

Post Season Review

Wildcard
NFC
Carolina Panthers 38 @ 22 Seattle Seahawks
Philadelphia Eagles 28 @ 45 Green Bay Packers
AFC
Oakland Raiders 10 @ 47 Cincinnati Bengals
San Diego Chargers 29 @ 32 Jacksonville Jaguars

Divisional
NFC
Carolina Panthers 17 @ 31 Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay Packers 41 @ 30 New Orleans Saints
AFC
Jacksonville Jaguars 14 @ 45 New England Patriots
Cincinnati Bengals 23 @ 24 Kansas City Chiefs

Conference
NFC
Green Bay Packers 31 @ 24 Dallas Cowboys
AFC
Kansas City Chiefs 35 @ 24 New england Patriots

Superbowl
Kansas City Chiefs 24 vs 17 Green Bay Packers

[Rumplebeanskin]

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

NFL Draft Year 2 16/17 - Round 1 Recap
Pick	Team	Player	Pos
1	New York Giants	D'Andre Zachary	WR
2	San Francisco 49ers	Zach Jose	T
3	Houston Texans	BJ Murphy	T
4	Chicago Bears	Joe Mason	DT
5	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Rashad Gandy	WR
6	Cleveland Browns	Joey Jose	DT
7	Denver Broncos	Eric Jennings	DT
8	Indianapolis Colts	Demarcus Morris	CB
9	Tennessee Titans	Rashad Lewis	S
10	Buffalo Bills	Zac Davis	DT
11	Atlanta Falcons	Cesar Stevenson	OLB
12	Baltimore Ravens	Kevin Russell	T
13	New York Jets	DeMarcus Griffin	S
14	Pittsburgh Steelers	Sherard Quarles	WR
15	St Louis Rams	Evince Milliner	CB
16	Miami Dolphins	James McCray	MLB
17	Detroit Lions	Teddy Moss	CB
18	Washington Redskins	Shaman Parker	S
19	Minnesota Vikings	Lester Jordan	DT
20	Arizona Cardinals	CJ Mincy	OLB
21	Oakland Raiders	Kevin Bernard	CB
22	Indianapolis Colts	Dominique Caldwell	DT
23	Philadelphia Eagles	DeAndre Hunter	T
24	San Diego Chargers	Eric White	T
25	Jacksonville Jaguars	DJ Winston	DE
26	New Orleans Saints	Jason McKinney	OLB
27	Carolina Panthers	Raysean Quarles	DE
28	Cincinnati Bengals	Brandon Riley	WR
29	Dallas Cowboys	Reshawn Martin	TE
30	New England Patriots	Cesar Carter	DE
31	Green Bay Packers	Stacey Winston	MLB
32	Kansas City Chiefs	Drew Carter	QB

[Rumplebeanskin]

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

Year 3 17/18 - Preseason


Your One Stop Shop For Everything Pro Football!



Craig Costello, Editor in Chief

As we call time on the offseason, I can't wait to bring you avid fans up to date on everything we have enjoyed through the summer. Big signing, coaching changes and still with the excitement of such a great Superbowl firmly in our memories. Aaron Murray, what a thrilling story!

NFC North


Chicago Bears - Last Season 4-11-1

The Bears decided to somewhat clear house at the end of last season. Jay Cutler and his albatros of a contract are gone, as is Head Coach John Fox. The torch for the Bears is now passed over to 2nd year QB Nate Patterson and ex-Rams coach Jeff Fisher who may well get more out of this roster than Fox did. The offence will continue to lean on Matt Forte, though he doesn't have many years left in the tank. Alshon Jeffrey is an elite WR, but the offence is still hamstrung by a weak o-line that isn't helped by the off-season loss of Kyle Long. Perhaps it was too much for the team to blow up both sides of the ball in one off season but this defence is one of the worst in the league. Last year's #1 Jose Lunsford improved in his rookie year but needs to continue that trend in year 2.

Notable Resignings - TE Martellus Bennett
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - RT Kyle Long (team), FS Reggie Nelson (media)
Draft Pick - DT Jye
New Coach - Jeff Fisher


Detroit Lions - Last Season 8-8

The Lions remain on the bubble with a roster that is good enough for 6-8 wins a year without much more or less. Matt Stafford's injury last season could be a window into his future as he moves towards his 30's. The Lions recently picked up 2nd round QB Morgan Lucas so they are making plans for succeeding Stafford sooner rather than later. Whoever their QB is they will have the luxury of Calvin Johnson who continues to be an elite WR. Abdullah is now a top 10 RB in the league, but outside of that the offence lacks talent. The same cannot be said for the defence, which kept it's core previous seasons with shrewd resignings. Levy, Tullock, Whitehead, Quin and Hall should all have solid seasons.

Notable Resignings - MLB Stephen Tullock, CB Leon Hall
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - CB Darius Slay (money)
Draft Pick - CB Teddy Moss



Minnesota Vikings - Last Season 9-7

Losing Sharrif Floyd will be a big blow for this Vikings team,they just couldn't come to an agreement and the big DT was unhappy with the direction the team was going. Minnesota will have to hope that 1st round pick Lester Jordan can develop quickly and replace Floyd before too long. Keeping the CB due of Rhodes and Munnerly was a big help to a strong defence. Everson Griffin continues to be one of the best defensive players in the league, Anthony Barr has continued promising development and is a top level OLB. The offence is strong across the board, notably on the offensive line anchored by centre John Sullivan. Teddy Bridgewater is an above average QB who could benefit from a few more weapons around him. Last year's 3rd round pick Julius Shaw could be a man to watch. Slated to back up Adrian Peterson this season, there could be a changing of the guard at the position for the Vikings sooner rather than later.

Notable Resignings - CB Xavier Rhodes, CB Captain Munnerlyn
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - DT Sharrif Floyd (team)
Draft Pick - DT Lester Jordan


Green Bay Packers - Last Season 9-7

Chuck Pagano continues the tradition in Green Bay of elite passing and offence with questionable defence. Last season the Packers were an offensive juggernaut and reinforced that but bringing Eddie Lacy back with a new contract. Fans will continually second guess the expensive outlay on a running back with other areas of the team in need of renovation, such as the O-line and most of the defence. The Packers Offensive line woes won't have been helped by the loss of centre Corey Linsley for the season with a torn pectoral. Clay Matthews continues to be the standout on defence along with Sam Shields at corner, and adding long time Packer AJ Hawk back into the mix may help but this team is still going to be focused on scoring more points that they concede, even if it means they need to put 40 on the board every week. That's something they haven't struggled with recently

Notable Resignings - RB Eddie Lacy, RG TJ Lang
Notable Additions - OLB AJ Hawk
Notable Losses - LG Josh Sitton (family), FB John Kuhn (injury)
Draft Pick - MLB Stacey Winston

[Rumplebeanskin]

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

Year 3 17/18 - Preseason


NFC South


Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Last Season 5-10-1

The Lovie Smith experiment in Tampa is over with Jim Tomsula moving from west coast to east to take over the Bucs. At his disposal are top 5 QB and WR combo in Jameis Winston and Mike Evans. Tomsula will do well to aid the development of 2nd round RB Braxton Travis who could form an excellent core with Winston and Evans. Adding the experience of Brandon Lafell is a smart move with Vincent Jackson calling time on his career. The defence in Tampa will be exciting for Coach Tomsula to work with, they have an intimidating front 4 and OLB Lorenzo David is a monster. Great news for the Bucs is that last year's 1st round pick Andrew Gutierrez is growing into a truly elite DT.

Notable Resignings - DE Damontre Moore
Notable Additions - WR Brandon Lafell, DE Jabaal Sheard
Notable Losses - WR Vincent Jackson (retired - age), CB Tim Jennings (age)
Draft Pick - WR Rashad Gandy
New Coach - Jim Tomsula


Mexico City Diablos - Last Season 7-9

Welcome to the league, Mexico City! They enter a tough NFC South division that is currently run by New Orleans and Carolina. Mexico City aren't far away from competing and have a good core to build from. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are stand outs, but their strength currently lies in a great o-line that is benefiting from investment through the draft. 2nd round selection Phil Mason will start at LG as a rookie and last year's 1st round pick Scott Turner is a good player at RT. The defence has 2 top-tier players in Bobby Wagner and newly resigned corner Desmond Trufant. Outside of that there are serious question marks, especially at defensive end and safety. With some investment though, this could be a solid unit.

Notable Resignings - CB Desmond Trufant
Notable Additions - TE Luke Wilson
Notable Losses - None
Draft Pick - OLB Cesar Stevenson


Carolina Panthers - Last Season 10-6

The Panthers dominated most teams last season with a +22 turn over differential that led them to the playoffs. Their intimidating defence has lost interior lineman Kawann Short who left to be a feature elsewhere rather than a cog in Carolina. Stalwart Thomas Davis is also a loss as he retired, but last year's 1st round pick OLB Taylor Patrick is already an adequate replacement. The Panthers continue the trend of developing a solid offensive line for Cam Newton and their run game, but the lack of quality receivers hasn't hindered them previously. Devin Funchess isn't developing as hoped, and Kenny Britt is over the hill. It remains to be seen if Newton can still get the best out of these receivers. Greg Olsen continues to be a top level option, though.

Notable Resignings - DE Charles Johnson, DT Star Lotulelei (franchise tag)
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - OLB Thomas Davis (retired - age), DT Kawann Short (roster)
Draft Pick - DE Raysean Quarles


New Orleans Saints - Last Season 10-6

Bryan Gurley led this team to quite the season last year, with a 10-6 record and 2nd seed in the NFC. In order to continue that level of performance, the Saints kept their offensive line intact with the resigning of two key veterans, and offered Drew Brees a year contract as we all play the "will he/won't he" retirement game. WR continues to be a question mark outside of Brandin Cooks, and former Alabama standout Mark Ingram is a serviceable if not impressive RB at this point of his career. On defence New Orleans continue to just do enough, led by FS Jairus Byrd and DE Cam Jordan. LB is certainly an issue, but that's most likely their biggest problem. Can Coach Gurley keep this team on an upward trend?

Notable Resignings - QB Drew Brees, LT Terron Armstead, C Max Unger
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - None
Draft Pick - OLB Jason McKinney

[Rumplebeanskin]

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

Year 3 17/18 - Preseason

NFC East


New York Giants - Last Season 3-13

This most likely isn't what Marvin Lewis had in mind when he took the Giants head coaching gig last off season. NYG suffered through a 3 win season and last place in the NFL, watched Eli Manning retire in the off-season, then drop the ball in the draft by selecting a player that some didn't even have as the top prospect at his position, let alone the whole draft class! Hindsight will tell on the selection of D'Andre Zachary, but this season could well be rough for the G-Men as well. Jay Cutler is in from Chicago to replace Manning, which isn't good news but better than the alternative for an offence devoid of talent outside of Odell Beckham. Their defence should be helped by the acquisition of Carolina free agent duo Kawann Short and Mario Addison but the rest of their defence isn't good. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Giants bottom out again next season.

Notable Resignings - None
Notable Additions - DT Kawann Short, De Mario Addison, QB Jay Cutler
Notable Losses - QB Eli Manning (retired - age)
Draft Pick - WR D'Andre Zachary


Washington Redskins - Last Season 8-8

The future is suddenly looking a lot brighter in Washington. Mike Stark is becoming a legitimate QB after his rookie season and leads an offence with talent spotted around it. Veteran Pierre Garcon has resigned, Desean Jackson remains and Jordan Reed is still in Washington after receiving a new contract. Their main question mark is on the offensive line which is poor outside of Trent Williams. The loss of tackle Brandon Scherff to his legal woes hasn't helped. The best description of their defence is good but not great. 2nd year OLB Drew Gooden is developing into a leader, and Chris Culliver is a solid corner. Outside of those 2 there isn't much to shout about, but there are no glaring holes either.

Notable Resignings - TE Jordan Reed, WR Pierre Garcon
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - RT Brandon Scherff (legal)
Draft Pick - FS Shaman Parker


Philadelphia Eagles - Last Season 11-5

The Eagles were a surprise package last season under RG3 and he has been kept around with a new contract. Griffin isn't the superstar he was when he entered the league, but he is capably handling an offence powered by DeMarco Murray that led the NFL in rushing last season. The transition from left tackle Jason Peters to rookie Deandre Hunter could be tough, but the Eagles will have to work through it. A more pressing concern for Philly is cornerback, which hasn't received enough attention in recent seasons, unlike their linebacking core. Fletcher Cox remains the top player on the defensive side of the ball.

Notable Resignings - TE Zach Ertz, RT Lane Johnson, QB Robert Griffin III
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - LT Jason Peters (retired - age)
Draft Pick - LT Deandre Hunter


Dallas Cowboys - Last Season 12-4

Tony Romo led the team to the NFC Championship game last season, but the much talked about QB hung up his boots at the end of the season. The Cowboys must now turn to 2nd round pick Tyson McBride to continue the success of this current roster. McBride will need to create chemistry with top wide receiver Dez Bryant as quickly as possible, a mission aided by a very strong O-line. With a defence who's only real question mark lies at safety, the Cowboys should be able to exploit the skills of Greg Hardy and Sean Lee to power a solid unit to another playoff berth this season.

Notable Resignings - C Travis Frederick
Notable Additions - None
Notable Losses - QB Tony Romo (retired - age)
Draft Pick - TE Reshawn Martin