[Thelomen Toblerone]

I think Hester's gonna have a break-out year at WR. Not spectacular, but enough to warrant being considered a legit no 1 wideout.

[Slow Ben]

I know the people that cover the Bears are biased, but they cant shut up about how good he's doing. The last 8 games of last year he finally looked like he understood what the hell he was doing out there. And with Cutler throwing him the ball i totally agree. If he lives up to the hype he will have one hell of a season. Dude just has freaky good skills.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Im drafting him high for my fantasy team, I know that much, He's in my personal top 8 WR atm.

[Slow Ben]

Yeah, i'd like to get him too, but my league has 14 teams an like 10 of them are Bears fans, so he'll probably go higher than he should.


Plus if he pulls his head out of his ass on punt returns you can get a lot of points there too.

This post has been edited by Slow Ben: 06 May 2009 - 11:49 PM

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Just read on ESPN about the possibility of a London Superbowl by 2020. What do you all think about it?

While I of course would love it, realistically I have to concede that I think it'd be a bit of a kick in the teeth to US fans, most of whom probably couldnt afford to get to the game. Plus, y'know, the weather would be shit, and it would mess up the kick off time because of the time difference.

[HoosierDaddy]

Thelomen Toblerone, on May 6 2009, 09:48 PM, said:

Just read on ESPN about the possibility of a London Superbowl by 2020. What do you all think about it?

While I of course would love it, realistically I have to concede that I think it'd be a bit of a kick in the teeth to US fans, most of whom probably couldnt afford to get to the game. Plus, y'know, the weather would be shit, and it would mess up the kick off time because of the time difference.

@Slum: My leagues are all like that with Colts players (except they are good! )

TT, most "average" fans in the U.S. don't get to go to the super bowl either. Tickets run into the thousands of dollars for the game. However, I wouldn't like it in London even more. Would the FA ever host the FA Cup finals in New York? No.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

I guess Im against it for the same reason Im against the US hosting the football/soccer World Cup again like they're bidding for. Just like the US has MLS and had USA World Cup '94, Europe had the NFL Europe and the UK gets international series games. Yet both sports are still only very minor players in eachother's countries, and unlikely to expand too much further.

In the US, football/soccer is behind NFL, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Baseball, at least. In the UK, it's behind football/soccer, rugby league and rugby union, and cricket. Both games have chances to prosper in both countries but have pretty much reached the point where one extra competition isnt going to make a large amount of difference.

And ultimately, who's going to enjoy it (and so benefot) more? Americans prefer the Superbowl, the rest of thr world prefers the World Cup. Why take either away from passionate fans for what is essentially an advertising/marketing ploy?

[HoosierDaddy]

Ooooh, don't you make me mad by trying to take away our chances at the World Cup! I wasn't a soccer fan in 1994, didn't become one until I was a heart-broken sob who couldn't sleep and, therefore, watched all the 2002 Japan/Korea games. I would LOVE to be able to go to one of those games. Europe gets it all the time, and its a helluva a lot easier for you all to migrate to each other than it is for Americans to go to Europe, South Africa, or Japan/Korea.

This is off-topic anyways, if you want we could make another thread to discuss the UK-Super Bowl/US World Cup thing.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

I just thought I'd mention it as an American Football related aside and sort of got drawn into the World Cup thing (which Im sure will see development as a thread in a few months when they decide what bids make the next stage). The 2002 World Cup was the only one I can remember not really watching actually, due to the time difference and being 14 doing SATs exams at the time. Memories.

But yes, back to the NF and L:

What happens next year if they dont work out the salary cap? They keep mentioningan "uncapped year", does that just mean the richest team can sign whatever free agents it wants for any money, and so bankroll its way to a Superbowl?

[HoosierDaddy]

The Colts President has said that if there is an uncapped year, some strictures would be put into place to stop high-revenue teams from just buying up talent. But, as of right now, I have no idea. It's scary for a small-market team like the Colts, that's for sure.

[HoosierDaddy]

So, I read this lovely statement in that article about the super bowl in London, and it made me laugh out loud. Any English fan want to comment on this insanity?:

Quote

Paul, I understand your argument. Heck, I shared the same view until my trip to London, but that experience made me see things much differently. Londoners are ready to embrace something like this. NFL Europe didn't work because it was a minor league. One thing I learned last year is that people in London are fascinated with America and want desperately to be a part of it. I was there a few weeks before the presidential election and the British were paying far more attention to that than I was. They're different from us.

I wouldn't go to a soccer game if you paid me and, to date, have successfully avoided watching my niece and nephew play a sport that bores me -- although I've been to dozens of their baseball and softball games. But the people in London have this raging curiosity about all things American. True, they may not understand the intricacies of a 3-4 defense, but they're going to come out for a show. And when it comes right down to it, isn't the Super Bowl just one big show?

Pat Yaskinsas of ESPN.

1. Nice set of priorities there Pat.
2. LOL!

This post has been edited by HoosierDaddy: 07 May 2009 - 03:21 AM

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Well, technically I suppose if you're comparing us to the French or Iranians, yes we do have a raging curiosity and interest in all things American.

[HoosierDaddy]

You don't desperately want to be a part of America? I'm shocked!

[Thelomen Toblerone]

The thing is, Im sure Mr Yasinksakasjasdnfera or whatever it is is going solely on his experience of the game - he probably landed, got driven straight to the stadium then went to a party after. And everyone at that stadium and around has paid £200 or so minimum for a ticket and sat on the phone for about 2 hours to get it. I tried to get tickets for this years game, a full 24 hours after they went on sale. There were none to be had for less than £1000, and only a very few of those.

So we're talking about 90,000 hardcore fans out of a population of 60 million. So I can understand why he got the feeling - everyone he met would have been very positive - he probably wasnt in a position to get the full range of views needed to make a clear analysis.

Also, all things American is a bit vague - I mean, I love NFL and burgers, but try and give me a republican convention and some American cheese and I'll choke with bewilderment. Obviously I like more than the NFL anf burgers about America, but you get my point.

[HoosierDaddy]

Good point about the people at the game. Probably lots of ex-pats there going as well. But still, if you are a professional writer you have to do at least a smidgen of question asking. Saying that English people want desperately to be a part of America and are fascinated by all things American is just idiotic. But, then again he's a sports writer, not a pulitzer prize winning author.

[Daser]

About the possible uncapped year.


Disclaimer: What i write now is just hearsay not facts in anyway.


Arizona 2008

Players earned 116 mill.

Arizona Cardinals earned 30 mill.


Not much room to do things differently if uncapped year comes. Lets look at it from another point of view instead.


Detroit Lions pay Stafford 6 to 10 mill for 3 or 4 year contract instead of 41 mill and he is still best payed rookie. This would free much more money for both the deserving veteran players and the franchise than any uncapped year ever would and it would still give the smaller franchises a chance to compete.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Ah, now Brandon Marshall has requested a trade. Stirling stuff, McDaniels.

I know Marshall is a clungebutler, but he's a top notch WR. Paraphrasing Wilde, to lose a franchise QB, Mr McDaniels, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose a pro bowl WR as well in one off-season looks like carelessness.

Will anyone be left in Denver by the end of the off season? Tune in next month to find out.

[Slow Ben]

Well, what they are saying is its not McDaniels fault. That Marshall just wants more money and thats why he's holding out and trying to force a trade.

Which I, of course, say BULLSHIT too! The dude just lost the only qb he's ever played with because the head coach is an idiot. And the team dont seem to be doin great. I'd be pissed too. So i can understand. But he should still just shut up and play ball.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Just had the draft for one of my fantasy teams, check out my squad:

QB: Matt Ryan, Eli Manning
RB: Chris Johnson, Steven Jackson, Ahmad Bradshaw, Ricky Williams
WR: Dwayne Bowe, Devin Hester, Bernard Berrian, Kevin Walter
TE: Zach Miller, Heath Miller
K: Rob Bironas
DST: Eagles

What do you all think? Any trades I should be looking to pull off?

[Daser]

Thelomen Toblerone, on Jun 24 2009, 03:05 PM, said:

Just had the draft for one of my fantasy teams, check out my squad:

QB: Matt Ryan, Eli Manning
RB: Chris Johnson, Steven Jackson, Ahmad Bradshaw, Ricky Williams
WR: Dwayne Bowe, Devin Hester, Bernard Berrian, Kevin Walter
TE: Zach Miller, Heath Miller
K: Rob Bironas
DST: Eagles

What do you all think? Any trades I should be looking to pull off?

You missed bad on both QB and WR how could you miss getting the best from both of those positions? The rest looks good.