NFL - Discussion Thread

This Covid-19 is turning into a real nightmare, Spain was one of the countries that decided to open up its borders this week and all of a sudden I'm hearing about new cases and German may be going into lockdown soon if things dont improve.

Not sure what to make of the media, I read the British tabloids and they all state the Spaniards are looking forward to them returning to their holiday resorts and then I watch the news in Barcelona and you have the Spanish public litterally begging the tourists to stay away.

I have an awful feeling the NFL season will be canceled at some point if it does even get started. It's probably why Dak Prescott sorted his deal out, nobody knows what is going to happen and it's better to have some kind of contract than nothing at all.

With the US Open going ahead (laughable) with no crowds, it seems like a given that the NFL will begin its season with no crowds too. What I can see happening, is the season being delayed by about a month as well. It will be very hard to control cases within teams, since NFL teams have a roster of about 50 and then a practice squad too, as well as all the coaches. So lets say that's 100 combined. Times that by 32 teams and you get 3200 people that the NFL will need to hope do not get the virus.

The spread isn't going to stop anytime soon. BLM protests are still going on, and Trump will be holding more rallies in the future. Top it off with the fact that Summer will be over by September and that the virus is said to spread slower in the hotter months, and the NFL are going to have to hope that active cases go down ASAP.

This is not looking good, China are getting more cases of Covid-19. Looks like the Olympic committee did the right thing postponing the Olympics to 2021.

Liverpool won the Premier League in the England by 7 games last night and what should have been a celebrated achievement went hardly noticed unless you were a scouser. The team were celebrating in an empty stadium, just didn't feel right.

As for the NFL, they announced yesterday everything is going ahead as scheduled.

Ahahaha. There was actually celebration. Fans went into the streets and were partying & lighting flares as if everything is normal. Coventry City did a similar thing a few weeks ago after they were declared League 1 champions through points per game. Poor scousers though. They wait 30 years for a first division title, and they can't even get into their stadium...

The NFL are playing with fire. They should just announce now that they're delaying everything by 1 month. Preseason in September. Regular season from October to February. Superbowl at the start of March. If players get infected, it may mean that fixtures get postponed and that teams have to play midweek games like in soccer. God, could you imagine how much the players would whinge, seeing as they already whinge at a 16-game season of a non-continuous sport (ie they get regular rests)?

Delaying everything by 1 month gives the NFL more time to get organised, and more time for the virus to hopefully die down.

« Last edited by Matt77 on Jun 26th 2020 »

Looks like the Patriots are back in business, they've just signed Cam Newton to a one year deal. I don't think anyone was fooled with New Engalnd going with Stidham. Belichick has told Newton to prove to him he still has it and they will renegotiate a longer contract next year. If the Patriots can sort out the holes in their defense they are contentders again...unfotunately.

If things don't work out with Newton this year they will be going all in to get Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields in next years draft with the draft capital they have collected.

Lol. At first I was annoyed because it meant the dynasty continues, but it means New England will probably make playoffs, hence can't draft Lawrence or Fields.

But I also say lol, because the NFL fined New England $1.1 million and stripped them of a 3rd round pick as a result of the filming saga when they filmed Cincy the week before their matchup.

I didn't realise Cam Newton was so banged up, he sounds more fragile than Tua. Lots of experts are saying he had his best years in Carolina and will never reach that level again. Apparently his 2015 season was spectacular, reaching the Super Bowl.

Like you, I want to see Lawrence and Fields go to anyone except the Patriots.

Cam Newton is not only injury-prone, but extremely erratic. He wasn't a consistent QB at Carolina (except for his MVP season). Some games he'd play at top-10 level, and in others he wouldn't even be top 25. Add in his age, and you have a precarious situation.

Basically Belichick wants to win a Superbowl now. He's probably had time to evaluate Hoyer and Stidham and has decided that Stidham isn't going to be a franchise QB. I can see Belichick staying around for a few more years while Newton keeps NE competitive, and then leaving just as New England become the worst team in the AFC East.

How much of an improved player do you think Cam Newton could be under the guidance of Belichick and the system he runs at New England?

New England don't have any game breakers that can get down the field in a hurry, they rely on long, time consuming, high percentage short passes to march down the field. Brady was the master of this system, do you think Cam Newton has the patience to play it or will he drive Belichick crazy by scrambling and trying to make something happen.

That's a good point. I don't think the short passing system suits Newton, but I guess we'll see. If it doesn't work, I'd imagine Belichick would tinker the system to allow some big plays and a higher importance towards the rushing game.

I think Belichick could definitely improve Newton. But Newton is 31. He's not a pocket passer, so his body is going to break down quicker than most QBs. I'm not sure how long Newton has left as a starter.

Apparently the Patriots showed an interest in trading for Odell Beckham Jnr but the wide reciever is not interested in going to New England. Says he's got 'unfinished business' in Cleveland. Talking about the Browns, they are still interested in Jadeveon Clowney and I get the feeling that is where he wants to go but the money Cleveland are offering is short of the amount Clowney wants.

Has a second wave of Covid-19 hit you yet Matt? Leciester in England is in lockdown again with other cities rumored to follow. Some experts say it is still the first wave and that we came out of lockdown to early, not sure what to think. It isn't a good sign either way.

The second wave has hit the state of Victoria. But the other 7 states and territories in Australia have either 0 active cases or less than 10.

The UK was way too early to open up. Not as bad as the US, but still too early. Did you hear about the people on the beach in Bournemouth? From my experience, roughly half of the UK and US population have the belief that the lockdown restrictions are unlawful and that they should not be followed. We are very fortunate in Australia.

Yes, there seems to be something inbred in the mentality of plenty of UK and US citizens that makes them believe they are above this virus and that for some reason it will not affect them. It's very strange, they are referred to as Cov-Idiots in the press. In Spain Cov-19 is still taken very serious, you cannot enter a shop without first washing your hands and wearing a facemask. When I see what is happening in places like Bournmouth in the UK it makes me shudder how people can be so stupid.

Looks like Covid-19 is already affecting the NFL, they want fans to sign a Covid-19 waiver and they are thinking about cutting down the preseason down to half. Things don't look good for the season, I personally think it will be abandoned before the regular season starts.

Yeah, they claim that 'because the virus doesn't affect people under 50, only people aged 50 and over need to follow lockdown procedures'. They also believe that once you contract the virus, you are immune, when it is a known fact that young people can show no symptoms but spread the virus to older people, and that it is possible to get the virus for a second time. Gee, you should've seen some of the lunatic comments from rabid Djokovic fans, saying that he's done himself and the tennis tour a favour by getting infected.

Cutting down the preaseason is a good idea in general. Plus it will buy the league time to hope that the virus dies down. There is a 0% chance that the virus will have settled in 1 month's time (when preseason officially starts), so it has to happen. I actually think my postponing idea may happen now. Or even my hubs idea. Given that there are 1.5 million active cases in the US, and that the states which are spiking (> 1000 daily cases) compose of 13 NFL teams, something is going have to budge. Either the league will be postponed/cancelled, or several teams will have to move permanently away from home.

Washington are now being forced into changing their name. FedEx and several other big sponsors are demanding the name be changed from Redskins to something else. After the BLM demonstrations I wondered how long before this would re-emerge. Names being considered are?

Senators
Warriors
Skins
Federals
Griffins

I would personally prefer them to keep the name but I understand it offends some people and needs to be changed. Not too keen on any of those names but given a choice I'd go with Warriors and keep the current logo. Surely people aren't offended by an indian warrior? That is the best logo in the NFL in my opinion.

Snyder has been told that changing the team name is the only way he is goning to get a new stadium so that with the lost revenue from sponsors literally means he has now got no choice but to change the name.


« Last edited by Sanzano on Jul 3rd 2020 »