The Lonely NFL Thread (complete with tumbleweeds)

Well, I watched the Super Bowl for the very first time.

I have watched hardly any American Football before, and will freely admit a lot of the rules passed me by. Obviously, the tactical nuances that the commentators were discussion (and the knowledge that a regular watcher of the sport would have) went right over my head!

I really enjoyed it.

Many people seem to compare it with rugby but, as a lifelong rugby aficionado, that’s a lazy comparison, totally different sports as far as I could see. In fact, the only similarity Is the shape - but not the size - of the ball.

As it is a game wholly made up of set piece plays, it really is a tactical and strategic battle, with loads and loads of analysis and planning of the plays. With nearly no ‘open’ play, it’s harder for individual creativity to shine through. That’s not to say that these guys aren’t creative players though, especially the quarterbacks.

The complexity of the plays really impressed me. Really complicated intricate plays as far as I could tell. Some serious training drills and practice goes into those.

The strength and explosive power of some of the players was impressive, their fitness less so. I was surprised to see how bad the kickers were, bearing in mind that it’s all they do. The clear thinking under pressure of the attacking teams was really good.

The defensive guys were huge units, with a very specific and limited skill set. Nobody seemed to be able to tackle properly, and people seemed to simply launch themselves at each other like torpedos. As a newbie, I expected big hits, but there wasn’t any really. Rugby matches seem to have bigger hits, and that’s without helmets etc so no wonder there is a big issue in that game now (I understand American Football are years ahead of rugby in acknowledging brain trauma issues)

That’s my random thoughts on one of the only NFL games I have ever watched on TV .... I know there are a lots of Americans on here, so forgive my ignorance and naivety on which is undoubtedly a complex and nuanced game.

One thing that did strike me was how clean the game was. There didnt seem to be much sly punching, hits or ‘helping’ people to their feet etc. The players didn’t try to steal an extra yard when they went down. I didn’t get the impression that that the players were interested in hurting each other or anything. Very fairly contested and all that. Is that because there are so many cameras?

I will definitely watch some more NFL, I think.

Well good for you, @X !!! ;D ;D

It's not everyone who gives a new sport a chance, not fully understanding the rules, but somehow making some sense out of it.

Believe me, at first it seems overwhelming... but in a short while it all falls into place, and you pick up all those nuances as you called them... and the game opens up incredibly.

Too bad the first game you watched was a relative blowout. Everyone expected a close game... and most recent Super Bowls in recent years have been "cliffhangers." In fact, I'd venture to say this was the widest margin of victory in a Super Bowl in quite some time.

Everything you said in comparing it to rugby was right on point. People tend to do that, and that is a lazy comparison.

There's probably more "downtime" in American football than there is in rugby, which might turn some people off. But the time in the huddles is necessary because of the complex nature of the play-calling that you mentioned.

Great to know the NFL has a new fan. ;D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by X

Well, I watched the Super Bowl for the very first time.

I have watched hardly any American Football before, and will freely admit a lot of the rules passed me by. Obviously, the tactical nuances that the commentators were discussion (and the knowledge that a regular watcher of the sport would have) went right over my head!

I really enjoyed it.

Many people seem to compare it with rugby but, as a lifelong rugby aficionado, that’s a lazy comparison, totally different sports as far as I could see. In fact, the only similarity Is the shape - but not the size - of the ball.

As it is a game wholly made up of set piece plays, it really is a tactical and strategic battle, with loads and loads of analysis and planning of the plays. With nearly no ‘open’ play, it’s harder for individual creativity to shine through. That’s not to say that these guys aren’t creative players though, especially the quarterbacks.

The complexity of the plays really impressed me. Really complicated intricate plays as far as I could tell. Some serious training drills and practice goes into those.

The strength and explosive power of some of the players was impressive, their fitness less so. I was surprised to see how bad the kickers were, bearing in mind that it’s all they do. The clear thinking under pressure of the attacking teams was really good.

The defensive guys were huge units, with a very specific and limited skill set. Nobody seemed to be able to tackle properly, and people seemed to simply launch themselves at each other like torpedos. As a newbie, I expected big hits, but there wasn’t any really. Rugby matches seem to have bigger hits, and that’s without helmets etc so no wonder there is a big issue in that game now (I understand American Football are years ahead of rugby in acknowledging brain trauma issues)

That’s my random thoughts on one of the only NFL games I have ever watched on TV .... I know there are a lots of Americans on here, so forgive my ignorance and naivety on which is undoubtedly a complex and nuanced game.

One thing that did strike me was how clean the game was. There didnt seem to be much sly punching, hits or ‘helping’ people to their feet etc. The players didn’t try to steal an extra yard when they went down. I didn’t get the impression that that the players were interested in hurting each other or anything. Very fairly contested and all that. Is that because there are so many cameras?

I will definitely watch some more NFL, I think.

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Same with me on Rugby. Don't really understand the rules, but boy I got to admire their stamina! American Football (pro) is so deep in rules, average people would continuously get called for penalties.
Chiefs really got hit with more than they should, well add on about 200 more LOL! That's what a semi pro would do if they got to play in the NFL.

What you saw in Brady is rare. Not supposed to be possible for his age (43) meaning his ability to call that snap and within 2 seconds- he sees EVERYONE ON THE FIELD- & PULL the trigger (throw a punch per boxing at 43 or throw the football per NFL) that response time he has...is special.

For receivers to run specific routes - they will yell something goofy like 23! Blue, Stallion, hut hit HIKE...tells me those guys aren't as dumb as they have to memorize dozens of calls.


10 championships in 20 years means he's gone to the big dance 1/2 his career and won 7! Damn, that is GOAT! Most players dream of making it to 3 or 4 in a 20 year career, think that over!

Only bummer about the game X...was this wasn't supposed to be a shutout by 3rd quarter especially with a 43 yrd old dude running those young guns. This was overall somewhat boring.
Exciting only in that a 43 yrd old...made it look so damn easy.

With a team he was with for a whole single season, screwed over by covid to practice like indepth. He learned THEIR system.
Damn Brady...GOAT!

They were selling the fight over here as the GOAT v Kid.

Then I'm surprised they didnt call child services for that whoopin' he put on that kid.

Panthers & Rams @3-0

Jets,Giants, Colts, Lion s @0-3.

Packers 2-1
Brady's Bucs 2-1

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SlimTrae

Panthers & Rams @3-0

Jets,Giants, Colts, Lion s @0-3.

Packers 2-1
Brady's Bucs 2-1

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Panthers are a mirage, I think. No way they keep that up very long. The Rams seem to be the real deal. Super Bowl contenders, some would say.

Gotta feel sorry for NY football fans at this point... watching the Jets and Giants flounder in football's basement, while the upstate Buffalo Bills are making serious noise in the AFC. My... how the applecart has been tipped over.

Packers seem to have righted the ship, although still shaking my head at how one Aaron Rodgers could've played so miserable in their season opening trouncing at the hands of the Saints.

Bucs? I'll be rooting for them, since my favorite team... the Steelers... seem to be headed nowhere really fast. Big Ben should've been replaced years ago... and it's frustrating to me to see a bunch of other teams taking advantage of the QB draft sweepstakes, while the Steelers refuse to address their QB issues.

Meanwhile... TB12 is a marvel and GOAT of GOATs at age 44.

Tom "Clutch-maker" Brady delivered down the stretch again!


Packers may have packed the bags for Big Ben and the Steele. They are now 3-1.

I don't think Brady was all that "Brady-esque" against the Pats. Then again... you can't blame him. Nerves! He did pull it out, though.

Speaking of Pack-Steelers... what in the WORLD is Pittsburgh waiting for to pull the plug on Big Ben? As a Steelers fan, it's not like I don't appreciate all he's done for the Steelers over the years. But damn... he ain't no Brady. He's done. IMO, the Steelers missed out on the QB draft frenzy that other teams took advantage of. The Pats, the Bears, the Jags, 49ers and Jets ALL took potential NFL star QBs while the Steelers are twiddling their thumbs and relying on.... Rudolph??!??

Gimme a break...

GB seems to be fully back on track.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

I don't think Brady was all that "Brady-esque" against the Pats. Then again... you can't blame him. Nerves! He did pull it out, though.

Speaking of Pack-Steelers... what in the WORLD is Pittsburgh waiting for to pull the plug on Big Ben? As a Steelers fan, it's not like I don't appreciate all he's done for the Steelers over the years. But damn... he ain't no Brady. He's done. IMO, the Steelers missed out on the QB draft frenzy that other teams took advantage of. The Pats, the Bears, the Jags, 49ers and Jets ALL took potential NFL star QBs while the Steelers are twiddling their thumbs and relying on.... Rudolph??!??

Gimme a break...

GB seems to be fully back on track.

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I thought Ben let it go last year- oh well, great boxers/qbs/athletes don't known when to let it go!!!

Brady-
I saw the lowlights of the game and that is what made it special to me! It's like--dudes! you can't fuck up if Brady is doin likewise. Don't give him a chance at a final drive!!!!
Even though it was the kicker that gave the victory it was that final drive. I saw Pats games as kindof a Foreman-Moorer deal....almost...almost :D damn!:(wtf:o last drive....
that to me is very Bradyesque!:cool:

Some years later I watched the final SB drive 49ers vs Bengals. Talk about a game where Joe Superman Montana looked like Clark Klent!!

They had the coach miked up...and after the 1st play of the last drive the coach stated "damn....he's going to do it to me again":-\

Joe was so regular that game...ok he kinda sucked!!! and the last drive clark kent found his phonebooth- got into his cape..and saved the day. In a small way- that is exactly what Brady did this past weekend.

He did it to them.



again!!!! Never-ever give a GOAT one more chance.

Yep... to me, Montana was the GOAT before Brady came along. His throw to Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone to beat the Cowboys in an NFC championship game ('82 I think) was the direct cause of the highest vertical jump (along with Clark) that I've ever accomplished in my lifetime. ;D ;D As a lifelong Cowboy-hater, I became an instant fan of Montana.

But Brady has surpassed all of that. Think about it. He wins 6 rings in 20 years with the Pats. He goes to TB and immediately wins a Super Bowl with THEM. The Pats don't even make the playoffs. To put the cherry on top... he goes to NE last week for a long awaited homecoming... and pulls out a victory (pretty or not so pretty... he won). In doing so, he BREAKS the career yardage record of one Drew Brees, who just happened to be a commentator at the game.

I don't think even Holllywood could write a script like that.

I think I started warming to Brady when he kept getting called for cheating, taking heat for whatever Billacheck did.. So he goes to Tampa no spygate no deflate gate, yet he picked up a ring and chucked the trophy to a different boat, that sir is not a reason to go after Tom Brady. But that was all he gave them.;D Player haters made me a Brady man!!!!!


I do wish he could have won it with Randy Moss. But with or without he wins because he has an aura I think that is similar to Michael Jordan. They literally make their teammates believe they can do better.

Side note- again. My first guitar teacher did that to me. Without him, i played average, but when he backed me on rythm? Man, I take the guitar behind the back, played with my teeth! He was my Michael Brady/Tom Jordan all in one!

Thats how great Brady is to me, he makes everyone rise to their occasion. Win the big one again...not sure how he'd take that as a means to keep playing until he looks human an entire season.
That's the last question. he has answered everything but-will he know when it is time?

You called it on rams, looking good 4-1.

Not sure of the Dolphins so I am going with Bucs for the win this weekend.
Bengals Packers both 3-1...not sure just going with the Pack as a Rodgers fan.

Oh my....no rodgers????:confused:


Can't see Pac doing much without Rodgers who is the only quarterback in history to throw for 400 career touchdowns before hitting 100 interceptions.

7-1 is a mean record. Not sure what the 2nd half will bring and how long he is out for.


The Bucs looked pretty bad last game, but considering they are 6-2, anyone can have a bad game or two...and still be formiddable.


Not sure who plays for the Lions 0-8 or the Dolphins 1-7. But we can pretty much sum up their playoff chances were done by 1/2 way through the season.

Hey @SlimTrae

How are you liking all this parity in the NFL this year? ;D I'm loving it myself. No sooner does the ESPN bandwagon attach itself to one team, when that team immediately gets derailed by some inferior team... and it's on to the next bandwagon. ;D

I know you're a Packers fan, so you must be sitting pretty with the way the season is going right now. Rodgers is as sharp as ever... and the Packer defense has improved incredibly. Right now it seems it's between the Pack and the Cardinals for top dog position in the NFC.

My own Steelers are playing at "paper-bag-over-the-head" level, getting blown out by little brother Cincinnati in an embarrassing loss. They might very well be the worst team in the division right now.

But I have a fantasy scenario to share with you.


The Buccaneers, although far from invincible, are chugging along in 1st place in the NFC South. On the other side, the Patriots are coming into form behind the genius of old man Belichick.

How COOL WOULD IT BE to have a Super Bowl showdown between the coach GOAT and the quarterback GOAT, who won all those SB rings together??

I think it would be worthy of a Hollywood script... and far and away the MOST WATCHED Super Bowl in the history of the sport.

I'm kinda rooting for it. :D

My amazement is currently the Lions.
I just looked up the QB stats to compare to Rodgers.
6 ints for Goff vs 4 for Rodgers.
Not bad, yet, there is a 600 yard disparity in passing.
23 tds vs 10 tds.

RB wise, no difference really the leading for:
Pack's A. Jones 133 caries for 564 yards just 3 tds
Lions A. Smith 140 caries for 555 yards has 4 tds.

Lions lead in takeaways Oruwaires 5(ints) to Packs 2 (ints) per Amos corner vs safety.


I guess 600 yards seperated between Rodgers and Goff is signficant, 28-- vs 2200...but outside that, amazing how one team has 9 wins and the other 0 hahahaaa

They should call it a day- Detroit can't win a division let alone a SB. Just move to another city.;D


Rodgers numbers seem average compared to Brady breathing down Car's next 3400 passing??? Damn!!!
Detroit's Oruwaries is ranked 5th on takeaways.
Rodgers ranked 11th overall to Brady ranked 2nd. Tom is just complete MasterBack. Aint no Quarter no half, is a Complete Back with those numbers.....
...at that age. He's Bernard Hopkins only with a cool & humble demeanor!

Even more amazing to me is how Detroit is winless, yet their QB aint in last place. 5 others stink worse than his numbers.

Now Pitt's BIg Ben is playing like an old guy, yet his numbers aren't that much less than Rodgers 6ints vs 4int. 300 yard disparity in passing, yet Ben per ESPN is ranked 16th. At first I wasnt sure what you meant by Steelers as of lately, ok, I see they're on a 3 game losing streak placing them 5-5.
To me that is where they are always at midseason!!! Squeezing into playoff around 10-6 or 9-7 I thought was standard for them, but then again I haven't been a full time NFL fan in about a decade 1/2.

Patriots at 8-4? Pretty good and that would be a helluva ending If Rodgers doesnt get the pack there, then I am cool with that showdown!

I guess you didn't see the Steeler-Bengal game today, then. Being 5-5 just doesn't describe getting shellacked 41-10 by the Bengals.

Detroit... meh. They're perennially bad. I even forget they're in the league.

Pittsburgh is going nowhere, so I guess seeing the Pats making a deep run wouldn't be all that bad. They'll probably trip up against either the Chiefs or Ravens (can't stand them) in the AFC... but right now they seem to have an ok probably path to the SB.

Tampa Bay's biggest hurdles in making the SB would be your Packers and the Cardinals.

A part of me is still hoping for a Brady-Belichick showdown. I'd call it the GOAT Super Bowl.

I saw the score -41-10, not the game. One sided. Again, My perspective is that good season or so-so Steelers is a hot/cold team. Rarely do they play an entire season the same. Somewhere they will look better or worse, but rarely are they on a consistent trajctory to a winning season.

All I want is an Aaron Rodgers SB. I think there is a possibilty Detroit will beat Green Bay. Say what?:o They meet last game. Big chance they will rest their starters thats why!;D

I'll be happy if the Steelers finish at .500 or just above.
But.....

Ben Roethlisberger is about 500 years old in NFL years.
The defense resembles a torn sieve.
The running game couldn't gain 100 yards breaking out of a wet paper bag.



The recent Steelers may well have been a "puttering around to a 9-7 season" kind of team.

But this is a proud franchise with a winning tradition... and seasons like this one hurt Pittsburgh more than it would hurt say... a Detroit, for instance.

Former Steeler, now sports analyst Ryan Clark pretty much said as much in ESPN over the last few days. These aren't your "usual" Steelers.

Can I blame Rodgers failure due to taking ivermectin?:confused::-\:rolleyes: JK!!!!!

13-10 Wow, How does one of the most profficient QB's in the history of the game, choke so bad in playoffs? One SB win in his 1st major year and jack nada since.

Playoff run vs 49ers Rodger is 0-4 I guess they can say I OWN YOU!:-\
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/aaron...b0b7eb1cd5f639


Well Rams-Bucs should be a good one. Bills-Chiefs I havent seen much of either team as well as Bengals who won.

Rodgers loses on the final play via botched special teams followed up by a field goal. I'm rooting for Brady now that my #1 fizzled out...again.:(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SlimTrae

I'm rooting for Brady now that my #1 fizzled out...again.:(

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Well there's always next year ....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by palmerq

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SlimTrae

I'm rooting for Brady now that my #1 fizzled out...again.:(

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Well there's always next year ....

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Well i SP ke too soon, extra time on the way, LA bet on the over for fumbles i think.


And again i speak too soon la get a good pass for a long gain and spike the ball with 4 seconds left and surely can't miss this field goal, they're not green bay after all....and he does it, fun ending

Close game alert, pitch invader dressed in red disturbs the game at the two minute warning in kansas... 4th and 13 for buffalo who were 5 down and old buffalo bill goes and gets a touchdown..then the gits go for the 3 points and it's looking unlikely and the quarter back git makes the pass..so buffalo 3 up with 1.54 left..everyone has three timeouts left.

Bloody ell, great ending to the game, I'm no NFL expert so either Great attacking or terrible defending or both :S... Kansas go up and scorea td on the first drive with a 60 yarder leaving a minute left then buffalo go and score a TD right back leaving 13 seconds :S Kansas go and score the field goal with 3 seconds left and off to extra time we go. Wild ending, Kansas score the TD in extra time so game over, seems a bit unfair that buffalo didn't get the chance to answer that but they just couldn't stop Kansas on three drives.

I think we just witnessed one of the greatest NFL playoff weekends ever! All games down to the last minute.

I was rooting for Brady myself... but man, he just had too many obstacles to overcome. Minus two of his best receivers. O-line banged up. It didn't help that the Rams have probably the most ferocious D-line in football, what between Aaron Donald and Von Miller. I was shocked that Brady was able to engineer a comeback from being down 27-3. But then, that's Brady for you.

In the Wild Card weekend I got all my predictions right. THIS weekend I crashed and burned. ;D

For next weekend I've got the Rams and the Chiefs. Felt bad for Josh Allen, man. That guy played well enough to win... but Patrick Mahomes was on the other side, so...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TofGuOnLm0A

Yeah... Dwight Smith. The same guy who says this:

https://www.awesemo.com/sideaction/f...ls-are-rigged/

"Former Bucs DB Dwight Smith Claims All Super Bowls Are Rigged"



Whenever I see a post of yours like this... I understand a little more how your mind works regarding COVID and other things in life.

You didn't like it when I labeled you a Conspiracy Theorist.

Tell me... what would you like me to label you as?

You most likely don't know jack shit about the NFL (no offense, as you're not from the States)... yet you pick up on this video made by what surely has to be a malcontent ex-football player with an axe to grind.

Either that or he's suffering from CTE.

To be clear... nobody has ever claimed that the NFL is squeaky clean. Right now there's a controversy with a former head coach that claims the owner asked him to throw games toward the end of the season.

That sort of shit probably happens in every sport.

But to randomly pick out a video that fits your "everything's a Conspiracy" agenda, well..... that just sheds light on how you tend to view everything in life.

I'd consider it sad to go through life constantly questioning even the most basic of established facts.

It's a miserable way to life, IMO.

Lost Drew Brees, lost coach Payton and now Alvin Kamara is starting Felony brawls in Vegas :p. Talk about a build back year coming. In good hands with Allen though. Like Bengals to go big Sunday

I support Cincinnati Bengals just because.

Bengals have got a cool name I'd like them to win but la will squash them with help from the refs I think.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

Yeah... Dwight Smith. The same guy who says this:

https://www.awesemo.com/sideaction/f...ls-are-rigged/

"Former Bucs DB Dwight Smith Claims All Super Bowls Are Rigged"



Whenever I see a post of yours like this... I understand a little more how your mind works regarding COVID and other things in life.

You didn't like it when I labeled you a Conspiracy Theorist.

Tell me... what would you like me to label you as?

You most likely don't know jack shit about the NFL (no offense, as you're not from the States)... yet you pick up on this video made by what surely has to be a malcontent ex-football player with an axe to grind.

Either that or he's suffering from CTE.

To be clear... nobody has ever claimed that the NFL is squeaky clean. Right now there's a controversy with a former head coach that claims the owner asked him to throw games toward the end of the season.

That sort of shit probably happens in every sport.

But to randomly pick out a video that fits your "everything's a Conspiracy" agenda, well..... that just sheds light on how you tend to view everything in life.

I'd consider it sad to go through life constantly questioning even the most basic of established facts.

It's a miserable way to life, IMO.

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i don't care if you label me anything, it's just a psychological tactic. you can just call me tic. i thought you didn't like using labels. i don't know much about the nfl at all. i put up the video because i guess the guy speaking is a former player. whatever his beef is with the nfl there will always be corruption when there is large amounts of money involved. for what it's worth i think the bengals win this year, it is the year of the tiger after all

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TIC

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

Yeah... Dwight Smith. The same guy who says this:

https://www.awesemo.com/sideaction/f...ls-are-rigged/

"Former Bucs DB Dwight Smith Claims All Super Bowls Are Rigged"



Whenever I see a post of yours like this... I understand a little more how your mind works regarding COVID and other things in life.

You didn't like it when I labeled you a Conspiracy Theorist.

Tell me... what would you like me to label you as?

You most likely don't know jack shit about the NFL (no offense, as you're not from the States)... yet you pick up on this video made by what surely has to be a malcontent ex-football player with an axe to grind.

Either that or he's suffering from CTE.

To be clear... nobody has ever claimed that the NFL is squeaky clean. Right now there's a controversy with a former head coach that claims the owner asked him to throw games toward the end of the season.

That sort of shit probably happens in every sport.

But to randomly pick out a video that fits your "everything's a Conspiracy" agenda, well..... that just sheds light on how you tend to view everything in life.

I'd consider it sad to go through life constantly questioning even the most basic of established facts.

It's a miserable way to life, IMO.

---

i don't care if you label me anything, it's just a psychological tactic. you can just call me tic. i thought you didn't like using labels. i don't know much about the nfl at all. i put up the video because i guess the guy speaking is a former player. whatever his beef is with the nfl there will always be corruption when there is large amounts of money involved. for what it's worth i think the bengals win this year, it is the year of the tiger after all

---

Yep. There's plenty of corruption in the NFL. It's so powerful, though, that it can get away with a lot of it. Dwight Smith however, is out to lunch.

The Bengals seem to be the majority's sentimental favorite this year. Truth be told I like them both. I'm leaning toward the Rams however, mostly because I'd rather Tom Brady and the Bucs have lost to the eventual SB champions. Other than that it doesn't matter. The Bengals are a refreshing team and Joe Burrow is a likable guy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TIC

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

Yeah... Dwight Smith. The same guy who says this:

https://www.awesemo.com/sideaction/f...ls-are-rigged/

"Former Bucs DB Dwight Smith Claims All Super Bowls Are Rigged"



Whenever I see a post of yours like this... I understand a little more how your mind works regarding COVID and other things in life.

You didn't like it when I labeled you a Conspiracy Theorist.

Tell me... what would you like me to label you as?

You most likely don't know jack shit about the NFL (no offense, as you're not from the States)... yet you pick up on this video made by what surely has to be a malcontent ex-football player with an axe to grind.

Either that or he's suffering from CTE.

To be clear... nobody has ever claimed that the NFL is squeaky clean. Right now there's a controversy with a former head coach that claims the owner asked him to throw games toward the end of the season.

That sort of shit probably happens in every sport.

But to randomly pick out a video that fits your "everything's a Conspiracy" agenda, well..... that just sheds light on how you tend to view everything in life.

I'd consider it sad to go through life constantly questioning even the most basic of established facts.

It's a miserable way to life, IMO.

---

i don't care if you label me anything, it's just a psychological tactic. you can just call me tic. i thought you didn't like using labels. i don't know much about the nfl at all. i put up the video because i guess the guy speaking is a former player. whatever his beef is with the nfl there will always be corruption when there is large amounts of money involved. for what it's worth i think the bengals win this year, it is the year of the tiger after all

---

Yep. There's plenty of corruption in the NFL. It's so powerful, though, that it can get away with a lot of it. Dwight Smith however, is out to lunch.

The Bengals seem to be the majority's sentimental favorite this year. Truth be told I like them both. I'm leaning toward the Rams however, mostly because I'd rather Tom Brady and the Bucs have lost to the eventual SB champions. Other than that it doesn't matter. The Bengals are a refreshing team and Joe Burrow is a likable guy.

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there is corruption whenever big money or power is involved. i can't really comment on dwight smith because i don't know him & know nothing about him. you & i both agree that corruption occurs, without being inside the inner workings it's hard to imagine how bad it is

It's SUPER BOWL Sunday!!!!!


:happy0931sb4: :dJ: :alcoholic: :play: :reporter: :beerchug: :crowd: :club:

Los Angeles get the win despite not looking too good, some questionable refereeing at the end to get them a first down but maybe it wouldn't have mattered.... Cincinnatis first touch down could also have been ruled out too to be fair.

I had no dog in the fight, but I'm glad LA won for several reasons:

1. They had beaten Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC playoffs, so if Brady had to lose... I'm glad it was to the eventual Super Bowl champions.

2. You have to feel good for Matthew Stafford, the Rams' QB. He had labored for years in the pits of the NFL (the Detroit Lions) with little support, but always with enormous talent. He finally got a great team around him... and promptly led them to the Super Bowl.

3. Joe Burrow (Bengals' QB) is a generational talent. But he's only in his 2nd year in the NFL and he'll have plenty of other opportunities. Had he won, people would've unrealistically anointed him as the next Tom Brady. That can wait.


Still... the Bengals acquitted themselves well and have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. It kinda sucks because they're in the same division as my Pittsburgh Steelers... but you gotta feel good for their rags-to-riches story.

As usually happens, I watched less of the actual football game than I do throughout all the other playoff games leading up to the Super Bowl.

That's because the SB is an "event", and you invite people over for food and drinks... and some of those people aren't really there for the game, but for the halftime show and all the commercials.

So you end up talking most of the game. :-X

Had a great time, though. Wife cooked up some air fried wings... son-in-law brought spicy crab on codfish fritters... and a brother-in-law made some terrific finger food with plenty of hot sauce involved.

Had a good beer stock, and plenty of vodka for mixed drinks. All-in-all a rousing success. ;D ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdsUKphmB3Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdsUKphmB3Y

Couldn't see it. What was it about, @Master?

The half time rap Pepsi advert which I thought was brilliant.