***OFFICIAL NFL Opener Thread***

[gwballin]

I really wanted the Steelers to beat the Saints. I wanted to maintain that cushion between them and the Falcons during the birds' bye-week. Damn the Saints' playing up or down to their opponents this season...

How do you feel about TB this weekend?

[0rion]

one good thing is the quality of pictures and jokes that come out of this.......

[FasstChevys]

I understand what you are saying, and I would agree with you if this was college we were talking about. With this being professionals and them making enormous salaries, I would not continue to blow my hard earned money paying for ticket prices to watch this circus act. They clearly have not done the work they should have done. Why support their lackluster effort?

I don't think they need increased money to improve, they have plenty of capital.

Good points by you and Cloven - and don't think I am sitting idle and just 'letting it happen' - I'm not happy about what's going on here either. The Vikings need to get rid of their coach too. I think yesterday was pretty much the only game this season that the Vikings didn't really have at least a chance to win at the end of the game. I am blaming the coaching staff(mainly Childress) for the majority of their sub-par record.

I agree with the 'circus act' analogy - and at the same time, I'm still a fan. That's another thing - if everyone thought this way, and didn't go to the games......they'd probably just move. To me, that'd be worse. Hell, look at the Tampa Bay Rays and their attendance. It's not exactly the 'same', but, it's just more of an example. There has to be some kind of a common ground is all I'm saying.

[Schmalgar]

How do you feel about TB this weekend?

I haven't got to watch much of their games, so I don't have a good feel for what they've been doing, other than the obvious that they have the same 5-2 record as the Falcons...

[clovenhooves]

Good points by you and Cloven - and don't think I am sitting idle and just 'letting it happen' - I'm not happy about what's going on here either. The Vikings need to get rid of their coach too. I think yesterday was pretty much the only game this season that the Vikings didn't really have at least a chance to win at the end of the game. I am blaming the coaching staff(mainly Childress) for the majority of their sub-par record.

I agree with the 'circus act' analogy - and at the same time, I'm still a fan. That's another thing - if everyone thought this way, and didn't go to the games......they'd probably just move. To me, that'd be worse. Hell, look at the Tampa Bay Rays and their attendance. It's not exactly the 'same', but, it's just more of an example. There has to be some kind of a common ground is all I'm saying.

No, in a big market, most likely the team would be sold to a local. That's how fans force out bad ownership.

[Y2KPewterSS]

one good thing is the quality of pictures and jokes that come out of this.......

Quality pictures

[FasstChevys]

No, in a big market, most likely the team would be sold to a local. That's how fans force out bad ownership.

This isn't Zygi's fault at all - he's gone out and spent a TON of money to get the talent here.

That wasn't what the discussion was about anyway, was it?

[SMWS6TA]

one good thing is the quality of pictures and jokes that come out of this.......

As a die hard Cowboy fan......that's funny

[Y2KPewterSS]

"McNabb is not the answer." It's good to see that Shanahan knows. Not good that Grossman is the backup. Get a younger, cheaper journeyman to start next year.

And please don't get Cutler
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...8&sportCat=nfl

I have great news for you and all Redskins fans alike. Washington is attempting to join the Dallas and Minnesota "We suck so we stir the drama" club.

The Redskins worked out Jamarcus Russell today. If they are FN IGNORANT enough to give that bum a chance, they deserve to never win a game again.

Shanahan will lose all credibility as a head coach if they sign Russell. Grossman is better than Russell.

[Schmalgar]

You have got to be kidding? Say you're kidding...

[clovenhooves]

I heard that. I'm okay with it, if it means Grossman is released and Russell (more potential) becomes the third-stringer - or Russell is only added to the practice squad. Neither option seems likely, and I don't foresee the Redskins carrying four quarterbacks. In other words, I don't know why Russell is getting a look.

[Y2KPewterSS]

You have got to be kidding? Say you're kidding...

I am not kidding, nor would I kid about something that insanely retarded, here is the link, check out the comments below the article, they are amusing.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5755858

I heard that. I'm okay with it, if it means Grossman is released and Russell (more potential) becomes the third-stringer - or Russell is only added to the practice squad. Neither option seems likely, and I don't foresee the Redskins carrying four quarterbacks. In other words, I don't know why Russell is getting a look.

I would assume they are considering cutting Grossman, but seriously, there has probably never been a worse QB in the history of the NFL than Russell. There is no point in looking at him.

[Schmalgar]

I would assume they are considering cutting Grossman, but seriously, there has probably never been a worse QB in the history of the NFL than Russell. There is no point in looking at him.

Russell has the kind of career that Ryan Leaf could only dream of...

[Y2KPewterSS]

Russell has the kind of career that Ryan Leaf could only dream of...

I think the Skins like the idea of chasing the Drama train the Vikes and Cowboys are on. If they added Russell to the McNabb-Shanahan & Haynesworth mix, lookout

[clovenhooves]

"The Redskins routinely invite out-of-work players for workouts on Tuesdays." The article also mentions Losman, another QB with an awful history.

A longer list of try-out names:
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...irst-rounders/

Management does seem to like over-the-hill veterans, but it's not as though they get big playing time.

[0rion]

I think the Skins like the idea of chasing the Drama train the Vikes and Cowboys are on. If they added Russell to the McNabb-Shanahan & Haynesworth mix, lookout

I watched NFL live today and was trying to think if I remembered a time when there has been so much time and energy spent on such shitty teams. I'm sure there is every year but this year for some reason the drama feels like it's upstaging the games every week. Washington is 4-4 so they're at least at .500 but come on......does every week have to be spent talking about this internal BS?

[Y2KPewterSS]

I watched NFL live today and was trying to think if I remembered a time when there has been so much time and energy spent on such shitty teams. I'm sure there is every year but this year for some reason the drama feels like it's upstaging the games every week. Washington is 4-4 so they're at least at .500 but come on......does every week have to be spent talking about this internal BS?

The drama talk is because its the big market teams sucking ass this year and a lot of the small market teams that usually aren't good, are actually good this year and they don't want to talk about those teams. TB, KC, Rams, Lions should all be talked about for the efforts they have put forth to improve which is showing on the field. But all these asswipe announcers would rather talk about the big market teams drama blah blah blah

You are right though, too much time being spent talking about the shit teams of the league this year(Dallas)

[Schmalgar]

Yep I think you're right. Certain teams are just supposed to be good, and we talk about how good they are. Certain teams are just supposed to be bad, and we talk about them being bad. The football commentary world doesn't know what to do when they reverse roles...

[FasstChevys]

This week's picks:

ATL over TB (should be a good game)
BAL over MIA
BUF over CHI (upset pick)
NO over CAR
NE over CLE
NYJ over DET (might be a better game than I think)
SD over HOU
MIN over ARI
NYG over SEA
OAK over KC
PHI over IND
GB over DAL
PIT over CIN

[0rion]

This week's picks:

ATL over TB (should be a good game)
BAL over MIA
BUF over CHI (upset pick)
NO over CAR
NE over CLE
NYJ over DET (might be a better game than I think)
SD over HOU
MIN over ARI
NYG over SEA
OAK over KC
PHI over IND
GB over DAL
PIT over CIN

we have a bunch that are the same but I did take a gamble or two trying to bump Luos out of the lead I've tried that before and had it backfire on me but it's a gamble you have to take.....you have to get a few of those picks no one else took. I moved up big last week so I'm hoping to hit again this week.