The official 2013 NFL thread

[rumpleforeskiin]

A Golden Sombrero: 0-4
Congratulations, Joe. Four games, four misses. The odds against that, picking at random, are 15-1. You are indeed on fire, my man. A burning house is also on fire.

With your record now an embarrassing 15-21 for the season, had you been betting 1000$ on each game you picked, you'd be down a cool 8,100$, vig included.

 

[Joe.t]

So I'm a bit rusty starting the second half, and your picks were oh brave one?.

BTW- Is Phil Simms from Massachusetts?, I swear he is the most annoying announcer in sports, I thought that announcers were supposed to be impartial, absolutely fucking terrible to say the least, next time he calls a New England game that I'm watching I am going to put the game on mute.

Big bounce back next week, I can feel it in my bones, stay tuned.:nod:

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

So I'm a bit rusty starting the second half, and your picks were oh brave one?.

My picks don't matter. I don't make them. I pull them out of a hat and, as one would expect, I get about half of them right. I don't claim to be an expert. And I don't spend my Mondays mowing my bookie's lawn like someone we know.

 

[Merlot]

A Golden Sombrero: 0-4
Congratulations, Joe.

LOL,

The big question here is: why does Joe like his hate more than money. His constant whining and picking against the Patriots is costing him his huge losses. There's nothing wrong with hating a team, but when you're too foolish to stand on that instead of using half a brain to pick the right team that will pay off for you, then you are just being nuts creating your own pain. There are some teams I can't stand, but I don't pick against my own benefit stupidly. Had Joe bet on the Patriots every week he'd be a minimum .500. But hey, why stop banging your head against a wall and supporting your bookie's home remodeling project.

Hint: The Patriots defense has 5 key injuries and some others. But when Ameandola and Gronkowski are healthy and going up against a lousy Pittsburgh team, don't be foolish enough to bet against them...unless you're a masochist. Right Joe. :noidea: Mr. Golden Sombrero stop the hate unless you love...beating yourself.

As for Merlot: I thought I was 2-1 this week with 1 push. But on rechecking the spread for the Colts game it was 2 1/2 not 3. That makes me 3-1 for the week. I've only posted picks for two weeks but I am 6-2.

Tom Brady at his finest in win over Steelers

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2...st-steelers/AK1c7PQ0zec3Ow33la0ReK/story.html

FOXBOROUGH — ESPN quarterbacks guru Ron Jaworski likes to say that the best signal-callers in the NFL can “manipulate” the defense before and during the play to move defenders out of position and maximize one-on-one matchups.

“In the NFL of 2013, quarterbacks must be able to control the game at the line of scrimmage,” Jaworski said this summer. “There are few better than Tom Brady.”

Brady had been inconsistent in the Patriots’ first eight games, throwing just nine touchdown passes against six interceptions. But Brady was a maestro in Sunday’s 55-31 win over Pittsburgh, using his eyes and his brain as much as his right arm to manipulate the chess pieces and gash the Steelers’ defense for 432 passing yards and four touchdowns, by far his best game of the season.

“He had it working today,” Steelers veteran safety Ryan Clark said. “He hit all the spots he was supposed to. If there was a weakness in the defense, Tom Brady found it.”

Brady finally had close to a full arsenal on Sunday, with Danny Amendola healthy and Rob Gronkowski back in the flow of things in his third game of the season. Whether it was coincidence, a good week of preparation, a shaky Steelers defense, or a combination of the three, Brady was more comfortable and decisive in the pocket than he has been all season. The Patriots’ 610 total yards were third most in team history, the 55 points were the most scored by an NFL team this season, and Brady’s 151.8 passer rating was the fourth highest of his career.

“When Tom’s on fire, it doesn’t really matter who’s out there,” Steelers safety Troy Polamalu said. “He did everything great quarterbacks do.”

Brady was the grand conductor, toying with the Steelers’ secondary and making veterans such as Clark, Polamalu, and Ike Taylor look silly.

For example, the first score of the game, a 34-yard pass to Danny Amendola in the first quarter. Brady took the snap, looked right, looked right, pump faked, then quickly turned left and fired a dart to a wide-open Amendola for the score. Polamalu, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, read Brady’s eyes and was way out of position once Brady made the throw.

Brady hasn’t been the best at looking off receivers this year — he stared down Gronkowski two weeks ago against the Jets, and it cost him with a pick-six — but he’s been masterful at developing the skill over 14 NFL seasons. Devin McCourty, who switched from cornerback to safety last year, said he’s been embarrassed by Brady in practice more times than he can count.

“He’s made me a lot better in the middle of the field in going against him every day and understanding how you have to try to avoid getting embarrassed by getting looked off,” McCourty said. “There have been some games this year where I have to take the ‘Brady approach,’ like when we played Drew Brees. You’ve just got to play really honest.”

Patriots radio analyst Scott Zolak commented that Brady was “absolutely abusing” Polamalu by looking him off before his throws.

“He felt the game really well today,” Clark said of Brady. “Good quarterbacks know where everybody’s going to be on the field, and when you know that, you don’t have to watch a guy for five seconds to know that he’s going to be open.”

For example, Brady’s third touchdown pass, a 17-yarder to rookie Aaron Dobson. Brady noticed Dobson, a 6-foot-3-inch receiver, lined up one-on-one against 5-10 cornerback William Gay, with no safety help. Brady took two steps and fired a perfect back-shoulder pass for a touchdown, putting the Patriots ahead, 34-24, in the fourth quarter.

“He put the ball exactly where it needed to be, and he knew exactly who to throw it to,” Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel said. “He beat us all over the place today, and it is as simple as that.”

For example, his final touchdown pass, an 81-yard bomb to Dobson. Only 5:15 remained in the game, the Patriots led, 41-31, and the Steelers were expecting the Patriots to run the ball to grind out the clock.

Brady noticed Clark cheating up toward the line of scrimmage. Dobson noticed it, too, and the duo instinctively changed the play at the line of scrimmage. Dobson pulled a quick head fake, burned right past Clark and Taylor, and was wide open when he hauled in the big pass.

“Trying to stop the run when you’re supposed to be a pass defender,” Clark said. “And when you do that against a guy like Tom Brady, he’s going to find the open man.”

The Patriots had never had three 100-yard receivers in the same game until Gronkowski (143), Dobson (130), and Amendola (122) pulled off the feat Sunday. Brady only needed 23 completions to reach 432 yards, an average of 18.8 yards per completion after averaging just 10.7 over the first eight games. Amendola was so wide open on a 57-yard catch in the second quarter that there literally wasn’t a defender within 25 yards of him.

“Well, Tom is a good quarterback,” Bill Belichick said in his usual deadpan. “He’s made a lot of good plays. He had a lot of them today.”

And when the clock finally struck all zeros, Brady had thoroughly embarrassed the Steelers and orchestrated one of the most impressive performances of his stellar career.

“He’s the most accomplished quarterback of our era,” Clark said. “We just say, ‘It’s Tom Brady.’ He did nothing we haven’t seen him do, ever. He stood tall, stared down rushers, stared down blitzers, got the ball to the open man repeatedly, that’s what you expect from him.”

“He was special today. He was that guy that’s going to get that [Hall of Fame] jacket five years after he retires.”

I figure the Patriots need only 3 wins in their last 7 games to make the playoffs, and I bet Mr Sombrero beats himself to death picking against them every time.

The lousy part of the situation is the Patriots have been a tough defensive team with a very suspect offense, but now due to a reversal in injury fortunes they should be a tough offensive team with a suspect defense. If they get it together they would be a top tier team, but with Wilfork and Mayo out for the year, and Talib with a nagging injury, that won't happen.

Cheers,

Merlot

 

[Doc Holliday]

Dolphins' Incognito called Martin 'half n-----', threatened family

Among the text messages Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito sent to Jonathan Martin are ones that call the right tackle, who is bi-racial, a ‘half n-----’, according to CBS Sports.

Other messages threaten harm to Martin’s family. In another one, Incognito threatens to defecate in Martin’s mouth.

According to ESPN, Incognito sent Martin a voicemail in April with similar remarks.

The voicemail transcribed: “Hey, wassup, you half n----- piece of s---. I saw you on Twitter, you been training 10 weeks. (I want to) s--- in your f---ing mouth. (I’m going to) slap your f---ing mouth. (I’m going to) slap your real mother across the face (laughter). F--- you, you’re still a rookie. I'll kill you.”

The Dolphins said Sunday night they have indefinitely suspended Incognito for “conduct detrimental to the team.”

The announcement came hours after the Dolphins said they and the NFL were investigating bullying and abuse allegations made by Martin.

“We believe in maintaining a culture of respect for one another and as a result we believe this decision is in the best interest of the organization at this time,” the Dolphins said.

Earlier on Sunday, the Dolphins said they had received notifications from Martin’s representative alleging that he had been repeatedly harassed by teammates.

“We are taking these allegations very seriously and plan to review the matter further. We have also reached out to the NFL and asked them to conduct an objective and thorough review,” the Dolphins said.

Martin left the team last week. The Dolphins said Coach Joe Philbin and several teammates had been in touch with him and that “Our primary concern for Jonathan is his overall health and well-being.”

The Dolphins did not elaborate on the allegations against Incognito.

In a series of Tweets, Incognito denied wrongdoing and demanded that his name be cleared.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/NFL/2013/11/04/21243406.htmll

Me thinks Mr. Incognito would love to be incognito these days.

 

[Special K]

What a piece of excrement this guy is!!

 

[Vercingentorix]

I've been a Dolphin Fan since I sat on the 30 yard line during their 17-0 Season back in the 70's. Granted that they've been a pitiful example of a team for quite some time now. Just like a Chicago Cubs fan I've hung in their waiting for their day. This Incognito situation just points to bad management and a corrupt organization. You don't have happenings like this "just appear" and you can't explain them with terms like "hazing". The NFLPA really needs to set an example here and come down hard on Dolphin Management in a very public manner. This is a seminal moment in the professionalism of the sport. Personally I'm so disgusted that I'm probably going to be adopting a new team to support. The situation is so nauseating that it puts a stain on what was (a long time ago) a fine franchise.

 

[EagerBeaver]

I kind of question why did Jonathan Martin put up with this shit and why didn't he kick Richie Incognito's ass? Usually a 6'5", 305 pound man does not allow himself to be bullied. All of the NFL veterans I have heard interviewed said this stuff is usually dealt with in house and in the lockerroom.

For things to have gone this far tells me the Dolphins coaches do not have any pulse on their lockerroom and if they don't then they are suck-ass coaches.

I have coached amateur sports (girls softball and boys basketball) and you have to know the personalities on your team and who meshes with who and nip these problems in the bud. Failure to do so on the professional level does not speak well of Joey Philbin and his staff.

 

[Vercingentorix]

EB, I have to agree with all that you've said. I think we have to look at Martin's background to get a handle on why he didn't "kick Richie Incognito's ass". I suspect that the whole story is not yet apparent. Nevertheless, I agree Dolphins Management really needs to be examined. This type of atmosphere likely goes higher than just coaching. It points to weakness in upper management as well.

 

[Merlot]

You don't have happenings like this "just appear" and you can't explain them with terms like "hazing". The NFLPA really needs to set an example...

Hello CS,

I doubt that this type of thing is totally unique with the Miami Dolphins. This episode was all over ESPN this morning, and interviews with two other players showed their attitude was that what happened was just part of the dues newer players had to pay. One guy denied the racist stuff rose to the level of a hazing. It seems impossible that anyone would even think that never mind think of dismissing the atrocious behavior on camera with the situation blowing up in front of them. I was wondering if this player was trying to play down the episode as more routine because he knew of more going on and was possibly involved? If a couple of guys feel that way I find it hard to believe there aren't more on other teams.

The whole thing is indeed disturbing when we're generally deluged with the emphasis on political correctness and harsh penalties for those who don't get it are in the news, never mind just having common sense decency. Still, it's always seemed like the football world on every level exists more in an insular bubble than any other sport. There was a terrible high school incident several years ago where some older boys at summer football on Cape Cod (Massachusetts) duck taped a guy to a bench and gave him a brutal humiliating hazing. Two of four of the offenders were expelled eventually. But the point is they thought it was okay in their little world...and this is not unique.

I have to agree with one guy on ESPN (name?) who said some in this younger generation basically ignore social standards of acceptability despite the strong correctness atmosphere, ironically. But then people like Incognito have displayed a history of abuse. The hard thing to understand is not that something like this happened, but that he was picked up by Miami despite his history. He was forced to withdraw from Nebraska, and was kicked out of Oregon after a week for his belligerent behavior. Tony Dungy said on ESPN that Incognito was marked DND (Do Not Draft) because of his issues. I don't think even Hernandez, formerly of the Patriots, had exhibited such poor tendencies before his unbelievable involvement in murder.

As I said, I wouldn't change teams. I don't think most are much cleaner than most others in some way or other.

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/...mer-Player-John-Offerdahl-Says-230712961.html

As expected, newspapers are now digging into football hazings. However, Miami papers should probably stick to their own team's issues because digging into those of other teams will come off like looking for excuses to downplay the Incognito affair.



Merlot (of the CITY OF CHAMPIONS) :thumb:

 

[Vercingentorix]

I doubt that this type of thing is totally unique with the Miami Dolphins. This episode was all over ESPN this morning, and interviews with two other players showed their attitude was that what happened was just part of the dues newer players had to pay. One guy denied the racist stuff rose to the level of a hazing. It seems impossible that anyone would even think that never mind think of dismissing the atrocious behavior on camera with the situation blowing up in front of them. I was wondering if this player was trying to play down the episode as more routine because he knew of more going on and was possibly involved? If a couple of guys feel that way I find it hard to believe there aren't more on other teams.

The whole thing is indeed disturbing when we're generally deluged with the emphasis on political correctness and harsh penalties for those who don't get it are in the news, never mind just having common sense decency. Still, it's always seemed like the football world on every level exists more in an insular bubble than any other sport. There was a terrible high school incident several years ago where some older boys at summer football on Cape Cod (Massachusetts) duck taped a guy to a bench and gave him a brutal humiliating hazing. Two of four of the offenders were expelled eventually. But the point is they thought it was okay in their little world...and this is not unique.

M,

While I fully understand that hazing is a part of the NFL Creed, I have a hard time believing that the racial slurs are an accepted part of it. Perhaps the only major sport that is more integrated than NFL Football is the NBA. I just can't accept that specific type of behavior mixed in. Further by your own comments the Dolphin Management couldn't have been without knowledge as to Incognito's issues. I suspect their overzealous efforts to finally put together a winning program simply got the best of them. The team has never really been the same after Joe Robbie passed. People forget that NFL Football is a business and that upper management has a hand in setting the tone.

I'm considering becoming a Patriots Fan.......

 

[Merlot]

People forget that NFL Football is a business and that upper management has a hand in setting the tone.

CS,

The Patriots and all teams have taken on guys who were prima dona troublemakers just because of their raw talent. Incognito's strength, aggressiveness, and skills were probably felt to be a good trade-off business-wise against his faults, and all teams will measure a guy that way. But you're so right. Why racism??? There's so many other ways to haze someone if you feel it's necessary, and going racist pushes so many automatic alarms that it's stupefying anyone would dare go that route. Not only is it social poison, but anyone can imagine what a business like a football teams fears for it's bottom line by having any connection to racism. Incognito could well just be a flagrant racist because I can't imagine anyone is idiotic enough in this age of correctness to otherwise think this could be acceptable under any circumstances.

Now for you becoming a "Patriots fan". Joe.t is crying into his JaMarcus Russell biggest failure in NFL history beer bong. :lol: I wouldn't switch if i were you, but if you feel it inside, WELCOME to the DYNASTY.



Merlot (of the City of Champions)

 

[Vercingentorix]

A quote from the Sun Sentinel yesterday:
"Miami Dolphins coaches asked player Richie Incognito, who was the offensive line's undisputed leader, to toughen up teammate Jonathan Martin after he missed a voluntary workout last spring, multiple sources told the Sun Sentinel".

If you read the story it appears that Incognito let the "hazing" get out of hand a bit. It also mentions a reason why Martin might not have come to management with the issue. IMHO, this article reinforces the idea that we have a management problem here.

 

[EagerBeaver]

V,

Incognito was following orders to toughen Martin up. The question I have for you is if the Dolphins coaching staff thought Martin was a "pussy" who needed toughening, why did they draft him in the first place? You are supposed to learn about a player's toughness before you draft him, not after, correct? Did they not talk to Martin's teammates and coaches at Stanford? Did they not vet their draft pick?

If the investigation proves that Incognito was just zealously following his orders, I would love to be Incognito's attorney on the grievance complaint against the Dolphins which you know is coming.

 

[EagerBeaver]

High School Coach: Martin personality Did Not Fit In

"Martin's high school coach, Vic Eumont, said Martin's personality did not fit in with the Dolphins crowd, according to the Palm Beach Post. Eumont was Martin's coach at Harvard-Westlake School, a private high school in Studio City, Calif. Both of Martin's parents went to Harvard University and Martin passed up on a chance to go to Harvard so he could play football at Stanford.

"Before he wasn't around Nebraska, LSU kind of guys," Eumont, a former Tulane offensive guard, told the Palm Beach Post. "He's always been around Stanford, Duke, Rice kind of players."

Eumont told the paper he hasn't spoken with Martin since he left the Dolphins last week, but sees how the Dolphins might not welcome Martin back in the locker room after Incognito's suspension.

"In locker rooms full of Nebraska, LSU, Southern Cal players, Miami players, they'll look at this as a weakness," Eumont told the paper. "If he makes it through all this, and if he was encouraged to come back, he'd come back with a vengeance."

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9...ing-weather-storm-jonathan-martin-controversy

 

[Vercingentorix]

EB,

I have to agree with your thoughts on this matter. This seems like a management issue. But let's remember that management consists of more than just a head coach. Bottom line, I'm not sure current ownership is the right fit for an NFL Franchise. If you examine my previous posts I've called management into question. Joe Robbie and Danny Thomas had a love of the game. I'm just wondering if Stephen M. Ross is the right fit. Don't get me wrong he's proved his business skills, but not everyone is right for an NFL Franchise. As a fan of 40 years I'm starting to question management. I have that right.

Here the Miami Herald questions the "Dysfuntional Miami Dolphins": http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/05/3730753/dolphins-suspend-incognito-amid.html

The real question here is whether Incognito is really getting a fair shake here? I'm torn between 1) the unacceptability of his racial slurs and 2) that it seems as though he's getting dumped upon for being a overzealous in doing what he was told. I'm guessing Philben, Martin & Incognito are in for rough rides here. Again the real failure here appears to be management (i.e. Stephen M. Ross & Co). Frankly it looks like this team is going to have to be "rebuilt once again".

On the flip side I was very impressed by Tom Brady last week......LOL

 

[EagerBeaver]

V,

Two prominent Dolphins players who are black have supported Incognito publically:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9935801/multiple-miami-dolphins-players-support-richie-incognito

If the reports are true that Incognito was told to toughen up the soft Martin by Dolphins coaches, I can't really blame him for what he reportedly did. He possibly went too far with the language, but he was not told what he should or should not say. I don't think I have any problem with Incognito calling Martin a "pussy", but the racial language probably went too far. But to me, it is not that big a deal, because it was a private conversation and the language was only intended for Martin.

It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out, but I think ultimately the coach will be blamed for not nipping this in the bud before it went this far. The management may be inept, but they likely have much less knowledge of the pulse of the team lockerroom than the coach does. If someone needs to fall on a sword it will be Joe Philbin. Who actually should fall on the sword will most likely be irrelevant.

 

[Vercingentorix]

EB,

I totally agree with you, except possibly the liability of Stephan Ross. I really have questions about his running of the organization. This appears to be where you and I differ. As to the language issue, that's really difficult. On the one hand you're correct. It was a private conversation. On the other it wasn't a mature action. Then again at 30 Incognito probably wasn't mature enough to handle it properly. And let's face it Martin might have been acting a bit like a pussy. Bottom line is that it's a sad issue and one that may cost the Dolphins more than just a coach. It may cost them some of their longtime fans. I mean who wants to cheer for a team with so many issues?....LOL

 

[EagerBeaver]

V,

The Dolphins players have overwhelmingly supported Richie Incognito, and are angered by the actions of Jonathan Martin:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9937464/miami-dolphins-players-support-richie-incognito

If you read between the lines, what they are saying is that Martin is a pussy and a backstabber. From the reports we are getting, the Dolphins coaches and players view Incognito as a strong leader in the lockerroom.

If Martin had to check into a hospital for treatment of mental trauma and his teammates and fellow OL thought Martin and Incognito were friends, it tells me Martin is maybe not cut out for pro football. I am certain we will never see him play another game with the Dolphins, and possibly he is done in the NFL. I think Incognito will return to the Dolphins. The good news for Martin is that he has a Stanford degree and now he may have to go out and get a 9 to 5 job and show that he can use that degree effectively.

 

[Merlot]

Gents,

The emerging picture is showing a number of facets. Incognito and Martin had been hangout buddies for a while, a relationship that has soured badly. The Dolphins indeed wanted to toughen up Martin, but how far they wanted that to go is unclear. It's becoming apparent that Ingconito's methods are widely approved by numerous players, and Martin, for whatever reasons did not respond in the way the team hoped and seems to have felt there was nowhere to turn for support of his grievances. The team locker room atmosphere seems to encourage behavior the outside world would call thuggish, which is probably approved of by management...whether that approval includes racially slanted personal attacks is the question. The spin by the team and management seems to be Martin isn't..."up to the program", but did Incognito go just too far?

If Incognito is a leader he's a bad one. He was let go from or dumped quickly by two college teams. The why seems to be overly aggressive bad judgment. Whatever it was, according to Tony Dungy it was more than enough for the Colts and other teams to ban Incognito from draft consideration just because of his attitude, a serious step considering NFL team's hunger for talent. Now we know that Incognito's judgement is bad enough that he thought using traceable racial slurs and threats to kill was a good motivation tool. Whatever Martin's inadequacies are, wherever Incognito goes he's generates problems and in this case, though people expect a raw and very aggressive atmosphere in NFL locker rooms, Incognito may well have positioned himself and/or the team for a civil rights lawsuit with language and behavior that has the appearance of racism and death threats.

As for Martin allegedly not being cut out for the NFL because of this episode, maybe Incognito is just an overbearing obnoxious jackass and bully. He does seem to have a history of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW9C4qi5Y80 This could be only an example of young guys being crazy, but it reminds me of the type that enjoys being a drunken dumbass.



Merlot of the City of Champions