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NFL
Jul 7, 2021 16:53:39 GMT
Post by kds on Jul 7, 2021 16:53:39 GMT
This begs the question - is the CFL is dire straits?
I barely have enough time and energy to devote to the NFL. But, I did tune in to the short lived AAF and XFL 2.0, neither of which completed a full season. Both featured very awful to mediocre levels of football.
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NFL
Jul 7, 2021 17:10:45 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jul 7, 2021 17:10:45 GMT
The ESPN article I read on it says the CFL's cancellation last year was at least in part due to not receiving emergency funds from the Canadian government, so I guess its financial outlook is, at least, not rosy. But that situation was described as COVID related, so who knows whether it's an ongoing issue or was just a problem last year.
But minor league football in general just isn't great. I think it's very different from basketball, which actually translates pretty well. I think the reasons include that:
a) basketball requires fewer people, meaning that 30 NBA teams still only comprise at most 450 players, while 32 NFL teams represent nearly 1800 players;
b) basketball requires less formal coordination between teammates than does the more complicated and scripted football; and
c) basketball lends itself better to individual or informal workouts than football.
It's just not realistic to expect hundreds of guys, even if some played at a high level in college or had some pro experience, to come together for too little money to live on and play well in a sport that requires so much time together and commitment. These guys may well--in fact likely--have day jobs in the offseason. Just imagine, then, the difference between an NFL player who is a 9-10 on the "talent scale" and who has not just the NFL season, but spring and summer sessions of workouts with teammates; and the XFL player who's a 6-8 on that same scale and who, for financial reasons, can't dedicate as much time and energy to the sport, much less doing so alongside teammates. It's a compounding problem.
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NFL
Jul 7, 2021 18:47:38 GMT
Post by kds on Jul 7, 2021 18:47:38 GMT
I know the CFL has contracted in recent years.
I think I've mentioned it here, but Baltimore had a CFL team in 1994 and 1995. The CFL Colts, who had to change their name to the Stallions. They made it to the Grey Cup both years, winning in 1995 against Dough Flutie's Calgary team. By then, the team was a lame duck with the news of the Browns move to Baltimore having leaked.
It was pretty bizarre having football in July, especially when you consider how hot and humid it can be here. That's why the majority of our home games were played at night. We actually drew 35,000-40,000 fans for those games.
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NFL
Jul 22, 2021 13:23:44 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jul 22, 2021 13:23:44 GMT
I was caught off guard this week with an increasing number of Vikings stories locally, including the sort of detailed, position-by-position recaps of team strengths and weaknesses, vets and newcomers. Why, that kind of thing is usually reserved for--
--wait a minute, it's almost training camp already! Sure enough, next week the team opens camp. Time flies.
My expectations are neutral. I don't see us as a title contender, and I don't see us as a cellar dwellar. As is so often the case, a lot is going to come down to both offensive and defensive lines. We seem better in each area, but time will tell.
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NFL
Jul 22, 2021 13:30:17 GMT
Post by kds on Jul 22, 2021 13:30:17 GMT
I was caught off guard this week with an increasing number of Vikings stories locally, including the sort of detailed, position-by-position recaps of team strengths and weaknesses, vets and newcomers. Why, that kind of thing is usually reserved for--
--wait a minute, it's almost training camp already! Sure enough, next week the team opens camp. Time flies.
My expectations are neutral. I don't see us as a title contender, and I don't see us as a cellar dwellar. As is so often the case, a lot is going to come down to both offensive and defensive lines. We seem better in each area, but time will tell.
I caught myself saying the same thing with the increase in Ravens talk on local radio lately. But, man, the season's right around the corner. I think the Ravens have a team in place that could go far, but I think it all depends on our unproven WR group. We've got a dynamic QB, very good TEs, and solid group of RBs, and I think our OL will be improved. If the WRs step up, maybe we can finally leapfrog the Chiefs in the AFC.
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NFL
Jul 22, 2021 13:43:06 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jul 22, 2021 13:43:06 GMT
Our skill positions seem really good, though the WR corps is not deep (at least with proven talent). Adam Thielen has been in low-star territory for a few years now, and Justin Jefferson looks like he might be the #1 guy already in this, his second, season. He's really good! But then we go to either Chad Beebe or Bisi Johnson in terms of returning guys, or rookie newcomer Ihmir Smith-Marsette out of Iowa. Luckily we've got several pass-catching TEs and RBs.
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NFL
Jul 22, 2021 13:51:29 GMT
Post by kds on Jul 22, 2021 13:51:29 GMT
Our skill positions seem really good, though the WR corps is not deep (at least with proven talent). Adam Thielen has been in low-star territory for a few years now, and Justin Jefferson looks like he might be the #1 guy already in this, his second, season. He's really good! But then we go to either Chad Beebe or Bisi Johnson in terms of returning guys, or rookie newcomer Ihmir Smith-Marsette out of Iowa. Luckily we've got several pass-catching TEs and RBs. As you know, the Ravens drafted Rashod Bateman, who looks like he could be an impact WR. But, in their 25 years in the league, WR is one position that the Ravens have never really hit on in the draft. Brandon Stokley (drafted in 1999) was decent, and caught a TD in Super Bowl XXXV, but was injured for a good portion of his time here. He did alright in Indy for a few seasons. Torrey Smith (drafted 2011) is probably the best one we've drafted, and he a big part of the Super Bowl XLVII championship. We acquired Sammy Watkins, who could play a role that Derrick Mason, Anquan Bolden, and Steve Smith did here in the past if he can stay on the field. Marquise Brown can hopefully build on the good second half he had last season. Then, we have speedster Devon Duvernay, who never really got acclimated to the offense last season. Maybe a full camp and full preseason (now just three games) will help.
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NFL
Jul 22, 2021 18:09:40 GMT
Post by kds on Jul 22, 2021 18:09:40 GMT
This is potentially big news from the NFL, saying that if there's a COVID outbreak among unvaccinated players on a team, and the game cannot be rescheduled within the 18 week regular season, the team with the outbreak could be forced to forfeit. www.nfl.com/news/nfl-covid-19-outbreaks-unvaccinated-players-forfeit-cancelled-gameI would hope this rule won't have to used as the league was able to get all of their games in last year, albeit with some crazy scheduling and some pretty wonky rosters being used at times.
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NFL
Jul 23, 2021 18:00:01 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jul 23, 2021 18:00:01 GMT
Along those lines, Vikings OL coach/running game coordinator Rick Dennison is reportedly out after refusing to be vaccinated. He is considered "Tier 1 personnel," and they are required to be vaccinated unless they can demonstrate legit religious or medical reasons otherwise.
I wonder what his reasoning is. Seems like a pretty harsh penalty to accept just to be stubborn about making a point.
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NFL
Jul 24, 2021 11:47:11 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 24, 2021 11:47:11 GMT
Along those lines, Vikings OL coach/running game coordinator Rick Dennison is reportedly out after refusing to be vaccinated. He is considered "Tier 1 personnel," and they are required to be vaccinated unless they can demonstrate legit religious or medical reasons otherwise.
I wonder what his reasoning is. Seems like a pretty harsh penalty to accept just to be stubborn about making a point.
I don't think we've heard the last of this story. I am very, very surprised to read/hear how athletes and now coaches are willing to sacrifice their, in some cases, million dollar careers over their...convictions...about the vaccine. It's an incredible human interest story.
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NFL
Jul 24, 2021 12:02:43 GMT
kds likes this
Post by Kapitan on Jul 24, 2021 12:02:43 GMT
Indeed, the story continues! This morning's Star Tribune reports that Dennison has not yet been terminated, and the Vikings are "in discussions" with him. His agent says he looks forward to coaching the team this season. Most interesting to me were three little words in the team's statement, that he doesn't have either a religious or medical exemption "at this time" that would allow him to remain unvaccinated. That makes me suspect he's going to get a doctor's note or speak of some "deeply held religious convictions" sooner than later.
The same story says the Vikings are probably around 70% vaxxed, but prominent players Adam Thielen and Harrison Smith are among the unvaxxed.
It is interesting that players who commit serious violence against one another for a living, who undergo surgery after surgery to repair damage, and who risk serious brain injury every single week (even if they aren't actually injured in the game, just from the cumulative effects of playing) are willing to stand their ground about an apparently safe vaccine from an obviously unsafe virus.
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NFL
Jul 24, 2021 13:44:51 GMT
via mobile
carllove likes this
Post by kds on Jul 24, 2021 13:44:51 GMT
Maybe these teams should tell these unvaxed players and Tier 1 level coaches that they're going out for ice cream....just to divert to a vax clinic.
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NFL
Jul 26, 2021 16:51:13 GMT
Post by kds on Jul 26, 2021 16:51:13 GMT
I just read a rumor that the Ravens are trying to recruit Chandler Jones, who requested a trade from Arizona.
I'd love to see the Ravens bring in a pass rusher.
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NFL
Jul 26, 2021 16:58:59 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 26, 2021 16:58:59 GMT
Something good is happening and I can't believe the owners pulled it off. For every day a player holds out or misses a day of summer practice, they are fined $50,000 per day - and it can't be waived or refunded. In the past, players would build up these huge "tabs" by missing days and weeks of practice, only to have the team waive the fine or "forgive it". You knew the teams hated doing that but they had to kiss the players' asses. Now, it's a league-wide rule so the players can't get around it. At least I don't think they can.
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NFL
Jul 26, 2021 17:06:49 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jul 26, 2021 17:06:49 GMT
The Texans have finally apparently ceded to Deshaun Watson's trade request ... but by their asking price, they seem to be ignoring the fact that he has about two dozen sexual assault-related lawsuits proceeding against him. I don't think five high picks and/or starters is something many teams will be willing to part with for a guy who might not be able to play (and who, even if he can play, is a P.R. disaster).
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