Football Thread NFL & CFL

[aeroplane]

Originally Posted by Lord Grendel If the Patriots are done, then I expect Brady to ask for a trade at the end of the season, they have had a great run and stayed near the top for almost 10 years, that is unbelievable in today's league to me.

If he does, then I'd be curious to see how well he actually functions on a different team in a different system.

I was a fan of him from the moment he replaced Bledsoe, but over the past couple of years I've started to cool on Brady and think he isn't the same guy who took over for Bledsoe. Obviously he has had a lot going on in his personal life since then, but I think in a way he has forgotten where he came from a little.

[Fever]

Sad day for the Wolfpack Nation down here in North Carolina
Yesterday former N.C.State player Dennis Byrd died from a heart attack he suffered while undergoing back surgery.He was 63.Byrd is being inducted into the College Football Hall Of Fame in December and is one of the few State players to have his number retired.He played for State from 1964 to 1967 .He played as a defensive tackle for the Boston Patriots for two years before retiring because of injuries

Kaye Cowher,wife of former Steelers coach Bill Cowher,died today at the age of 54 from skin cancer.She met Bill at N.C.State when he was on the football team and she was on the women's basketball team.
Kaye Cowher, wife of former Steelers coach, dies at age 54

[aeroplane]

Originally Posted by Fever Kaye Cowher,wife of former Steelers coach Bill Cowher,died today at the age of 54 from skin cancer.She met Bill at N.C.State when he was on the football team and she was on the women's basketball team. Kaye Cowher, wife of former Steelers coach, dies at age 54

Saw that today, RIP Kaye. It does make me sad considering that Bill pretty much left coaching to spend more time with his family and this happens.

With that said, if we have any Bills fans here, who do you think is going to be their starting QB this season or who do you feel should be? I put in my vote for Brohm.

[Foxhound]

From one standpoint kicker/punter is among the most desireable careers in professional team sports. Kickers generally don't absorb nearly the physical punishment of other football players which saves their bodies from career shortening wear and tear. As a result, some of these fellows can still be playing and drawing comfortable salaries into their mid-forties.

With that plus, however, comes one noticeable drawback - that being the pressure of being in the spotlight. On frequent occasions the entire game can hinge on the kicker making a last play of the game field goal. How horrible must it feel to miss? How dreadful must it be then for the kicker to face his teammates in the locker room?

A case in point I'll always remember is the situation faced by the Edmonton Eskimos rookie kicker Jerry Kauric in 1987. The Eskimos were trailing the Toronto Argonauts 36-35 in the Grey Cup championship game with less than ten seconds to play. The Eskimos had the ball on the Argonauts 42 yard line. In comes Jerry Kauric to attempt a 49 yard field goal. As they line up for the kick, Hector Pothier, the Eskimos' bearded 320 pound all-star offensive tackle, turns around and says "If you miss this one kid I'm going to kill you". How's that for pressure?

Fortunately for all concerned but the Toronto Argonauts and their fans, Jerry hit the 49 yarder and the Eskimos won the Grey Cup game 38-36.

Hector Pothier

[aeroplane]

Originally Posted by Foxhound From one standpoint kicker/punter is among the most desireable careers in professional team sports. Kickers generally don't absorb nearly the physical punishment of other football players which saves their bodies from career shortening wear and tear. As a result, some of these fellows can still be playing and drawing comfortable salaries into their mid-forties. With that plus, however, comes one noticeable drawback - that being the pressure of being in the spotlight. On frequent occasions the entire game can hinge on the kicker making a last play of the game field goal. How horrible must it feel to miss? How dreadful must it be then for the kicker to face his teammates in the locker room? A case in point I'll always remember is the situation faced by the Edmonton Eskimos rookie kicker Jerry Kauric in 1987. The Eskimos were trailing the Toronto Argonauts 36-35 in the Grey Cup championship game with less than ten seconds to play. The Eskimos had the ball on the Argonauts 42 yard line. In comes Jerry Kauric to attempt a 49 yard field goal. As they line up for the kick, Hector Pothier, the Eskimos 320 pound all-star offensive tackle, turns around and says "If you miss this one kid I'm going to kill you". How's that for pressure? Fortunately for all concerned but the Toronto Argonauts and their fans Jerry hit the 49 yarder and the Eskimos won the Grey Cup game 38-36. Hector Pothier

With that said, I'd think being the punter is where it is at in the NFL. You don't have to get it through the uprights and even if you have a bad punt, it won't necessarily cost you the game.

After all, the field goal kicker vs the punter, at least in the NFL, is two completely different roster spots.

[Foxhound]

Originally Posted by Aeroplane After all, the field goal kicker vs the punter, at least in the NFL, is two completely different roster spots.

With the smaller rosters in the CFL, coaches love to find a fellow who can do both jobs. About half succeed.

[aeroplane]

Originally Posted by Foxhound With the smaller rosters in the CFL, coaches love to find a fellow who can do both jobs. About half succeed.

I actually agree with that, because it isn't unreasonable to expect a guy to do kickoffs, field goals and punts. However, I have an acquaintance who is a extended/distant relative of former Buffalo kicker Scott Norwood and knows him (no kidding I've seen pictures of him with Norwood).

Apparently he once asked Norwood why NFL kickers don't necessarily do the punting duties. I guess Norwood told him it is a completely different leg motion and kicking a football both ways in the same game can mess up your mechanics meaning you might end up screwing up your kicks, punts or both.

Somebody correct me if this is wrong.

If I remember right, NFL teams only have rosters of about 53 players, of which only 45 can actually be considered "active" and "dressed" to play in a particular NFL game (the remaining guys are inactives).

The sad thing about this fact is that every year there are at least a couple of NFL teams who have three kickers on an active roster. One to only do field goals and extra points, another one who is there just as a punter and then a third guy who is there only to do kickoffs at the start of a half or after a score. Not to mention some NFL teams also use a roster spot on a guy who is there only to perform "long snaps" (other teams have a player at another position who is able to do long snaps).

I have seen an NFL team or two waste a roster spot on a guy who does nothing but hold the ball for field goals/extra points (and is unable to play any other positions) instead of just using the backup quarterback like teams typically do.

Then again, I've also seen an NFL team from about 10 years ago (may have been the 49'ers) go through an entire season with 5 quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.

[Foxhound]

I'm not at all pleased with the start of my Edmonton Eskimos this football season. They're 1-5. Yesterday evening with a 28-22 lead late in the game they allowed the Toronto Argonauts to march down the field on a 14-play, 94-yard drive to score a touchdown with just 23 seconds left on the clock. Final score, Toronto Argonauts 29 Edmonton Eskimos 28.

[ComfortablyNumb]

My Jets look like they should be good this year, but who knows how that will turn out.

College Football wise I am a Notre Dame fan, but I rather watch a team in the SEC. SC Gamecocks.

I'll watch who ever is playing though so haha idc those are just my teams I hope do well.

[Foxhound]

Originally Posted by aeroplane Apparently he once asked Norwood why NFL kickers don't necessarily do the punting duties. I guess Norwood told him it is a completely different leg motion and kicking a football both ways in the same game can mess up your mechanics meaning you might end up screwing up your kicks, punts or both.

Now that all field goal kickers boot soccer style, the mechanics are indeed very different and the muscles involved are somewhat different as well. Quite a few CFL kicker/punters over the years in the CFL have, however, demonstrated that the skills are most certainly not mutually exclusive. Check the stats of Lui Passaglia over his brilliant 25 year career with the British Columbia Lions:

---- FA FM PRCT LG PTS AVG.

1976 49 28 57.1 50 143 41.4
1977 53 40 75.5 48 123 44.4
1978 44 37 84.1 50 128 46.6
1979 45 32 71.1 50 133 47.3
1980 46 31 67.4 54 128 43.3
1981 40 27 67.5 45 141 46.0
1982 35 26 74.3 48 142 40.9
1983 59 43 72.9 52 117 50.2
1984 48 35 72.9 54 125 46.4
1985 55 37 67.3 54 140 44.9
1986 56 39 69.6 49 138 41.2
1987 66 52 78.8 49 161 41.2
1988 20 14 65.0 46 101 40.1
1989 51 37 72.5 53 154 41.2
1990 39 25 64.1 50 081 39.1
1991 59 44 74.6 54 111 41.5
1992 38 28 73.7 49 119 40.3
1993 47 35 74.5 52 116 39.8
1994 36 28 77.8 46 069 39.8
1995 62 45 72.6 49 133 38.6
1996 53 36 67.9 50 131 41.9
1997 45 35 77.8 50 114 41.3
1998 66 52 78.8 51 130 44.1
1999 47 30 63.8 47 140 42.0
2000 44 40 90.9 49 124 38.8

LEGEND

FA = Field Goals Attempte
FM = Field Goals Made
PRCT = Percentage of Successful Field Goal Attempts
LG = Longest Field Goal Kicked
PTS = Punts
AVG. = Average Punt Length

Note that he recorded his highest successful field goal percentage in the 25th and last year of his career! His punting average had started to slip with age though....

[ecisgod]

I like the Ticats in the CFL (I live in Hamilton) - hate the Argos!

I'm a huge Chicago Bears fan and I look forward to them having a better season than last year and hopefully make the playoffs. I hate the Packers and the Vikings (Obviously)

[Vic2010]

How do you guys feel about the NFL going to an 18 game regular season? I heard some discussion about this on Thursday night before the game. I personally don't like the idea but at the same time, the pre-season has got to be the time of the NFL season that seems to go on forever. Four pre-season games is too much. It's rediculous actually. I think it's just another way for the NFL to squeeze more cash out of TV.

[Fever]

Well I guess it was inevitable that they would expand the season.They pretty much charge full price for the preseason games anyway and most of those are on tv.They would just eliminate two of those and expand the season.

From 1947 to 60 they played 12 games then from 1961 to 1977 it was 14.Then in 1978 the league went to 16 games so I guess it's about time to add more games.

But what they really need to worry about is next year and make sure there isn't a strike or lockout.

[aeroplane]

Hasn't been mentioned yet, but I do find it quite shocking how Matt Leinart has gone from being the "expected" starter at quarterback for the Cardinals to being on the verge of getting cut within a space of a few weeks.

I just find it strange that virtually every head coach who inherits a quarterback that was there before him feels the need to either bury the guy on the depth chart or run him out of town.

[Lord Grendel]

I am also at a lost to explain the Patriots lagging in dealing with Brady's contract, there is no way in hell either he or Manning should be making less than Bradford...I know they are all overpaid but he has Earned the benefit of the doubt and left a lasting legacy that the Patriots desperately needed to end years of futility.

Leinart's biggest mistake in the eyes of pro-scouts/GM's was staying in school his final year, they have never gotten over that and it hurt him on every level in the NFL. I doubt that Derek Anderson is going to take the Cards to the promised land anyway. I think Leinart will ask for a release or a trade, he needs a new start.