The truth is, the NFL is just a great league. It's an object lesson in how a professional sport should be run on almost every level. It's competitive, exciting, and dramatic on the field; there is in general an equitable player distribution system (via the draft) which ensures that in the main, everyone's time comes unless they shoot themselves in the foot or they are called Detroit, and most of all, it's a league that understands it's own product so they don't play too many games and every match is an event. Sure, NFL gets far more right than wrong. Now, I can't wait for the draft and season 2007.

(Of course, the one silver lining to Sunday is that I ought to be able to come home on Thursday with loads of cheap Bears gear which I suspect will now be heavily discounted. Memo to self: hit shops tonight.)

I always tell mates who don't like it how the Cowboys, in the 90s, went from a 1&15 season to Superbowl winners about three seasons later.

Every team has a chance, you can't say that about the Premiership

And I find every weekend exciting with NFL - no matter what teams I watch. It doesn't matter if the Skins aren't on, I'll still watch and enjoy the games, and they're all exciting

Sorry, Bolton v Wigan don't have the same effect on me

Colts had the ball 38 minutes. It's amazing they only scored 29 points

If the Bears could have got one or two drives that lasted a several minutes and kept Manning of the field, they might have stood a chance

Watch this thread return to talking about the Detroit Lions again. ;)

I'm not sure this is relevant, but on noticing the news of the Liverpool takeover today (and not because the buyers were American, either) it got me to thinking about the strength of the NFL and how that league zealously protects ownership and, indeed, litmus tests anyone who wants to buy a franchise (which is next to impossible.) Is it accidental that -- although it's run like an old boys club -- the game is wildly healthy, ever more successful, and simultaneously run by people who really understand and love the game?

I have nothing against the new owners of Liverpool personally, but it seems to me that the Premiership (the organisation itself) has simply destroyed football. Teams are bought and sold to the highest bidder with no regard to intent, there is no discipline whatsoever in the game via a strong office of the commissioner and no desire whatsoever to do anything to further the common good of the sport; only to make sure the richest remain in their present, elevated position.

Watching the Super Bowl and the England--Scotland rugby game this weekend, I realise more and more that I care about Palace because that's what I've done for 39 years but, in reality, I am barely even interested in football anymore. It's a rubbish sport, badly run, played by self-obsessed prima donnas and owned by tasteless dilletantes (at best.) The fact that Sepp Blatter sits at the games pinnacle says it all. What a tragedy that we (collectively) have allowed the national sport to become a third rate joke.

I agree. Not much football outside of Palace really interests me anymore, basically for those reasons you've stated

If Palace, the England rugby team and a regular season NFL game were on at the same time, watching Palace would be my third choice without hesitation.

I'm afraid to say that I'm in total agreement with you.

This endorsement of Peter Taylor has been bought to you by the letters, N, F and L, and the number XLI.

That's definitely one part of it. But the game of football in England has become so impoverished, tacky, run down. I know there were some comments about Christianity a page or two ago but really, when I look at Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith they both have a stature, a bearing, a demeanour, I don't know, that suggests real pride and class (in the true sense of the word.) I mean, these are guys you could follow into battle and who you could look up to. Peter Taylor I wouldn't follow into the gents.

Both came from disadvantaged backgrounds yet both are calm, professional, they present themselves well, they know how to express things. Compare that to Simon Jordan, a complete yob who is little more than an embarassment whether he saved CPFC or not. Or Peter Taylor, who can barely construct a sentence in his native tongue.

It amazes me that we English act as if we're superior to Americans when the truth is anything but. To watch the Super Bowl was, on so many levels, simply embarassing. I know I've gone off on a tangent again but, increasingly, I am just utterly fed up with the fact that both football, and England, have gone down the tube.

Palace are still my first choice by a country mile, but I have little interest in watching other matches

The only Premiership football I've seen this season was the second half of Spurs v man Utd on Sunday

I know ou are a big fan, But so is Jason :D Im sure he was amused by your post, you seem very knowledgable, but Jason is an old dog, living in the States and working in the media as a sports Journo means teaching that old dog new tricks wouldnt be possible :D

Its amusing though, he normally puts us all to shame so having someone counter him quite alot is enjoyable, keep up the technical talk everyone.... its v v interesting and this thread is one of my Fav's on here, looking forward to next season :)

I'm not old... or a dog for that matter. ;)

I love the chat, analysis and banter. But when it comes to the Bears, I'm right, you're wrong. Deal with it :D

TJ1 CB2

Nuff said. Next season may be a differnt story though...

;)

woof

Giants fans are really excited about the Colts win. Now at dinner, Peyton can tell Eli how to win the big one. Or even a meaningful one.

Didn't Eli have the 3rd highest QB rating this year? Funny how the stats never show it all...

I'm with you.

Thanks to Sky Plus, I've only missed a couple of all the televised NFL games all season and watching them over the course of Sunday and Monday evenings has been a fixture of my weekly routine over the last five months. As Nookie says, every match is interesting, and something spectacular can happen on every play. So I'm going to be lost without it for the next six months. I'll have to rely on Madden, NCAA and Front Office Football to keep me going.

So true! I'm already looking forward to the draft; at least we can have a couple of months of speculation and analysis related to that.

Brunell for the Redskins was summat like No6 QB until he was benched :eek:

Don't forget that for football you get to be really excited about the combine and draft!!

And the combine is just months away!!!! ;)