American Football originated from a game called "Old Division Football" played by a number of Ivy League universities in the late 1800s. This, according to Wiki, "was an indigenous soccer-like game. The game was first played before modern soccer and rugby were invented in England, and it continued to rely on its own local rules for some time after students learned of the newer imports. Dartmouth students published the rules of what is now called Old Division Football in 1871." The game then evolved towards rugby (handling superceding kicking) before shifting to become American Football as we now know it.

Strange times in Miami right now. Harrington and McMichael cut, Welker off to the Saints, talk of us signing Joey Porter... at the moment I'm not feeling too hot about next season. Or the one after that...

It's worse than that Ben, Welker's gone to New England, not New Orleans.

Doesn't look as if McMichael is a cut & restructure either. :(

Sorry - Meant to type Pats - Saints wouldn't have been so much of a big deal as they're not a divisional rival!!

Weird happenings indeed.

What the •••• is going on? You don't just cut Randy Mac. He's surely got some value.

Wes is probably a big loss too, although for the money, I wouldn't have matched the Pats.

What's the deal with Porter? What's the point?

We need some young signings fast. There's a lot of gaps which need filling. 10-15 players are realistically needed.

What I don't understand is when you cut a QB and a TE and lose a WR/KR do you spend the money you've saved on defence? It doesn't make sense.

Fred Smoot's come back to the Skins - he should never have left - and we've got rid of our crap kicker Hall, so I'm pleased :)

Very pleased with getting Nate Clements. First shutdown corner SF have had since Deion Sanders........ SB that year! :)

Michael Lewis adds some oomph to the secondary also. That's two big hitters in there at 209 and 225 lbs respectively. I think (hope) Philly will regret losing him, an intriguing acquisition.

Next up some depth to the nose tackle in Aubrayio Franklin and a prospective pass rusher from OLB in Tully Banta-Cain (great name

:p ). Looks like we can finally implement that 3-4 after two years of trying.

Finally Ashlie Lelie at WR. Another intriguing signing, adding real speed but also inconsistency.

Still, at least we have another 8 picks in the first four rounds of the draft. :D

Perhaps we can trade Kwame Harris to Washington as they take all our cast offs now........... Andre Carter, Mike Rumph and Brandon Lloyd. You never know we may get their one remaining pick....... No.1. :D

Guess the Vikes are getting rid of everyone involved in the loveboat incident. At least they'll be the best behaved team with a losing record.

With the draft being about five weeks away, what are the areas that need to be addressed in your teams? In addition, what players would you (realistically) like to draft?

With regards to San Fran, we have addresses a few needs through FA, which makes the draft process a little easier. We do need to address the defensive line though, acquiring a DE/NT to enable a firm transition to a 3-4. Here I would like Carriker or Okoye (DE) or Branch (DT). Furthermore a MLB would be useful as we are a little thin there. Willis if it is with our first pick.

On the offense, a decent physical possession receiver is paramount to add depth and competition and a useful back up to Frank Gore at RB. Finally, another tackle for the OL is needed for depth. These would be addressed in 2nd/3rd and 4th rounds.

Offense and defense for the Redskins - but a fit Clinton Portis will help the offense at least and hopefully last season's playbook chaos will calm down. Just need to throw the ball to Lloyd and Randle El more.

Smoot's return on defense will help but the Skins didn't force many turnovers last season (only six interceptions, I think, all season) so the secondary needs to be sorted out. Signing London Fletcher at MLB is good as well.

I'd like the Skins to draft a 1st round QB to give Campbell some proper competition but doubt they will which is a shame, because if Campbell flops, it's back to Brunell and five yard passes on 3rd and long

I see we're now courting Trent Green. Why?!

We already have one ageing past his best quarterback in Daunte Culpepper. And the way free agency has gone over the last few weeks, there's a fair chance Brady Quinn will still be around at pick nine. So why not wait to see how the draft pans out before making a move for another veteran QB?

Weird stuff. A trade for Green is a waste of a draft pick IMHO.

I took delivery of my San Fran 49ers shirt yesterday :lux:

Kitbag.com are doing a sale on NFL shirts, their range is limited but they're 30 quid off, so not bad! :p

Just bought a stitched Pepale Eagles shirt.

And a stitched, personalised (!) Mean machine one.

£47 total. Bargain.

Sorry, for a minute there I forgot to mention...

Trent Green!!!

I have my smilies thingy off, but I'm desperate to bang my head very very hard.

How moronic.

i dont see quin going as far as 9 at all, if one of the top 3 dont want him him i certainly would expect someone to trade up for him.

oh and if i had to say i think detriot will take him.

There's no doubting Detroit should take him (assuming Oakland nab Jamarcus Russell)... but knowing Matt Millen, they'll do something wacko instead. Like taking Calvin Johnson just to continue that baffling wide receiver obsession of his.

The trouble is i think Johnson is the standout player in the draft! Maybe detriot would be looking to trade down to aviod the problem altogether?