Panthers were also in new territory last year, joining the ranks of the clubs stuck in 'no franchise QB' purgatory for the first time since drafting cam. It's somewhere you want to escape from ASAP. That said, Rhule is a process driven rebuilder of programs so I don't think they'd make this move as part of a 'win now' roll of the dice. It's certainly something you'd expect of the Raiders or Cowboys.

But I could see them going for it simply dependent on their evaluation of Bridgewater. He was doing alright until he got injured, putting the Panthers right back in Cam territory with a QB underperforming every time he gets busted up. If fit, he could do the placeholder role until they draft a legit QB, but drafting a legit QB is very hit or miss. Theoretically the Panthers could burn more picks searching for this promised land than they might just getting the real thing immediately.

Very interesting.

Where is Jimmy Clausen these days? :vader:

Saints are gonna struggle next season with their cap situation.

Panthers get Watson, CMC back and firing, maybe a decent draft if there’s any good picks left after the Watson trade, and a playoff push is very achievable.

Panthers were way more competitive than their win loss indicates.
Just having CMC out there could have been enough for 4-5 more wins.

Would love it if Carolina got DW

Come on Packers.....

Rodgers bottles it again

I think Matt LaFleur gets some blame here for his mind-numbing decision making at the end. I mean, Rodgers went 33/48 at 10ypc with 3TDs and 1 Int. No running game hurt more than Rodgers. Of course, going down in the 1st Half didn't help.

I don't think that's entirely fair, dannyboy. Don't get me wrong, it's always good to see Green Bay fail (though it's even more fun to see Brady lose) but you cannot just the QB for that.

All you need to know.

What the **** is this quote? Sounds like something a coach from the 60s would have said.

Harsh. His receivers dropped about 3 passes which were massive plays including the 2 point attempt. I think the biggest error he made was not picking up the open man in the endzone when he threw to the double covered fella instead. Brady threw 3 interceptions, 2 of which under pressure and he just decided to bomb it like a hail mary. In the end he got away with it thanks to the defence. Brady is exceptional though, what a player, but let's face it, they do have a real team there.

Just caught up with the AFC game, I think both of those teams are better than the packers, and despite the Bills being very good, the Chiefs defence rinsed them, must've sacked Allen 10 times or at least covered his receivers off so well he couldn't throw. Allen was brilliant at rushing, had he not been so strong out of the pocket they wouldn't have scored a point. Chiefs so strong in offence too, Mahomes passing is brilliant, the receivers drop nothing, and Hill is an agile little bugger like Kamara at the Saints. They are going to win it again.

Yeah I couldn't believe they didn't go for it on that 4th and goal. Had they scored they would've needed only an FG for OT, instead they had to recover and get into the end zone. Quitter decision.

What the hell is wrong with coaches?

I realize that quantitative analysis is difficult, I pull my hair out trying to explain to people all sorts of reasoning behind why statistical analysis says to do something, but you have to have people that do this for you. That last sentence is most damning. As if you have to fail before you succeed. You've got a history of thousands of football games to draw experience from and make the correct decision, so do it. Let somebody else fail so you can succeed.

I don't know - it was a tough call.

If you miss it, you are down by two scores (well, a TD plus the 2). Take the three, your defence has done a pretty good job of stopping them over the second half, get the ball back and have another shot. If it had worked, everyone would have praised him for a shrewd call.

Another one for the hindsight playbook, I reckon...

The thing is that the data will never exactly match up with the current match position (for example due to injuries) so I think there are arguments for ignoring the data driven approach on some occasions but it's definitely important for coaches to be aware of what the data says, and ideally to have a good reason why you are ignoring.

If you watch this video very carefully, you can see Matt Lafleur when he was a coach with the Falcons staff.

Re the data point I'm surprised no team has just started going for two point conversions as a default since I'm sure they are quantitatively better, it's what I'd do if I was coaching.

If it's the fourth quarter, and Teddy Bridgewater is your QB, I'm not doing it

Back during the GSoT days, Jeff Wilkins got hurt on the opening kickoff for the Rams. (Against the Falcons, of course) They went for two the rest of the game and went 4/5 on them. Kicking the XP depending on the situation of the game makes sense. What I don't understand is going for 2 in the first half to make up some points somehow. Like instead of an XP to make it 17-16, you go for 2 to make it 17-17. If you go for 2 in that situation, then you should go for 2 every single time.

I reckon Doug Pederson started going for the 2 as standard practice
the year the Eagles were successful but I don't have any data to support it.

Here's an article on it, https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/1/...t-nfl-dorktown, and a whole load at 538, https://fivethirtyeight.com/tag/2-point-conversions/

I reckon if you practised 4th and shorts loads you could become really good at 2 pointers and hit them way more than average. If I was playcalling I'd also go for anything less than 4th and 3 regardless of where I was on the field.

Cheers LS

Rams trade the house to get Matthew Stafford. Weird trade. Feels like a lot for a middling qb.

That wasn't the cost of acquiring Stafford, that was the cost of getting rid of Goff and his contract.

That’s a huge amount to give up for a player that only has 4/5 years left considering his injury record. As a Pats fan I wanted Stafford but I’m happy we didn’t give up that much for him. If Stafford is 2 first rounders, what the hell will it take to get Watson?!?!

It’s the start of the QB carousel which is going to be huge this year.

Only ones that can afford him and want him are the jets. Even then it’s 3 firsts. Included no2 overall.

I'm interested in seeing if Justin Fields is a starter and how he gets on from seeing him develop on QB1BtL series 2. Jake Fromm was drafted last season iirc but isn't a starter.

I think this is potentially a good QB draft. Obviously Lawrence looks like a future star and Fields might be too. Then there's BYU's Zach Wilson, whom most are seeing as the number 2 pick in the draft. North Dakota State's Trey Lance has eyepopping stats (14 rushing td, 28 passing td, 0 interceptions and 67% accuracy) but he did it for a dominant team in Div1.

Finally, credit to Mac Jones, who simply ran Bama's offense to perfection. Admittedly, he seems less capable than those who went before but at the same time he got more out of that team than they got from theirs, not unlike a certain T Brady seems to, so he might transition.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...ut-source-says


What the **** is going thru your head to be around anybody Super Bowl week? I'd let my damn hair go natty. And how does this guy get around players without having a negative test?

So many sportspeople are dumb as ****. Honestly, if I was about to play the biggest game of my life i'd be taking every precaution. Morons.

Most of my excitement for tonights Superbowl has been taken away following the news of the death of Chris Wessling, and Around The NFL hero and part of the Sky Sports team following a second battle with cancer.

Despite never meeting the man, he kept me going for many years and I often thought he was on another level intellectually, never mind football related.

He will be missed. RIP Chris

.

I made my wife take a detour on our road trip honeymoon to huckapoos in Tyree island just to see the home place of the great man. Such a sad story.

I echo this. Have listened to the pod for the last 4 years religiously and feel like I have lost a friend despite never meeting the man.

Thoughts with his Wife and baby son Lincoln.

RIP the Mailman.

Completely agree. Love the around the nfl podcast and he was always fantastic on it.

Was so sad hearing him struggling to talk on his brief cameos at the end.

RIP Chris

Beautiful tribute to Wess on the pre game show on sky a short while ago. So much respect for Dan, Gregg and Marc for being on the show as well. I’m sure they sat down and talked about it and said it’s what Wess would have wanted.

Also lovely tributes from Rich Eisen and Colleen Wolff earlier.

so who do we think will win tonight?

The Portland Wankdonkies by 4 points.

Why do I switch on before the kick off?

BRING ON DAN MARINO

I’m only watching so I know when half time is so I can see all the new trailers.

Lol

Defenses on top right now making the game dull as shit. And naturally the USA goes into MASSIVE ad breaks at every turnover in play, which they don't do in other games.

Finally, a drive, a nice mix up of plays.

Are they donkeys that wank, or those that wank donkeys? Edit your post and spell donkeys right and I'll edit mine too.

KC penalty fest

For the first time in years, I got a great Super Bowl square. KC-7, TB-0. And this pool pays out for every scoring change. When KC kicked that field goal, I probably knew then that my square is dead. Now gotta keep my fingers crossed for KC-6, TB-5.

You probably knew? :D

Actually I knew before kickoff. My squares history is terrible. I have gotten $0 in the pool I currently play in that pays out for every scoring change. And that is with 3 squares most years, going on 7 years now. My best ever was back when the Rams beat the Titans. I had 6-6 and 6-3 and when that 2-pt conversion was missed, I killed the rest of the game.

And so it continues

If it makes you feel any better I’ve never won a cent on Super Bowl squares

It’s quite pathetic

They have always played this way on D. Lots of holding that never gets called. Finally catching up with them.

Why didn’t the 9ers come up against such an incompetent KC last year? :(

Outside of that yucky Rams/Patriots game, I would expect to hit at least once out of 20 times when these games have so many score changes. To top it off, I'm in a college basketball tourney squares pool every year with the same guy that is based on the final score of every game in the tourney. Not won one dollar in that one either and it has 65 damn games every tourney.

They did for 3 and a half quarters. Had a 10 point lead midway through the 4th and had kept them to 10 points.

Shush. It didn’t feel that way

Damn!

Hey Funk, if you have any tips, do us a favor and keep ‘em to yourself, yes?

Btw. I’m officially old.

Who the **** is this guy?

EDIT: wait! I think I kinda recognize this song
EDIT EDIT: not very sure though

It's Americanized.

It’s only 15 points second best comeback since Brady beat the falcons coming up !!

Um, has Andy Reid regressed back to his Eagles' days? There seems to be no difference being down 15 or 12 against Tom Brady.

Bucs long drive here and a TD it’s game over. 3 score game would be very hard to come back from. Huge possession this for both teams

Buccs defense is just crushing Mahomes boys, they have nowhere to go.

I agree. And they are 25 out right now.

There it is

Tom Brady changed teams??? Sorry, not an avid fan, clearly.

Those two Chiefs’ missing offensive linemen are making a huge difference.

Best team is winning, but boy these refs seem to want to be a big part of the story.

Yes this season. And the Patriots didn't make the Superbowl but Brady is about to win it again.

Well the offside was a huge huge call. The interception, it was a flag on the intended receiver and he was holding him all over, sorry, it's a flag.


Mahomes sacked again....that's about 6 already, then he throws an interception. It;s over

I worked quite a few months in Boston over a few years, my head office was just outside nearish Patriots Place. I only ever saw the New England Revolution and the Red Sox, but Brady was a God to them.

Urgh catch that ball. Unreal effort from mahomes

I'm right off football (as in the NFL), but have an illogical dislike for Tom Brady, but at 43 you have to take your hat off to him.

What a game to watch. History in the making.

Hopefully Brady will be around until he's 50 lol.

Urgh, this is the glazer’s nfl team? Wankers!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtrJwVfW...g&name=900x900

Don't know if this counts as a prediction but I'm going to go with it.

I saw TB get demolished last season at the Spurs stadium, I wouldn't have believed you if you'd have told me they'd be champions next year*.

*They did have Jameis Winston then though

The jump from Winston to Brady is large, but a bigger jump of Devon White from Year 1 to Year 2 had as bigger impact.

My good friend many years ago told me when looking at a superbowl winner, go for the team that has the better defence regalrdess of the oppos attack as you will be right more than you will be wrong. Rings true again after last night

Blimey, just seen the news about Vincent Jackson! 38!!! Anyone know how/why?

Several women have sued Deshaun Watson for sexual assault/harassment

14 as of today.

Guessing Carolina won't be in for him now then. :D Best of luck Houston!

Big trade with the 49ers. Interesting to see how it plays out.

Still think that both the 49ers and the Ravens would be my superbowl picks at this early stage if they both can avoid injuries much like the Cheifs offensive skills players have for the last few years.

3rd round pick. Clearly they are going for a QB. JG has missed 23 games in the last 3 seasons and the team's record without him it pretty woeful. Shanahan has been quoted as saying JG is the future (I guess he has to right?) but it's clear they are hedging here.

They aren't hedging, they're replacing Jimmy. You don't spend three 1st round picks to hedge your bets. Strangely, rumors are saying they are interested in Mac Jones, who could have been there at #12.

Technically it is only 2 first round picks which as been lost as they still have this years, pick at #3 rather than #12. Can't help but feel they are in a position should the DeShaun Watson stuff get sorted quickly that they could use this for the Texans, but also get a QB, possibly Fields.

The 49ers are slightly scarred by passing on Watson and Mahomes when they sat in a similar draft position, and if you think you are a good organisation, then you believe that your draft picks are going to be 24-32 rather than 1-8. They also in the position potentially to get something back for Jimmy G, even if it is a 2nd/3rd either this season or next. If it wasnt the 49ers doing this, say the Raiders, i would be worried. Less so with them

There's now talk they might go for Trey Lance rather than Fields or Jones and give Jimmy G another year.

This is the part I don’t get. If the vast majority of reports are to be believed they are really high up on Mac Jones which would be a huge reach at 3, and would likely have been on the board at 12. He’s a Shanahan type QB in that Matt Ryan mould but to go at 3.....I’m not sure. I think Jimmy G starts week 1 for the 49ers, I don’t think there is a huge trade market for him with his huge contract and injury record. As a Pats fan I don’t want him back, really hope we don’t go near him. Would love us to be aggressive and trade up to get involved in the Trey Lance/Justin Fields market.

Who needs Deshaun when you’ve got Darnold?

Funny thing is there are a couple of people I saw online yesterday bigging him up, saying best move for him as we have a decent coach and QB Co who can help him, he has been hamstrung from the start in NYJ.

Interesting to see how he goes. And to be fair when I saw we were willing to offer McCaffrey as part of a trade for Watson, it put me off the whole idea anyway.

People are using Tannehill's resurgence at Tennessee as a yardstick, but we will see. Even Fitterer described it as 'a gamble'. Personally I'm just relieved that the rebuild wasn't scuppered by over reaching for a QB. Would be good if we can get some of the picks back with a Teddy trade.

Who knows, there might still be a role for Deshaun further down the road. Perhaps he could massage CMC's calves after each game with his penis?

Panthers signed TE Dan Arnold about a week ago. Everyone is practicing "Darnold to Arnold"

:moo:

Enjoying the Panthers offseason

Loving the AJ Bouye pick up

This is kind of a bit freaky, but also a big dig at NYJ. :moo:

Rumours are that Panthers owner David Teppper is still hot for a massage session with Deshaun, and is still waiting to see how this plays out perhaps a year or two down the line

The thing with Mac is he is very much in the JG mould. Stay in the pocket, make your throw. Which is fine if you have great protection. Loose that protection for just a game and the chance of injury is there... sound familiar Jimmy?
I am very much of the mobile QB school and Mac's mobility is definitely questionable.

In "No, duh" news of the day.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EyoEEMQWEAM0l7I.jpg

Excellent :D

Talk about avoiding the question:

For some reason I thought the Eagles would be much higher on the drinking list. Maybe I’ve been watching too much it’s always sunny.

Surprising stats there. In terms of general usage on Marijuana usage over States:

Washington D.C. ranks first but the Washington Football Team is very low down.
Next state with a team is Colorado with Denver who are also very low down.
Then Seattle Seahawks very low down again compared to the Washington State average.

The first "close" comparison is Las Vegas Raiders and Nevada who rank 9th and 8th respectively.