NFL - NEWS & NOTES

I recorded it but haven't watched it yet. The bummer for the QB play is that none of this year's top guys went for the all star games. Last year Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder, Bailey Zappe and Sam Howell were all at the Senior Bowl, while Brock Purdy managed to work his way (barely) into the draft with his showing at the Shrine game. And in past years we got to watch guys like Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson and Andy Dalton show their stuff.

This year, the QB story of Senior Bowl week was Stetson Bennett becoming a no-show. And now instead of talk about how good he might be in the NFL, the stories are coming out that he might be done playing football and might not even go pro.

My favorite QB story for Senior Bowl week was Joe Flacco in 2008. He had an unimpressive box score in the game, with no TDs and an interception, and got very little writeup in the media reviews. But the pick was an amazing play where Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie made a leap and outmuscled a receiver to steal the ball - putting himself on everyone's draft radar. And Flacco actually did throw a TD pass, but the refs blew the call and the all star games don't use replay. The box score didn't "see" it, but the scouts did. If you graded him throw by throw rather than by whether the receiver actually caught the ball, Flacco actually did quite well - and he ended up being the second QB off the board, going ahead of the guys that got more attention in the articles after the game.

It's also the week of practice heading into the game that makes a difference. Flacco that year had a solid practice session in the rain, which was reportedly what sold the Ravens scouts that he was suitable for AFC North football. A year later B.J. Raji went from projected borderline 1st/2nd round to top ten pick by dominating opposing blockers in the practice week.

From what I've read though, none of the QBs jumped out in this year's practices any more than they did in the games. Most of the praise from the practice week seems to be on the DBs and running backs.

 

The CIF. The California Interscholastic Federation held a news conference yesterday. These are the people that run high school sports across the state. Why? To announce that there will be a girl's flag football division this year. At first, I thought nothing of it. Then I remembered that Sunday is the Pro Bowl. The same damn thing? WTF! There are going to be some phone calls Monday morning.

 

Is the NFL Pro Bowl a flag football game?


The 2023 Pro Bowl will be different than in year's past. This year it features a new flag football format in the exhibition game between the AFC and NFC players. The inaugural Pro Bowl Games will span over multiple days with additional events, including the skills competition. The action began Thursday, Feb.1 day ago


The same damn thing? WTF! There are going to be some phone calls Monday morning.


SCS I thought you were Joking.......But this is for real........WTF.

The NFL Pro Bowl is an All Star Game and I'm starting to dislike All Star Games.....I did not watch the NHL All Star last night because it is so BORING .........3 on 3 with 20 minute games and the players look like they are playing Pond Hockey...zzzzzzzz

Now basically the same thing is happening in the NFL.

 

If girls want to play football, fine. I don't care. It's just the timing of the announcement that's funny as hell. Talk about a slap in the face.

 

This caused some controversy yesterday during the Flag football game. Then to top it off, the game commentator states; "Jalen Ramsey didnt mean to blow up"... ya right. Ramsey knew what he was doing... clearly lowered his shoulder and stuck Hill pretty good. What a joke.

 

You all want to know who the biggest asshole in the entire NFL is? Ive been wanted to attack this Diva for a long, long time. Stefon Diggs. He's a pouting/quitting/crying/disrespectful little bitch, period. I couldnt stand that guy even in his Minnesota Vikings days.

 

Apparently that tweet was takin down, it no longer exist's on Twitter.

 

A.J. Green is calling it a career.

Green, the wide receiver who played 10 seasons with the Bengals and two with the Cardinals, said goodbye on Instagram today.


“I’ve never been a man of many words, so I’ll keep this short,” Green wrote. “Thank you. Thank you to all who have supported, encouraged, and inspired me throughout my career. Special thank you to the University of Georgia, Cincinnati Bengals, and Arizona Cardinals for the opportunity to pursue my dreams. I’ve stayed true to the game and it owes me nothing. Be blessed.. Love y’all! The next chapter begins.”

Green was chosen to the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons, from 2011 to 2017. He finishes his career with 727 catches for 10,514 yards and 70 touchdowns.

PFT

 

Local reports from the time of the 2011 draft were that Thomas Dimitroff had tried to work out the big trade to move up with the Bengals. They decided they'd rather pick and took A.J. Green. So Dimitroff ended up trading the #26, second rounder (#59), 4th rounder, 2012 first rounder and 2012 fourth rounder to the Browns instead and took Julio Jones. The package offered to the Bengals might have been a little better given that it was two picks earlier that Cleveland.

Interesting how it all worked out. After the Falcons fell apart in 2013, a part of the fan base blamed that trade for all the team's woes. I always thought that was idiotic, especially considering that the rest of the 2011 and 2012 drafts were utter disasters. (After Julio, the best pick from either year was the punter taken in the sixth round in 2011.)

And I'm told the media in Cleveland ripped up on the Browns for making the deal rather than taking Julio themselves. I consider that to be a bit of a misfire too. The Browns front office deserved to be ripped to shreds, but not because they made the trade. The problem was the way they threw away all five picks they got in return.

But the one that never comes up... how good could the Bengals have been in 2011-2015 if they had made the trade with Atlanta instead of taking A.J. Green? The rebuild from 2010 to 2011 was impressive, and they had five straight winning seasons and postseason appearances. But they never made it past the wild card round. Five straight years of one-and-done. Assuming their front office was far more competent than the group in Cleveland at the time, just how good could they have been with an extra four draft picks in 2011-2012?

 

Schefter says Brian Flores is the new Vikings defensive coordinator.

 

A bit of irony... Flores is going from Mike Tomlin's staff to Mike Tomlin's previous job.

Also interesting is how his defensive style is so opposite of the Fangio style that Ed Donatell brought in last season. Even before his time with Fangio, Donatell liked to generate pressure just from the defensive front rather than blitzing. Flores is going to send the house. You might even see plays where the water boys and cheerleaders blitz. Vikings fans: are you ready for some cover zero?

 

Just posted something (in response to, underdog) along those lines on the; GM, Coaches, Carousel thread. Im glad to hear this. Vikings defense was way to soft and had zero pressure on the QB's, this must change. Im liking the man-to-man from the corners and different looking packages throughout the game. Just hope the Vikings can conjure up the right personal.

 

Is this true is Aaron Rodgers on a retreat in isolation in complete darkness? if true this is freaky weird

 

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is aware of the chatter surrounding his future. But he’s not ready to make any definitive statements about it.

That’s what Rodgers said in his usual Tuesday interview on the Pat McAfee Show, noting he plans to take time in isolation after the Super Bowl to come to a final decision about what he wants to do.


Rodgers added he’s not even sure whether or not he’d like to play in 2023.

“That’s why I think it’s going to be important to get through this week and take my isolation retreat and contemplate all things [related to] my future,” Rodgers said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.

Rodgers said he’s going to spend four days and nights in total darkness and isolation on his retreat, which can lead to hallucinations. That will give him, “an opportunity to do a little self-reflection in some isolation and after that, I feel like I’ll be a lot closer to that final, final decision.”

While Rodgers may end up playing for the Packers, another team, or not at all next season, he did say that he’s still under contract with Green Bay. So even if there is a chance he plays for another team, that’s not entirely up to him.

We’ll apparently hear about whatever comes out of Rodgers’ retreat at some point after Super Bowl LVIII.

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He's always been in the dark!

 

All he needed was to enter BWW’s mind and he would have complete darkness and isolation.

 

From last year being AWFUL any changes is a good thing and I believe they will find the correct players

 

Ya, agreed, it has nowhere to go but up. I just hope he doesnt pull a one and done and move on in 2023, because I believe he wants a HC gig, but hell, if he sucks, it might be a blessing in disguise. Honestly, i have a feeling if he gets the right personal, we will see a team with a defense and that will be fantastic. He sure does have his work cut out for him.

 

Clark Hunt: I’m definitely a fan of keeping conference title games at home with the highest seed

Steelers owner Art Rooney II went on record last month to say that he hated the idea of playing neutral-site conference championship games.

There’s now another owner on record saying he doesn’t like it either.


During an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said he wants to keep things the way they are. That’s despite the fact that his father, Lamar Hunt, had proposed neutral-site conference championship games more than once before his death in 2006.

“In the context of this offseason, there was discussion about going forward, should the championship games be played at neutral sites,” Hunt said. “It was actually something that my dad mentioned a couple of times to the league — he thought that might be good. But having experienced it now for five years in a row, getting to host that game is such a special reward for the regular season and a way to reward your fans who have been so loyal throughout the year.

“So, I’m definitely a fan of keeping it at home with the highest seed.”

Had the Bills defeated the Bengals in the divisional round, the AFC Championship Game between Buffalo and Kansas City would have been in Atlanta. Ownership voted to make that one-time change in the aftermath of the Week 17 contest between the Bills and Bengals being canceled.

The Chiefs had never hosted a conference championship game until Patrick Mahomes became their starting quarterback in 2018. The last time they’d even reached the conference title matchup was in 1993 when Joe Montana was the team’s starting quarterback.

Hunt called the most recent championship game in Kansas City “a special night.”

“[N]ot only on the field, but for our fans as well,” Hunt said. “The energy that they brought throughout the game, despite it being 17, 18 degrees — it was not a warm night, but that doesn’t bother our fans. So, great night. Always love receiving the Lamar Hunt trophy. That’s really special for our family.”

Given that the Chiefs have hosted the last five AFC title games, it makes complete sense that Hunt wouldn’t want to give up that opportunity. If any proposal comes forward this offseason, we’ll see if it has support from at least 24 owners. With two owners already not on board for that change, there would only need to be seven more to shut it down.

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I dont know who started all this 'neutral site' stuff, but I havnt heard of anyone being in favor of it. I understand the idea popped up because of the Lamar Hamlin nightmare, but why its become a topic since, is really wacky, imo.

 

All he needed was to enter BWW’s mind and he would have complete darkness and isolation.


LOL.........Brilliant Quote Gidi.

How about Aaron Rodgers winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro AM.

Just another contraversity for Rodgers.....he went into the Tournament with a 10 HCP....B.S.

I will give him credit he is a good golfer.....BUT he kind of Cheated.


Rodgers said he’s going to spend four days and nights in total darkness and isolation on his retreat, which can lead to hallucinations. That will give him, “an opportunity to do a little self-reflection in some isolation and after that, I feel like I’ll be a lot closer to that final, final decision.”


I agree with Gidi.....why not just go to Nashville and spend those 4 days with BWW.

 

Not a fan of the neutral site playoff games either