NFL 2013 NFL - Week 6

[exe ex machina]

Chargers are up/down week/week....so

 

[Dagless]

Peyton would have won 2 more rings with Eli's D....at least.

Maybe 2007s...

 

[Blacky]

Due to MRSA the game between Philly and Tampa might not go aged as scheduled

 

[exe ex machina]

David Wilson told reporters Friday doctors fear he suffers from spinal stenosis, and may miss the season's remainder.

He's got bigger problems than the rest of this year, if the initial diagnosis is true. Wilson will get a second opinion on his neck/spine Monday. Spinal stenosis has been known to shorten NFL careers, like that of former Redskins LT Chris Samuels. The 32nd overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, Wilson has rushed 115 times for 504 yards (4.4 YPC) and five touchdowns through two NFL seasons. He led the NFL in kickoff return yardage as a rookie last year.

NFL suspended Jets TE Kellen Winslow four games for violating the league's policy against PEDs.

He can be removed from fantasy rosters of all kinds. At this point, it wouldn't be unfair to wonder if Winslow invested on the performance enhancers as a means of resurrecting his career after essentially falling out of football. He's been cut by several teams over the past few seasons. The Jets will move forward with Jeff Cumberland as their primary tight end. They also have former Patriot Zach Sudfeld on the roster, and the player once nicknamed "Baby Gronk" is expected to be active in Week 6 against the Steelers.

Through five games, Torrey Smith ranks in the top three in the NFL in receiving yards, yards per catch, receptions of 25-plus yards, and yards after catch.

Also now beating double coverage, Smith has developed into a legitimate fantasy WR1 and top-15 NFL receiver. "Sometime last year, he became that guy that caught really everything you threw to him," said Joe Flacco. "And I think he’s becoming more and more of that guy." Smith has just three drops over his last 17 regular season games. He hasn't dropped a pass in any of the last seven.

 

[aussiedude]

What other time slot could they play?????? Thursday? Sunday 1pm? Sunday 4pm? That is later that all of them.....

Seriously? this is the most obvious answer. the NFL should of had both games in the Sunday 4:15 slot, and then the NFL and NBC can start the advertising for the SNF game form when Football Night in America goes live as the pre-game show. they would also know if its 6-0 Vs 5-1 or whatever they end up along with if any stars got hurt of are under a injury cloud.

The bad scheduling has cost the NFL and NBC about 30 Hours of advertising time, and if any star players get hurt this week it will also cost both Advertising money.

 

[exe ex machina]

The National Football League held its annual fall meetings this week in Washington, D.C. Here are four things we learned when 32 owners and Commissioner Roger Goodell got together to discuss the status and future of the nation’s most popular sport.

1. The dream of more games lives. NFL owners are considering adding two teams to the playoffs as soon as 2015. The current format includes 12 teams (six from each conference) that play a total of 11 games. A 14-team format is still to be determined. Goodell says it would probably involve six games instead of four on the first weekend of the playoffs. Those two additional games are what the NFL wants most out of the change. More high-stakes games are an obvious way to make more money. Adding playoff teams has worked well for Major League Baseball. It should also be an easier sell to players than the league’s long-frustrated ambition to expand every teams’ regular season from 16 to 18 games.

2. Hard Knocks for (almost) everybody. The league passed a new rule that allows it to compel teams to participate in Hard Knocks, the “reality” series it produces with HBO. The show covers one team in depth each preseason. The league likes the show because fans love to peak inside locker rooms, coaches’ meetings, and players’ homes. Teams have often refused to participate because they don’t want fans peaking inside the locker room, coaches’ meetings, and players’ homes. The new rule exempts teams that have a first-year coach, have been on the show in the past decade, or have made the playoffs in at least one of the past two seasons. It’s cleverly crafted to give fans more chance to see more teams while protecting those least able to handle the extra scrutiny. And if a team complains, it’s the team’s own fault for failing to make the playoffs.

3. The Washington Redskins name is a pest that won’t go away. As the Associated Press reported, the possibility of a name change for the Redskins was not on the agenda in Washington, “yet it was the subject of four of the first five questions posed” at Goodell’s Tuesday news conference. Goodell, who has softened his stance of late, told reporters that the league needs to “make sure we’re doing what’s right.” The push to change gained new momentum over the weekend when President Obama said he would think about changing the name if he were the team’s owner. The actual owner, Dan Snyder, then wrote a letter to season-ticket holders saying that he had thought about it, thanks, and wasn’t about to budge.

4. What League of Denial? The PBS Frontline (and formerly ESPN) documentary on the NFL’s handling of its concussion crisis, League of Denial, happened to make its debut during the league meetings. It covers the NFL’s history of pretending there isn’t a problem. This is what Goodell had to say about it:

Goodall says too busy to watch PBS documentary on concussions and NFL, says won't comment on something he hasn't seen​

​

— daniel kaplan (@dkaplanSBJ) October 8, 2013​

 

[exe ex machina]

Back in 1998 I put a wager on the hapless Giants beating the 13-0 Broncos, and won a lot. I had a premonition they would win, why I did it. The article below harks back to that, and discusses how the Jaguars should play the game to have the best chance of winning....

Well, here at The MMQB, we’ve written quite a lot about team No. 32 this week, the Jacksonville Jaguars. Much has centered on the concept that this is one horrible team, with so much to do to even think .500 is an option, with such an impossible dream:

Jacksonville, 0-5, the lowest-scoring team in football, at Denver, 5-0, the highest-scoring team in football.

But I am here to tell you some good news, fans of Jags. I am here to tell you how to beat the Denver Broncos this weekend.

First, some encouragment from Kent Graham. Remember him? He and Danny Kanell alternated at quarterback for the New York Giants in 1998. The Giants were a bumbling team in ’98, 5-8 when the Denver Broncos came to town that December. Denver was 13-0. The Giants were coming off 34- and 24-point losses to the Packers and Niners, respectivley, in the previous month, and the John Elway-led Broncos were blowing away teams with ease. “It’s the only time in my career,” Graham said this week from his home in Illinois, “when I remember saying to my wife, ‘I don’t know if we can win this game.’ ”

But they hung in, and with 1:49 left, trailing 16-13, Graham took the ball at the Giants’ 14-yard line and did the stunningly improbable. Eighty-six yards in 61 seconds, capping it with a beautiful 37-yard touchdown pass to Amani Toomer. And so I asked him: What would you say to Jacksonville quarterback Chad Henne as he goes up against the great Broncos—maybe greater than the Super Bowl-winning ’98 team; we shall see—if you had the chance?

“One play at a time,” said Graham. “One efficient play after another. Focus on one play, and then the next—and take a few educated risks. There’s so much parity in the league now. A tipped ball, three turnovers, who knows? In our game, it was definitely David and Goliath, but there was one thing I knew: If everyone did his job to the best of his ability, we’d have a chance. A chance. And Jacksonville has that chance. They’re NFL players.”

My Rx for the Jags:

1. Force running backs Maurice Jones-Drew and Jordan Todman on the Denver front. The Jags’ running game (2.7 yards per rush) has been awful, but the key to this game is to play clockball, and the way to do that is with a possession running game and short passing game. And tell the backs to stay in bounds. The clock must run.

2. Henne should never snap the ball until there are three seconds or less on the play clock. Simple. Run the clock. Run the clock.

3. Put Justin Blackmon in motion so he can’t get jammed as much at the line. One of the weaknesses of young Blackmon’s game is his difficulty in beating press coverage. So offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch needs to move him all game long. And put the ball in his hands on a couple of reverses—as long as he stays in-bounds.

4. On defense, blitz more. The Jags are not big blitzers. And Peyton Manning is a blitz-recognizer. But coach Gus Bradley must do things Manning won’t expect. If Jason Babin can generate some pressure with his regular weakside rushes, the rookie safeties—particularly instinctive Johnathan Cyprien—could hurry Manning and try to take him out of his comfort zone. It’s next to impossible, but anything to show Manning things he hasn’t seen.

5. Take risks on defense. Will Blackmon, a mediocre journeyman corner, has played for some good teams—the Giants and Packers most notably. He knows what it means to know when to take a risk, to jump a route. The only way to make Manning turn it over is to bait him. He’ll kill the D a couple of times, to be sure, but he’s going to do that anyway. Risks, educated ones, are vital.

6. Don’t let Trindon Holliday beat you. He’s the most dangerous returner in football. Kick the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs. And the punter’s job? Bryan Anger must never give Holliday the ball in the field of play. Lose eight yards and kick out of bounds.

See? It’s easy. Now just do exactly what I say, and we’ll have the biggest upset in regular-season history Sunday evening.

 

[exe ex machina]

Meanwhile, Mark Brunell chips in....

So you’re betting that Jacksonville has absolutely no hope against Denver on Sunday? Mark Brunell has something to say about that.

Before you call to have him Baker Acted, it should be noted that Brunell wasn’t talking about Jacksonville actually beating the Broncos. He thinks the 28-point spread is wacko.

“That’s ridiculous,” he said.

Brunell can’t help recalling an eerily similar scenario 16 years ago. It was at Mile High Stadium. Denver media called them the “Jagwads.” Facing a Hall of Fame quarterback, they were one of the biggest underdogs in playoff history.

Jagwads 30, Denver 27.

Could it happen Sunday?

Get serious. Again, we’re not talking about Jacksonville winning. We’re talking about the Jaguars maintaining what’s left of their dignity.

There have been approximately 10,500 games since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. This is the biggest point spread since, and probably the biggest since the first bookie landed in Las Vegas.

On sheer numbers, that makes it the biggest insult. It could only happen to Jacksonville, the most abused city in NFL history.
Charlotte was ecstatic to get the first franchise awarded in the 1993 expansion.

When Jacksonville got one a month later, Charlotte media joked that it was like winning the Miss America pageant and finding out the runner-up was Roseanne Barr.

Other than being the hometown of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Tim Tebow (try to top that, Charlotte), the Jaguars are the city’s main source of civic pride. Now we’re just one blowout away from having the World Wildlife Fund demand Jacksonville change its nickname since it is offensive to jaguars.

That’s why if you’ve gotten a wedgie from the school bully or been turned down for a date by a Roseanne lookalike, you should cheer for the Jags on Sunday. Even if you’re not a loser, do it out of a sense of compassion.

“There is a measure of dread here,” Brunell said.

Every gambler in North America knows why. Denver is looking at 16-0. Jacksonville is looking at 0-16.

Denver scored 51 points last week; Jacksonville has scored 51 points all season.

Denver has Peyton Manning (QB rating 136.4); Jacksonville has Blaine Gabbert (QB rating DOA).

Manning has 20 touchdown passes; Gabbert has one, not counting the three he’s thrown to the other team.

The good news for Jacksonville is Gabbert has a bad hamstring and isn’t expected to play. The bad news is his replacement, Chad Henne, isn’t much better.

He’ll be protected by a make-shift line after top pick -- No. 2 overall -- Luke Joeckel broke his ankle last week.

That was five days after Jacksonville traded its other starting tackle to Baltimore.

The Jags aren’t just bad, they’re cursed. It’s enough to drive fans to drink, which the Jaguars tried.

They gave away two free beers to fans at their last home game. All that did was serve up another round of ridicule, especially after Mothers Against Drunk Driving complained.

How did a once-respectable franchise end up on skid row?


“If you ask 10 people, you’ll get 10 answers,” Brunell said.

Tom Coughlin was fired 11 years ago. Jack Del Rio took things from mediocre to bad. Mike Mularkey was in charge of bad to worse. Now Gus Bradley is overseeing worse to whatever this is.

The dysfunction has revved the talk about empty seats, tiny TV market and how the Jaguars will inevitably move to Los Angeles or London or any city that doesn’t have a Waffle House on every corner. It’s all tearing a hole in Brunell’s heart.

He led the Jaguars to two AFC title games in the 1990s, and retired to Jacksonville. He loves the city, and last week became the third player named to the Pride of the Jaguars. That’s Jacksonville’s greatest football honor outside of being named an honorary Tebow.

Like Bradley, Brunell is a rookie head coach. His Episcopal High Eagles are 2-3 after a 59-7 loss to Trinity Christian last week. Las Vegas would probably make them a 24-point underdog to the Broncos.

“What Jacksonville needs more than anything is to just win one game,” Brunell said.

Just win, baby. That was Al Davis’ mantra, and he didn’t care how the Raiders did it. Jacksonville’s best hope might be if Bradley shows the 1997 playoff game on the flight to Denver.

The Jaguars were two years old. They went 9-7 and upset Buffalo in the first playoff game. That impressed oddsmakers so much they made Jacksonville a 14½-point underdog to John Elway’s machine.

“Nobody gave us a chance,” Brunell said.

The Jaguars didn’t give themselves much of one, either.

“I think a lot of us in the locker room were surprised,” Brunell said. “We looked around and said, ‘Golly gee, we actually won that game! We pulled that off!' ”

“Golly gee” was not the operative phrase in Denver after the game. Forget last year’s loss against Baltimore. Losing to the expansion Jaguars ranks as the all-time playoff wedgie.

“I’m just going to go home, sit on my couch and probably cry,” Shannon Sharpe said.

As the Jaguars’ plane approached the airport that night, it veered south and circled over the Gator Bowl. Almost 40,000 fans had gathered for a midnight pep rally.

It was like the Miss America pageant with Roseanne turning into a Victoria’s Secret model. The players were bused over, and everybody reveled in the magnificence of Jacksonville and its football team.

Now, despite the historic spread, about 60 percent of the money is reportedly being bet against the Jaguars. That despite the fact Gabbert isn’t playing and Denver’s defense (coached by Del Rio) might have trouble stopping Episcopal High.

It’s bad enough to be insulted. The only thing worse would be proving the all-time slap in the face was warranted.

“What is it, 26 or 27?” Brunell asked.

It’s 28.

His mind raced back to 1997.

Just cover, baby. Poor little Jacksonville has suffered enough.

 

[Chadwiko]

 

[Chism]

Due to MRSA the game between Philly and Tampa might not go aged as scheduled

This is interesting and just some more Info here...

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/20...me-could-be-postponed-due-to-mrsa-infections/

 

[exe ex machina]

Latest is the game is going ahead as scheduled, as far as I'm aware.

 

[Woodson]

Wouldn't common sense be to 'standing down' those infected? Reading the link that Chism posted is purely a concern article that is purely a 'speculation' of an extreme case and then it says it's 'unlikely' anyway. Could you imagine all the people rolling up and then they decide to postpone the game? Nah.. I don't see it either. That's a heebie Jeebie game because you know the Buccs are overdue for a win (1-9 in last ten games!!). Eagles have been putting up serious points in three of their five games. Buccs D have been ok... keeping opposition to modest totals. Just whether the Buccs O can get kickstarted... against a Eagles D, it's more than likely than not (think: 20+).

 

[sblack]

I think it's become more of an issue than 'standing down' the infected Woodson. If it was 1 isolated player, you could almost claim it was an outlier case. But having 3 reported infected ... that clearly points to having infected work stations in their medical/training rooms. And with the severity of MRSA to be immune to antibiotics, and the ease of transfer, it would seem it could be easily passes to plenty of others

 

[kaiserchief13]

Looking forward to tomorrow. Like last week many games are very tough to pick. Will Schaub start? If yes is he one pick away from the bench? Will the Jags be embarrased even more than they're used to?

 

[Blacky]

The NFLPA has its hands full with Tampa at the moment

 

[BeinPurplenGreen]

Wouldn't common sense be to 'standing down' those infected? Reading the link that Chism posted is purely a concern article that is purely a 'speculation' of an extreme case and then it says it's 'unlikely' anyway. Could you imagine all the people rolling up and then they decide to postpone the game? Nah.. I don't see it either. That's a heebie Jeebie game because you know the Buccs are overdue for a win (1-9 in last ten games!!). Eagles have been putting up serious points in three of their five games. Buccs D have been ok... keeping opposition to modest totals. Just whether the Buccs O can get kickstarted... against a Eagles D, it's more than likely than not (think: 20+).

The NFLPA has its hands full with Tampa at the moment

I mentioned the case of Lawrence Tynes in the podcast a few weeks back - when he contracted MRSA and it developed into season-ending staph infections, Tampa Bay claimed that even though Tynes said he had contracted it at the Bucs facility, it was a "non-footballing injury" and therefore (despite strong protests from the NFLPA) they avoided having to cover a range of injury and insurance obligations to Tynes.

With the extra cases developing in the last two or three weeks, it has all come back to bite the Bucs on the butt hard, and the NFLPA is determined to keep going after them until they re-classify Tynes' injury status and have an independently certified clean out of the facilities.

FWIW, both the Raiders and Brumbies organisations here in Canberra have had outbreaks (though not full MRSA) in the last two years - it is very tricky to manage and needs a really professional, structured approach to fully eliminate from the training and change room facilities - lots of pipework fumigations, high-temp steam cleaning, etc etc.

 

[exe ex machina]

More illustrations of how the Bucs are a shit organization

 

[PHX]

Forgot about daylight savings. Pats vs Saints starting at 7:25am. Get maybe the first quarter in if I'm lucky before work.

 

[Woodson]

Forgot about daylight savings. Pats vs Saints starting at 7:25am. Get maybe the first quarter in if I'm lucky before work.

Whilst you're at work PHX... think of three AE brothers having a BBQ and watching NFL!! (yes, we have jobs.. just tommorrow is a day-off)

 

[PHX]

Whilst you're at work PHX... think of three AE brothers having a BBQ and watching NFL!! (yes, we have jobs.. just tommorrow is a day-off)

 

[EFL Boy]

Has OneHD publicised why they aren't showing a 4am game tomorrow?

 

[exe ex machina]

Has OneHD publicised why they aren't showing a 4am game tomorrow?

They're showing Black Gold and Lumberjacks instead.

But they'll be televising the 7am game.

 

[EFL Boy]

They're showing Black Gold and Lumberjacks instead.

But they'll be televising the 7am game.

Yeah noticed that.... riveting.

Strange as to why they haven't notified the reason behind this.

 

[exe ex machina]

You should invest in GamePass.....in full control of what games you watch at any time you want to watch.

 

[exe ex machina]

Like I said ages back, Gronk causing lockerroom issues...

ESPN's Ed Werder reports Rob Gronkowski's (arm surgeries) continued absence from game day but participation in practice has created "tension among teammates," who have begun questioning why Gronk isn't playing.

Werder writes that some teammates have wondered "if (Gronk) intends to play at all this season, according to multiple sources." Said one source, "There's curiosity and resentment, and he's creating it by going out and kicking ass during the week and then he doesn't show up on game day and help the team win." Inarguably, there are "trust issues" between the Patriots and Gronkowski's camp because the team cleared him to return too soon last season, and he re-broke his arm in the playoffs. Gronkowski has reportedly been "dominant" on the practice field, where some contact is allowed. Said a second source, "If he's not playing in games, he damn sure should not be doing what he is in practice."