NFL 2009

[Borat Pri Hagafen]

Regular season is only 4 days away.

To continue the Merriman conversation from the ncaa thread, even if these charges are dropped, he's done in San Diego after 2010, and he'll only be there next year because (if) it's an uncapped year like they think it will be, he won't be a free agent, and they can always franchise him. He's going to be on the market in 2011, when he'll be 27.

If there's a cap next year, he might be gone then, even if these charges amount to nothing. They drafted a pass-rushing OLB in the first round this year, too. It's worth noting that he's a fucking monster who could mature into a dominant force year after year after year, and he impacts the game on defense as much as virtually anyone, and it sucks that they're going to lose him.

[Captain Hate]

Richard Seymour to the Raidazz for their 2011 first round choice. Belichick must've seen a decline in his game plus I think he's due for an extension soon. This makes absolutely no sense for the Silver and Black; Alice needs to get caller id on his phones and when the Patriots call don't answer.

[jon abbey]

SOSH has a pretty good discussion on this. Seymour and Wilfork's contracts are both up after this year, they can't really keep both, they'd rather keep Wilfork, and this way they get something for Seymour (something potentially huge even) at the cost of probably weakening themselves for right now.

as for the Raiders, they can see that the AL West is pretty vulnerable and it might not take much to be better than KC and Denver, and hope for some key injuries from SD. it's not very prudent, but what does Davis have to lose? he'll likely be dead by the 2011 draft anyway, right?

[Borat Pri Hagafen]

If he's dead by the 2011 draft, they'll win the West in 2011.

[bostontricky]

Morning reactions were "Damn, that's a lot to get back" and "What the hell did Seymour do to deserve this?"

Brother Nagel, looks like Culpepper was a DNP yesterday. What's the buzz on the starting QB situation in Motown?

[Captain Hate]

SOSH has a pretty good discussion on this. Seymour and Wilfork's contracts are both up after this year, they can't really keep both, they'd rather keep Wilfork, and this way they get something for Seymour (something potentially huge even) at the cost of probably weakening themselves for right now.

as for the Raiders, they can see that the AL West is pretty vulnerable and it might not take much to be better than KC and Denver, and hope for some key injuries from SD. it's not very prudent, but what does Davis have to lose? he'll likely be dead by the 2011 draft anyway, right?

I'll check SOSH out later; I assume they're figuring that NE is in a "win by scoring a shitload of points" mode for this season. If Al is alive in 2011 (surely somebody here has him in a dead pool; I'm thinking Scottie or BT) I'm wondering how he blames this on Lane Kiffin; although knowing how the Raidazz have been conducting their drafts lately (I love my Terps but Jesus fucking Christmas) this may have been their only way of getting a stud even with a very very high #1.

[Captain Hate]

"What the hell did Seymour do to deserve this?"

Please tell me this is what comes from underneath those pink Sawx caps. If it isn't obvious to anybody that has paid attention to the enneffell since Y2K that a major component of the Pats success is being maximum cocksuckers to their players, I don't know how many data points are necessary.

[bostontricky]

"What the hell did Seymour do to deserve this?"

Please tell me this is what comes from underneath those pink Sawx caps. If it isn't obvious to anybody that has paid attention to the enneffell since Y2K that a major component of the Pats success is being maximum cocksuckers to their players, I don't know how many data points are necessary.

Granted, it was before fully caffeinating myself this morning. I haven't particularly paid attention to the NFL since high school, but I know damn well what the standard operating procedure is for the locals, it still seemed like a shocka, compared to others Belichick has forced to walk the plank it seemed Seymour had more game left than all the other rejectamenta put together.

I'm hoping I've successfully completed the Uncle Walto Rehabilitation program, I really would prefer to not give a shit and a half about the Patriots anymore. I'll keep half an eye on my hometown team, the boys in Honolulu blue.

[Enforcer]

I'm hoping I've successfully completed the Uncle Walto Rehabilitation program, I really would prefer to not give a shit and a half about the Patriots anymore. I'll keep half an eye on my hometown team, the boys in Honolulu blue.

Giving a shit about the hometown team hasn't done my life any favors so far, trick.

[Captain Hate]

I'm kind of concerned for Noj's well-being since he hasn't weighed in yet on Alice's latest move although I'd imagine the collective bender in the Black Hole hasn't stopped yet, being a three day weekend.

[Borat Pri Hagafen]

What's going to be interesting is if/when Seymour decides he wants no part of that organization, and doesn't report.

[Noj]

What's there to weigh in on? I like an attempt to shore up the porous d-line and possibly pressure a QB for once--but I come here and read that it probably wasn't a good move after all. After watching the Raiders get absolutely drubbed by the Saints 7-45 in the preseason (which essentially means the New Orleans first, second, and third stringers opened a collective can of whoop ass on Oakland), I really haven't got much hope for the season. I expect the Raiders will maintain their spot as the worst team in the NFL.

[jon abbey]

I expect the Raiders will maintain their spot as the worst team in the NFL.

come on now. Detroit, KC and St. Louis had fewer wins than them last year COMBINED. they weren't even last in their division.

[Jason Bivins]

All I know is that McFadden will have a big year. Or at least I hope he will, since I drafted him on more than one fantasy team. Believing the hype, baby.

[Enforcer]

Stafford officially the starter. I'm against this decision, but I have to admit, it gives me short term hope that there will be something interesting to watch this season.

[Noj]

I expect the Raiders will maintain their spot as the worst team in the NFL.

come on now. Detroit, KC and St. Louis had fewer wins than them last year COMBINED. they weren't even last in their division.

I remember reading somewhere that since losing the Super Bowl to the Patriots, the Raiders have the worst regular season record of any NFL franchise. Maybe that changed after Detroit's 0-fer. Admittedly, the Raiders don't exactly motivate me to stay on top of things.

[jon abbey]

the Pirates have 17 straight losing seasons, the longest streak of any team in any of the US major sports ever, but that doesn't make them the worst team in baseball.

[Borat Pri Hagafen]

As a Chargers fan, as I've said many times, the Raiders would scare the shit out of me if Al would just swallow a shotgun. They have tons and tons of talent. I think even as maligned as he often is, he's actually worse than his public image. The stories Warren Sapp told last year on Inside the NFL blew my mind. He would call down on gameday and make them run plays they hadn't practiced. How can you overcome that?

[Mo Noyz]

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[Borat Pri Hagafen]

Vincent Jackson is closer to a superstar than a mediocrity. Watch and see. Chambers is still very solid, certainly better than mediocre. Malcolm Floyd is another huge target who could have a productive year in the unlikely event he stays healthy, and Naanee is good, too. Not being proven is far from being a mediocrity.

Jackson's a stud, plain and simple. If Floyd could stay healthy, their WR would be excellent by any standard.

Gates is aging, I'll give you that. Please give me an example of a player who isn't. He's 29. Gonzalez had maybe his best year ever at 32 last year. I personally believe Tomlinson has a good year, but they have depth with Sproles and I swear Michael Bennett has looked phenomenal through camp and the preseason (he's 30).

The Chargers have concerns with their O line and at FB on offense, and with their pass rush and safeties. They have a very nice group of 3 corners with jammer, cromartie and cason, and added Burnett and a first round pick to Merriman and phillips as far as LB. I don't dispute that there are plenty of questions, but you're way off base calling Vincent Jackson mediocre.