32 minutes ago, Ram23 said:

 

It is true - the guy wasn't playing well in his final two seasons and spent them battling Blaine Gabbert for a starting position on a weekly basis. Even if your anecdotes are true, that doesn't negate the fact that his career had peaked and he was on his way out.

 

The 49ers were terrible in his last two years. In 2016, the final year of his career, they won 2 games and had the second worst offense in the league, edging out only the Rams, who were in their first year in LA.

 

 

 

And Blaine Gabbert, who couldn't beat out Kapernick in SF, has become a journeyman backup qb with several teams since battling Kaepernick in 2016. The interesting thing is Gabbert has continued to play in the league with career stats significantly lower career stats than Kaepernick. Kaepernick has 22 more tds, 17 less interceptions, a higher career completion percentage, and 15 more career wins. I can't figure out why Kapernick hasn't caught on as backup like Gabbert has the last 5 years. It's weird. 

Edited October 15, 20213 yr by Sir2geez

1 hour ago, Ram23 said:

 

It is true - the guy wasn't playing well in his final two seasons and spent them battling Blaine Gabbert for a starting position on a weekly basis. Even if your anecdotes are true, that doesn't negate the fact that his career had peaked and he was on his way out.

 

The 49ers were terrible in his last two years. In 2016, the final year of his career, they won 2 games and had the second worst offense in the league, edging out only the Rams, who were in their first year in LA.

 

 

 

Not arguing that. I'm just saying, objectively, he was a top 50 QB and should've been on rosters over the last 3 years. I'm not arguing that he's still a star, at all

1 hour ago, Sir2geez said:

And Blaine Gabbert, who couldn't beat out Kapernick in SF, has become a journeyman backup qb with several teams since battling Kaepernick in 2016. The interesting thing is Gabbert has continued to play in the league with career stats significantly lower career stats than Kaepernick. Kaepernick has 22 more tds, 17 less interceptions, a higher career completion percentage, and 15 more career wins. I can't figure out why Kapernick hasn't caught on as backup like Gabbert has the last 5 years. It's weird. 

 

The answer is pretty obvious here - Gabbert is a better, more well rounded quarterback that can fill a variety of roles. I think almost everyone would agree with me if not for their political bias.

 

I'm not dismissing Kapernick's baggage outright. There's a valid reason he wasn't picked up in 2016 - he stinks and would have eaten up a lot of salary cap to ride the pine. He's since made a big deal out of it and complained incessantly and publicly about it, which has almost certainly made it less likely that anyone would want him. But the thing to remember is - no one wanted him, anyways.

Lol Gabbert is a big first round bust who barely has played and has had minimal if any at all success.

No one is saying Kaepernick is a worldbeater at this point. But to say that the Blaine Gabberts of the world are better than him is plain crazy talk. 

4 hours ago, YABO713 said:

 

That's not true. I'm fortunate enough to have close friends who've found their groove and excelled in NFL front office positions, and they've told me point blank that the media and fan backlash is the reason why teams hadn't signed him. I mean, currently on active NFL rosters at QB : Geno Smith, Colt McCoy, Tyler Huntley, Mitch Trubisky, Nathan Peterman, Blaine Gabbert, Sean Mannion. There's a reason the NFL settled with Kaep before the suit started rolling - the NFL thought it was worth it to pay tens of millions of dollars to avoid discovery. 

 

Beyond that - here's the bottom line: the league knows they're in a pickle. However, they'll have less of a headache if they're seen as merely non-transparent than they would if they opened pandora's box. 

 

No one is saying it wasn't a factor, but the point is he wasn't worth the drama inherent in signing him.   It's a tradeoff:  someone like DeShaun Watson could pretty much do anything unlikely to get him suspended, and someone would sign him.  

We're done debating Kaepernick. This conversation is going in circles.

EDIT: to be clear, this is official mod direction not to continue this conversation.

On 10/15/2021 at 1:55 PM, ryanlammi said:

We're done debating Kaepernick. This conversation is going in circles.

EDIT: to be clear, this is official mod direction not to continue this conversation.

 

@ryanlammiright now:

 

6 hours ago, YABO713 said:

 

That's not true. I'm fortunate enough to have close friends who've found their groove and excelled in NFL front office positions, and they've told me point blank that the media and fan backlash is the reason why teams hadn't signed him. I mean, currently on active NFL rosters at QB : Geno Smith, Colt McCoy, Tyler Huntley, Mitch Trubisky, Nathan Peterman, Blaine Gabbert, Sean Mannion. There's a reason the NFL settled with Kaep before the suit started rolling - the NFL thought it was worth it to pay tens of millions of dollars to avoid discovery. 

 

Beyond that - here's the bottom line: the league knows they're in a pickle. However, they'll have less of a headache if they're seen as merely non-transparent than they would if they opened pandora's box. 

 

Aaron Rodgers and Kyrie Irving need to start a pro-athlete anti-vax support group:

 

2 hours ago, Columbo said:

Aaron Rodgers and Kyrie Irving need to start a pro-athlete anti-vax support group:

 

Could Jeopardy not find any guest host who was pro-vaccine?  Sheesh.

How much money does the NFL have?  Lots:

 

Rams, NFL settle St. Louis' lawsuit over franchise's relocation to Los Angeles for $790 million

 

ST. LOUIS -- The NFL and Rams owner Stan Kroenke will pay $790 million to settle a lawsuit filed by St. Louis interests over the team's relocation to Los Angeles, a joint statement from St. Louis city and county said Wednesday.

 

The settlement does not include a promise from the NFL to grant St. Louis an expansion franchise in the future, a source familiar with the agreement told ESPN, confirming a report by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  That idea wasn't seriously discussed, the source told ESPN.  It wasn't immediately clear how much would be paid by Kroenke and how much would be covered by owners of the league's 31 other teams.

 

The settlement, reached in mediation, ends a 4½-year-old lawsuit filed in the wake of the Rams' departure.  Kroenke and the NFL had failed in bids to have the lawsuit dismissed or at least moved out of St. Louis, and courts were sympathetic to the St. Louis side's effort to disclose financial information of team owners -- rulings that hastened the push for a settlement.

 

The case had been scheduled to go to trial Jan. 10.  The lawsuit sought more than $1 billion.  It claimed the team's move cost the St. Louis region millions of dollars in amusement, ticket and earnings tax revenue.

 

MORE:  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32706415/source-nfl-settles-st-louis-lawsuit-rams-relocation-los-angeles-790m

wow, but i knew that was going to be big coin.

Urban Meyer fired. 
 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/12/16/urban-meyer-fired/

The Jacksonville Jaguars fired coach Urban Meyer early Thursday morning, ending his tenure 13 games into a season that was defined by controversy and disappointing play. “After deliberation over many weeks and a thorough analysis of the entirety of Urban’s tenure with our team, I am bitterly disappointed to arrive at the conclusion that an immediate change is imperative for everyone,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement released by the team. “I informed Urban of the change this evening. As I stated in October, regaining our trust and respect was essential. Regrettably, it did not happen.”

2 hours ago, Boomerang_Brian said:

Urban Meyer fired. 
 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/12/16/urban-meyer-fired/

The Jacksonville Jaguars fired coach Urban Meyer early Thursday morning, ending his tenure 13 games into a season that was defined by controversy and disappointing play. “After deliberation over many weeks and a thorough analysis of the entirety of Urban’s tenure with our team, I am bitterly disappointed to arrive at the conclusion that an immediate change is imperative for everyone,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement released by the team. “I informed Urban of the change this evening. As I stated in October, regaining our trust and respect was essential. Regrettably, it did not happen.”

 

Urban Meyer's NFL coaching career:

 

urban meyer should have stayed at bgsu! 😂

and for the record - lol:

 

 

 

RIP Coach... 

 

John Madden, Hall of Fame Coach, Is Dead at 85

Madden was one of football’s most recognizable ambassadors for decades.

 

John Madden, the Hall of Fame coach who became one of America’s most recognizable ambassadors of professional football, reaching millions, and generations, from the broadcast booth and the popular video game that bears his name, died on Tuesday. He was 85.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/28/obituaries/john-madden-dead.html

good review of the ab saga that came to a predictably bizzare end today:

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/antonio-brown-walked-away-on-his-own-terms-sunday-that-should-embarrass-the-nfl/ar-AASmP1i?ocid=uxbndlbing

3 hours ago, mrnyc said:

good review of the ab saga that came to a predictably bizzare end today:

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/antonio-brown-walked-away-on-his-own-terms-sunday-that-should-embarrass-the-nfl/ar-AASmP1i?ocid=uxbndlbing

 

Who could have predicted that Antonio Brown would do something stupid? 

Who sez the regular-season finale for a two-win team doesn't matter.  Not to Jags fans.

 

The firing of Urban Meyer might have staved off their anger for a couple of weeks.  But after an embarrassing 50-10 loss to the Pats last Sunday and announcement that the GM had the support of Jags owner Shad Khan, fans started changing their Twitter profile pic to a clown emoji, complete with Khan’s signature mustache.

Now Jags fans are talking about showing up for Sunday's home finale in clown costumes 🤡 🤡 🤡

 

https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2022/1/4/22867252/jaguars-clown-party-home-finale-shad-khan

Man, that's even more in your face than people sitting in the stands with bags over their heads.

Jags fans did show up in various forms of clown attire for yesterday's season finale - and the Jags won.  Leading some fans to conclude they should wear red clown noses to future games(!)

 

But it really was an improbable win because it came over the Colts - who would have clinched a playoff berth with a win over the lowly Jags - but instead Indy played an awful game and now miss the playoffs.  The Jags win also helped Pittsburgh into the playoffs and extended Ben Roethlisberger's career for at least one more game.

 

The Jags win could have cost them the next #1 pick.  But the Lions also won yesterday, thus preserving the Jags #1 draft status.  A great day for Jags fans - plus they clowned management during an in-stadium trivia game, when a fans' answer was "Fire Baalke", the current GM(!)

wats ab doing these days?

making a music video in the diamond district -- 😂

 

One more thing about the Jags win helping Pittsburgh get into the playoffs.  It almost didn't happen because of a weird scenario involving the final game of the night with the Chargers and the Raiders.

 

If that Chargers/Raiders game ended in a tie, both the Changers and Raiders would have made the playoffs and Steelers would have been eliminated.  But that would never happen, right?

 

The Chargers/Raiders game was tied after 60 minutes and went into OT(!)  It was still tied going into the final play of OT, a 47-yard goal field goal attempt by the Raiders.  But the Raiders made the OT-ending FG to win the game, and Pittsburgh advanced into the playoffs because of it(!)

Sometimes the Belichick magic doesn't work.  Bills were up 27-3 at halftime, 47-17 at the final whistle:

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33076081/buffalo-bills-make-playoff-history-7-touchdown-drives-blowout-win-vs-new-england-patriots

Every NFL season since the Dallas Cowboys won Super Bowl XXX in 1996:

 

Dallas Cowboys:  This year is our year!

NFL:  No it isn't - not even close.

 

Although, in all fairness, that DAL-SF game should have been recorded as a loss for both teams, since each one did their best to try to lose(!)  And what a clusterf*** of an ending(!)

 

Honestly, I think Twitter was created to roast Cowboys fans:

 

Bad day to be a #1 seed yesterday.  First the Bengals knock off the AFC #1 seeded Titans in Tennessee.  Then SF knocks off the NFC #1 seed Green Bay Packers.

 

Green Bay looked like they might eke out a 10-3 win in cold and snowy conditions on "the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field".  Until they needed to punt the ball from their 12-yard line with just over five minutes left.  That punt got blocked and SF recovered it for a TD to tie the game up.

 

But the Packers still had Aaron Rodgers (the league MVP) and plenty of time to mount a go-ahead drive.  Instead, they went 3-and-out and got the punt away this time to give the ball to SF on their 29-yard line with 3:20 left.

 

That left it to SF's Jimmy G (who hadn't done much of anything yet in the game).  But on this drive, he led the 49ers on a nine-play clock-draining drive to the GB 27-yard line, where they kicked a game-winning FG to end the game(!)

 

So Mr. Anti-Vax MVP will have to wait yet another year for a second Super Bowl ring.  Because in football, this strategy doesn't work:

34 minutes ago, Columbo said:

Bad day to be a #1 seed yesterday.  First the Bengals knock off the AFC #1 seeded Titans in Tennessee.  Then SF knocks off the NFC #1 seed Green Bay Packers.

 

Green Bay looked like they might eke out a 10-3 win in cold and snowy conditions on "the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field".  Until they needed to punt the ball from their 12-yard line with just over five minutes left.  That punt got blocked and SF recovered it for a TD to tie the game up.

 

But the Packers still had Aaron Rodgers (the league MVP) and plenty of time to mount a go-ahead drive.  Instead, they went 3-and-out and got the punt away this time to give the ball to SF on their 29-yard line with 3:20 left.

 

That left it to SF's Jimmy G (who hadn't done much of anything yet in the game).  But on this drive, he led the 49ers on a nine-play clock-draining drive to the GB 27-yard line, where they kicked a game-winning FG to end the game(!)

 

So Mr. Anti-Vax MVP will have to wait yet another year for a second Super Bowl ring.  Because in football, this strategy doesn't work:

Wonderful games! I loved the stunned look on Rodgers' face! Priceless!(I can't stand him). And he needs to just come out of the closet already instead of burying himself in MAGA/Trump bullsh$t. 

To add insult to injury, on the game winning field goal by SF, the Packers only sent ten men onto the field

 

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1485103658782150656?t=yXzTGGQD1Txt_yb4foJsRA&s=19

This NFL playoff weekend has been a-maz-ing.

 

The first three games all ended with a game-winning field goal.

 

Now, the final game (Buffalo at KC) has gone to overtime - after the teams traded three TD's in the final two minutes and KC sent it into OT with a game-tying field goal(!)

 

UPDATE:  And now KC wins it in OT with a TD drive on their first possession.

Edited January 24, 20223 yr by Columbo

11 hours ago, Columbo said:

Now, the final game (Buffalo at KC) has gone to overtime - after the teams traded three TD's in the final two minutes and KC sent it into OT with a game-tying field goal(!)

 

UPDATE:  And now KC wins it in OT with a TD drive on their first possession.

 

My wife is from Buffalo so I have Bills fans for in-laws, so I am with them in their criticism of the overtime rule in the post season.  It seems such a shame that both these teams played 19 games, got to OT and to basically lose on a coin toss.   Yes, the defense could have held....but it would have been a much better ending to see these 2 teams fight it out another 15 minutes.  

I thought both teams get the ball in OT.  Does that rule not apply for playoff game?

 

Edited January 24, 20223 yr by LibertyBlvd

8 minutes ago, LibertyBlvd said:

I thought both teams get the ball in OT.  Does that rule not apply for playoff game?

 

In college the second team always gets to try to match or beat the first team's attempt.

 

In the NFL, it's the first to score in any capacity unless the very first possession results in a field goal. Then the original kicking team gets a chance to score.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33145340/sources-new-orleans-saints-coach-sean-payton-stepping-away-16-years

 

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is stepping away after 16 years with the franchise.

 

Payton, 58, is reportedly not retiring permanently and it's not immediately clear what he plans to do next.  Would Jerry Jones dumping a Brinks truck full of cash at Payton help him decide?  Because it seem like Dallas needs an upgrade at head coach(!)

WOW - Tom Brady is retiring at age 44 after 22 NFL seasons:

And if anyone wonders how he compares to other QB's who played past 40, it's no comparison:

 

1 hour ago, Columbo said:

WOW - Tom Brady is retiring at age 44 after 22 NFL seasons:

And if anyone wonders how he compares to other QB's who played past 40, it's no comparison:

 

 

Or maybe not?

 

Looks like Tom Brady's NFL retirement is now official:

 

coach flores sues the nfl over racist hiring:

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33194862/brian-flores-sues-nfl-others-former-miami-dolphins-coach-alleges-racism-hiring-practices

Pretty damning evidence in there. Here's what Flores is asking for

 

Among the areas he said he'd like to see addressed:

• Increase influence of Black individuals in hiring

• Increase the objectivity of hiring/terminating GMs, head coaches and coordinators

• Increase the number of Black coordinators

• Incentivize hiring/retention of Black GMs, head coaches and coordinators

• Transparency of pay for GMs, head coaches and coordinators

The lawsuit also seeks unspecified damages from the league. The NFL did not immediately respond for comment.

Those Belichick texts. Yikes

 

I think the  "racist!" claims have no real tooth to them, I think the lawyers here just threw everything and the kitchen sink into the filing. The accusations about being offered a bonus to lose games is pretty rough, though. Especially because the owner is also invested in sports betting. Will be interesting to see if there's any truth to it. This should be the headline.

 

And for an interesting thought exercise - had the Dolphins tanked more than the Bengals that year, they'd have gotten Joe Burrow, and maybe they'd be in the Super Bowl this year.

 

 

13 hours ago, Boomerang_Brian said:

Those Belichick texts. Yikes

 

 

Honestly, Belichick texting the wrong Brian is pretty hilarious. Never would have guessed he uses exclamation points.

 

Somebody might have told him "we're hiring Brian" and he didn't realize they interviewed a different Brian. Or maybe he just texted the wrong contact?  You also have to wonder - if he never sends those texts, does this lawsuit happen? Is there some sort of long con being masterminded by Belichick here?

 

17 minutes ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

 

WFT came so close to going Commando

 

1 hour ago, Ram23 said:

I think the  "racist!" claims have no real tooth to them, I think the lawyers here just threw everything and the kitchen sink into the filing.

 

 

in that case you are "seriously deluded!"

 

https://today.tamu.edu/2022/01/24/why-most-nfl-head-coaches-are-white-behind-the-nfls-abysmal-record-on-diversity/

 

and add to that how many coaches also played the game, yet white nfl players do not even make up 25%.

 

systematic racism remains a serious issue in the nfl higher ranks, not to mention elsewhere.

18 hours ago, ryanlammi said:

Pretty damning evidence in there. Here's what Flores is asking for

 

Among the areas he said he'd like to see addressed:

• Increase influence of Black individuals in hiring

• Increase the objectivity of hiring/terminating GMs, head coaches and coordinators

• Increase the number of Black coordinators

• Incentivize hiring/retention of Black GMs, head coaches and coordinators

• Transparency of pay for GMs, head coaches and coordinators

The lawsuit also seeks unspecified damages from the league. The NFL did not immediately respond for comment.

I feel for Flores, I think he got the screw job in Miami based on his record. he is certainly proven his worth as a head coach and should/deserve to coach again on the surface. BUT..... 

I do take issue with his suit and goals. While i am all for increased diversity in the ranks of coaches, and think the Rooney Rule is good to help promote that diversity, at the end of the day, I do not think he will be legally successful, at least on the terms that he may hope. He will likely get a settlement out of this and then be blackballed from coaching again. He may get some changes from an NFL PR perspective, but that may be it. 

 

To his goals. 

1) Increase influence of Black individuals in hiring: This may be the most likely chance of success. Given the amount of black players it only behooves the NFL to focus more on promotion of black coaches. I do think there has been success in this. Yes, Tomlin is now hte only black head coach, but the past problem of the bench of upcoming candidates is no longer the issue. Now, you have a list of qualified coordinators who are in consideration every cycle. That is going to be the thing that changes the perspective more than any lawsuit.

 

2) Increase objectivity in hiring and firing GM's/Head coaches - This is really a bunch of BS in my opinion. Coaches sign a contract to coach. They work at the behest of their owner. If the owner does not like the way they coach, or the way the coach deals with the media, or even if the coach wears the wrong color shoes to work, the owner can choose to relieve the coach from duties upon his will. He is the owner of the franchise, it is a private organization, the owner has a right to make the decision he wants no matter how arbitrary it may be. The contract spells out the terms of how the owner would have to relieve the coach and what payout that coach would be owed. This is a purely contractual relationship. What Flores seems to be arguing is that he should be entitled to specific performance under the contract based on his past record, or some objective metric. That has really never been how contract law has worked and it would set a horrible precedent by requiring Ross as the owner to continue to employ Flores in the position of head coach if Ross no longer has faith in Flores. Flores was fired and chances are, based on his contract, the firing was "not for cause". This means he can receive monetary damages for breach. There really is no other remedy. 

 

3) Increase in the number of Black Coordinators - Applying the Rooney Rule to cordinators has led to a large increase in coordinators. We are seeing thr fruits of this.  Between KC, Rams, Buffalo, SF, amongst other teams there has certainly been progress in this area, and will continue ot have such progress. If he is asking for a quota, that is a bit unreasonable especially given that each team makes their own hiring decisions, but the goal should be access and additional visiabiliy which I believe is being accomplished already. 

 

4) Incentivize Hiring of Black coaches/GMs - I think this is being done already and you are just starting to see the fruits of this.

 

5) Transparency of Pay for GM's/Coaches/Coordinators - Given that the NFL is a private organization and the teams are private entities, there shoudl be no requirement here. Also, it is very hard to feel sorry for Flores on this issue because all of the NFL coaches even from the lower level of position coaches have agents to represent them. Most agents represent multiple coaches and coordinators in the league. The agents know the pay structure. Any agent worth their salt knows that the other teams are paying and negotiates off that amount. If Flores felt he was compensated unfairly, then he should have that argument with his agent. 

Edited February 2, 20223 yr by Brutus_buckeye

Attention people of 2010! I am speaking to you from the future! What do you think of a world where a Super Bowl between The Commanders and Las Vegas is possible?

2 minutes ago, GCrites80s said:

Attention people of 2010! I am speaking to you from the future! What do you think of a world where a Super Bowl between The Commanders and Las Vegas is possible? 

Also, in Las Vegas's home stadium.