This is great for NE Ohio on so many levels.....

 

NFL plans to hold rookie symposium in Northeast Ohio for forseeable future

Published: Wednesday, June 27, 2012, 3:01 PM    Updated: Wednesday, June 27, 2012, 10:53 PM

  By Tom Reed, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The NFL Rookie Symposium likely will return to Northeast Ohio for the foreseeable future.

 

Troy Vincent, the league's vice president of player engagement, told The Plain Dealer on Wednesday that the centralized location and the proximity to the Pro Football Hall of Fame makes the area an ideal spot to conduct the rookie orientations, which stress the sport's legacy, tradition of character and leadership and professional responsibility.

 

No immediate announcement is expected from the league as it conducts follow-up meetings on the matter, but the intention is to make the area home to the weeklong event.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/06/nfl_plans_to_hold_rookie_sympo.html

This is great for NE Ohio on so many levels.....

 

NFL plans to hold rookie symposium in Northeast Ohio for forseeable future

Published: Wednesday, June 27, 2012, 3:01 PM    Updated: Wednesday, June 27, 2012, 10:53 PM

  By Tom Reed, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The NFL Rookie Symposium likely will return to Northeast Ohio for the foreseeable future.

 

Troy Vincent, the league's vice president of player engagement, told The Plain Dealer on Wednesday that the centralized location and the proximity to the Pro Football Hall of Fame makes the area an ideal spot to conduct the rookie orientations, which stress the sport's legacy, tradition of character and leadership and professional responsibility.

 

No immediate announcement is expected from the league as it conducts follow-up meetings on the matter, but the intention is to make the area home to the weeklong event.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/06/nfl_plans_to_hold_rookie_sympo.html

 

That's cool.  I knew they were in town last week, but I assumed that it was part of a rotation.

Of the two Ohio NFL teams in 2011, the Cleveland Browns ranked 18th in total attendance among 32 teams, and the Cincinnati Bengals ranked 32nd....

 

Game Changer: NFL Scrambles to Fill Seats

June 29, 2012

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303561504577495083707417526.html#project%3DNFL062920120629%26articleTabs%3Dinteractive

Eww that makes the Bengals look BAD, but there is a reason for it. Honestly they had 55+ straight sell out before this past season. With Carson gone they didnt know what to expect for the season.

Interesting article

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1253131-8-nfl-teams-that-will-be-forced-to-cut-talented-players-in-2012

The Sunday games begin again.  But the Saints players involved in the off-season "bounty-gate" scandal won a big victory just before their first game of the 2012 season:

 

ESPN Blog: Saints' player suspensions lifted

Hilarious!!!

 

RT @Deadspin: Five years after Jerry Jones fumbled it away, http://Cowboys.com is now a male dating site.

Hehehe Hoohoohoo Hahaha.

Lordy that was bad last night. The only problem is the amount of buzz generated by such a poor, poor call. I'm sure people will be tuning in next week to see what they screw up more obvious calls.

 

I'm waiting for lawsuits to start flying back and forth!

That score swung a lot of bets last night.  GB was 3.5 point favorites

That call is unbelievable. While I hate the Packers, it is still inexcuseable for this kind of call to happen. These botched calls aren't going to force the NFL's hand into negotiating with the professional refs though.

 

The biggest thing that could ruin the NFL is if there is a serious injury for a star player (say Tom Brady, Calvin Johnson, Aaron Rogers, etc) that ends someone's career because the refs don't have control of the game. If something like that happens, I could easily see a lawsuit filed for hundreds of millions of dollars (a billion dollars?). Some players have contracts in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and couple that with advertising deals, potential for larger future contracts, medical bills, pain and suffering, etc. that lawsuit could add up quickly. They would have to be able to prove that the NFL disregarded the palyers' safety to win a lawsuit like that, though.

 

I could also see a players' strike happening if injuries start accumulating on huge players because of unsafe working conditions. If either of those things happens, the NFL is in trouble. Without major injuries, the NFL has no reason to negotiate with the refs. People will still watch the games and the League will still make billions in profits.

You sure it's going to force the NFL to bargain seriously? Everyone is talking about the NFL and some want to see what will happen next -- ala the WWE, afternoon Train Wreck Television shows or even the post below......

 

I'm sure people will be tuning in next week to see what they screw up more obvious calls.

 

You may as well save even more money and put fans out on the field to ref. Seattle fans are calling that a dual catch, so obviously they're just as suited for the job as the subs.

Rule or no rule. That was not a touchdown. It was a pass interference. Also why did that guy try to catch the ball. Bat it away.

Memo to Seahawks fans - the refs from the 2006 Superbowl thought that was the right call.

The Lingerie Football League Announces That It Fired “A Couple Crews Which Apparently Are Now Officiating In The NFL” Because Of Incompetence

SEP 25, 2012 12:43 AM

Jack Dickey

 

...

(Statement from the LFL)

 

"Because of the LFL's perception it is that much more critical for us to hire officiating crews that are competent, not only for the credibility of our game but to keep our athletes safer. Due to several on-field incompetent officiating we chose to part ways with with a couple crews which apparently are now officiating in the NFL. We have a lot of respect for our officials but we felt the officiating was not in line with our expectations.

 

We have not made public comment to date because we felt it was not our place to do so. However in light of tonight's event, we felt it was only fair that NFL fans knew the truth as to who are officiating these games."

 

...

 

http://deadspin.com/5946112/the-lingerie-football-league-announces-that-it-fired-a-couple-crews-which-apparently-are-now-officiating-in-the-nfl-because-of-incompetence?post=52950172

NFL dumps the replacement refs.  Just in time for tonight's Browns-Ravens game.

 

Commissioner Goodell even apologized.  Well sort of.

 

ESPN: Roger Goodell apologizes to fans

Columbus Dispatch brings John Elway back from the booth....

 

http://twitter.com/dispatcheditor/status/375961878255505409/photo/1

I never really thought about the similarities of their appearances.

NFL confirms: Read-option QBs can be hit like runners

 

Blandino noted that if the offense is running a play designed to keep the defense guessing about who’s getting the ball, it’s only fair for the defense to be allowed to tackle both players who might have the ball.

 

“The quarterback and the running back, they’re both treated as runners. We don’t know who has the football, we don’t know who’s going to take it, so both players are treated as runners,” Blandino said.

 

For all the talk of the league office protecting defenseless quarterbacks, Blandino made clear that quarterbacks are only considered defenseless in certain situations, and running the read option is not one of those situations.

 

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/05/nfl-confirms-read-option-qbs-can-be-hit-like-runners/

 

 

There goes the read option .. and those style QB's

Looks like the news about the new carry in bag regulations for the 2013 season got ate by the server. Basically either only clear bags (the kind you have to carry when you work in one of Columbus' trillions of warehouses) or very tiny purses are allowed in. As if the league wasn't having a hard enough time getting butts in the seats already. ANYWAY, people always forget (or have a legal bag that security turns away anyway), get turned away at the gate and have to put it back in their car. Thieves know this and have started lurking outside the stadiums to tear open people's cars to steal the bags. Here's a story about a lady who had a complaint bag but got turned away anyway at an NCAA game at Mile High Stadium. The stadium has adopted the NFL rules for all football games at the facility. So the policy even hurts the college game.

 

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/09/03/car-burglary-victim-says-new-stadium-bag-policy-is-partly-to-blame/

 

As someone who hosts events from time to time, I can tell you that it is increasingly difficult to get people to be at a certain place at a certain time. Between today's awful work schedules, high under- and unemployment, gestapo DUI enforcement, transportation problems and the 24/7/365 non-weather-sensitive flexibility of today's home-based entertainment, people are less likely to show up to things. The last thing they need when they get somewhere is a bunch of lame rules and regulations when they get to these expensive events. I remember when there were a bunch of Joe Footballfans (motorsports' term for ball-and-stick sports fans) getting into NASCAR in the '90s and early 2000s that nearly fainted when they found out they could bring up to a case of their own beer or even like 10 bottles of liquor per person into the races as long as the cooler was under 24"X24".

 

"They should just put a skirt on the quarterback" -- Jack Lambert

bruno mars gets the super bowl halftime gig:

 

 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/08/showbiz/bruno-mars-super-bowl/index.html?c=showbiz

 

well, it is reaffirmed that the Jets fan is the most loathsome creature roaming this earth:

 

Steve Doerschuk tweeted this:

 

Steve Doerschuk (@sdoerschukREP) tweeted at 11:05am - 8 Oct 13:

 

Echoes of why 2007 didn't last. Winslow's team scores huge Monday win. K2 sulks because he didn't get his. (

)

 

I wonder who he is talking about?

I watched the 2 hour Frontline piece on CTE - League of Denial

 

I gotta say...I don't see how this doesn't mark the beginning of the end of football.

 

Link: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/league-of-denial/

 

 

I don't see how it is 'the beginning of the end.'  The issue is non-disclosure of the concerns.  That can be corrected and everyone can assess the risk before deciding whether to play.  How could football cease to exist, yet people still play rugby, drive in NASCAR, go skydiving or bungee cord jumping, etc., etc. 

Watch the PBS piece then get back to me. 

 

 

Football in 5yrs will be very different. One of three things will happen;

 

1. Mandating of the use of very large, soft shell helmets (already prototyped by Riddell and Bike).

 

2. Banishment of shoulderpads, forcing more rugby-style tackling.

 

3. Abolishment of tackle (for flag) football in some high schools, leading to a drying up of talent and longer term concern about replenishment of players.

 

Crazy, you say?

 

Well what would Big Tabacco have said about banning smoking on planes ... In restaurants ... As condition for employment ... 30 years ago?

 

What does Donte Whitner say about penalties for leading with the helmet already?

 

The change has already started. And will accelerate.

I did watch some of it.  But I had read much more about this subject before that segment was ever aired.  I also played the sport for nearly 15 years and had my bell rung quite a few times.... not to mention three surgeries on other parts of my body.  To the extent the NFL hid evidence, that is wrong and must be fixed.  But let's not pretend that people who decide to play football don't understand that it is a violent sport, with a high-risk component for injury.  The ability to legally beat the sh!t out of somebody is part of the reason people play. 

 

The smoking on planes and restaraunts thingy is a horrible analogy.  Those laws were passed out of concern for those people (other customers and employees) who don't smoke and were forced to breath it in second hand.  The NFL doesn't pick random fans out of the stand and force them to run down the field on a kickoff.

 

The bottom line is that these effects have been well known and commonly accepted in the boxing community for decades.  Ever heard the phrase "punch-drunk"?  Boxing is still around.

^I'm not questioning your football knowledge....I know a little about the sport and the injuries as well.  I played D1 football while my father was an assistant coach for the Carolina Panthers when Dom Capers was the head coach back in the mid 90's.  They played ball together at Mount Union. 

 

The point is if you think football (as we know it today) isn't going to change then you're lying to yourself. 

It's constantly changing and always has.  Saying it is going to change and suggesting that the end of football is near are vastly different predictions.

Hearing about some of the changes that are going to be taking place over the next several of years, it's sure as hell going to feel like an end.  Trust me, I hope I'm wrong...

I did watch some of it.  But I had read much more about this subject before that segment was ever aired.  I also played the sport for nearly 15 years and had my bell rung quite a few times.... not to mention three surgeries on other parts of my body.  To the extent the NFL hid evidence, that is wrong and must be fixed.  But let's not pretend that people who decide to play football don't understand that it is a violent sport, with a high-risk component for injury.  The ability to legally beat the sh!t out of somebody is part of the reason people play. 

 

The smoking on planes and restaraunts thingy is a horrible analogy.  Those laws were passed out of concern for those people (other customers and employees) who don't smoke and were forced to breath it in second hand.  The NFL doesn't pick random fans out of the stand and force them to run down the field on a kickoff.

 

The bottom line is that these effects have been well known and commonly accepted in the boxing community for decades.  Ever heard the phrase "punch-drunk"?  Boxing is still around.

 

I agree and the smoking analogy also doesn't work because, even though we didn't yet have the documents from the tobacco companies to show what they were hiding, my parents knew 60-70 years ago that smoking was bad. When they were kids, cigarettes were called "Coffin Nails." Similarly, everyone knows that football is a violent sport and that playing it for a long time can lead to debilitating injuries for the rest of one's life. We didn't need the NFL documentation to prove it.

Ok bad analogy, I get it guys.  It doesn't change what is going to happen to the sport of football. 

I'd say a lot of it has already happened.  The idea of a defenseless receiver rule, rules against hands to the QB's head, fines for helmet to helmet regardless of spearing, the prohibition on wedges and crackback blocks, the inability to bullrush the long snapper, etc, etc.  Then there are game adjustments like the running clock and moving the kickoff up.  Those changes have to play out over time to know the effect.  There surely will be equipment improvements as well.  But you can't eliminate the risk.  The ironic thing is IMO that the most vicious plays, such as iso blocking schemes and interior line traps are not even in the discussion, nor are they likely to be part of the discussion in the future

^Good point.  This is a very interesting topic.  I think the question a lot of people are asking is at what point does the risk outweigh the benefits? 

Well, I for one, have been steering my kid towards soccer.  Its tough.  On some days, I tell myself I would do it all again if given the chance.  Those are usually the days where it doesn't feel like my knee is held together by dental floss, I don't take any notice that I am missing part of my collarbone, and I don't look at the pinky which has a middle knuckle locked at a 45 degree angle.  I'm sure both of us are in store for early onset arthritis

I hear you man. I'm in my mid-thirties and some days it's an adventure just getting out of bed.  I'll be having knee replacement surgery one day. Ugh. That said, I would do it all again, and I suspect you would too.  You wouldn't have played the sport for 15yrs if it wasn't in your blood. 

I hear you man. I'm in my mid-thirties and some days it's an adventure just getting out of bed.  I'll be having knee replacement surgery one day. Ugh. That said, I would do it all again, and I suspect you would too.  You wouldn't have played the sport for 15yrs if it wasn't in your blood. 

 

It might have been here where this conversation just took place.  I suspect that if I hadn't "played" HS ball, I'd really regret it today, and I sure as hell don't regret it despite two knees that occasionally hurt like hell for no apparent reason  (I didn't play much, but back then I swear you'd get beat up in practice as much as you do in a game now.  I've encountered very few players that regret it, and quite a few non-players who wish they had.

 

There's some major things soccer doesn't do for kids that football, baseball, basketball do.  It doesn't teach them the importance of focus, or for that matter even teamwork.  Especially at the younger level, half the kids on the team are just wandering around and might kick the ball if it comes near them.  My niece played football, not soccer, and it did a lot for her.  It also scares away disrespectful d-bags when I drop it into a conversation.

 

Change the game too much and there will be pushback from the fans.  There usually is.  :evil:

There's some major things soccer doesn't do for kids that football, baseball, basketball do.  It doesn't teach them the importance of focus, or for that matter even teamwork.  Especially at the younger level, half the kids on the team are just wandering around and might kick the ball if it comes near them. 

 

At the risk of taking this waaaaay off-topic (which I'll do anyways ;))..... have you never been to a pee-wee football game??  Half the kids are just trying to hold their pants up or seeing if their mouthguard fits up their nose.  Sure, at the toddler stage youth soccer rec leagues is a giant scrum, but you might be surprised how good these kids are nowadays even in the youngest travel leagues.  Soccer has exploded in popularity since we were young (DEFINITELY since YOU were young :)).  My son is 7 and playes in a U8 league.  I have frankly been shocked how much I've grown to enjoy it.  Never played a single game of organized soccer in my life, but I now have a newfound respect for the sport.  Regardless of what sport you want to play, you need good feet.  Soccer is a helluva developmental tool at a young age.

eh, t-ball teaches hand-eye coordination. bowling teaches respect for beer and the working class (ha). point being you could say stuff like all that about any youth sport. you're both right.

 

gotta say tho, i was in queens corona park last saturday morning and all the youth soccer teams in their little uniforms were awful cute!

 

back to amurica football - im really hating all the jumping around before the snap, i wish the nfl would crack down on that. i didnt pay good no money to watch canadian football!

 

Obviously, auto racing has been popular since the second car was built and up until about 10 years ago drivers constantly died during the events. Safety technology has definitely improved greatly since Dale Earnhardt died and NASCAR drivers are much less likely to die or be seriously injured. IndyCar, F1 and smaller series still see occasional visits from the reaper. Yet the events continue to happen weekly throughout the warmer months. And auto racing still has its share of former drivers with neurological problems such as Ernie Irvan and even one of my old high school teachers.

Football is a strange sport, you can play in the NFL for 15 years, walk away with no problems or play play 4 years in college.

Hell, you have d3 college players with no Scholly who play for 4 years. I played football through high school, was an infrantry soldier,

and any injury I ever had was auto, or weight lifting related.

 

If you can make a few million in the NFL playing 5 years god bless.

There's some major things soccer doesn't do for kids that football, baseball, basketball do.  It doesn't teach them the importance of focus, or for that matter even teamwork.  Especially at the younger level, half the kids on the team are just wandering around and might kick the ball if it comes near them. 

 

At the risk of taking this waaaaay off-topic (which I'll do anyways ;))..... have you never been to a pee-wee football game??  Half the kids are just trying to hold their pants up or seeing if their mouthguard fits up their nose.  Sure, at the toddler stage youth soccer rec leagues is a giant scrum, but you might be surprised how good these kids are nowadays even in the youngest travel leagues.  Soccer has exploded in popularity since we were young (DEFINITELY since YOU were young :)).  My son is 7 and playes in a U8 league.  I have frankly been shocked how much I've grown to enjoy it.  Never played a single game of organized soccer in my life, but I now have a newfound respect for the sport.  Regardless of what sport you want to play, you need good feet.  Soccer is a helluva developmental tool at a young age.

 

I've been to plenty of flag football games and a couple years of CYO when my niece (now 18) was playing.  IMNSHO opinion, flag football is better for the seven and eight year olds. 

 

Soccer's become popular for kids for a lot of the wrong reasons.  By US standards, there's simply too many people on the team and the field is too big.  That's why indoor soccer did a little bit better than outdoor commercially.  This drawback made it better for overprotective parents since not all the kids are involved and those so inclined can even avoid contact.  As it turns out, this wasn't even enough as some leagues are now trying to require helmets.

 

It's a self esteem thing as kids can be on the team without having their weaknesses exposed (impossible in football or basketball, difficult in baseball or softball).  Ah hell, I'm going to start a new thread.... 

so the jets signed cribbs today and are working out hillis and may sign him. hmm. that is all.

 

^ I'm beginning to think it's not Cleveland that's cursed. Just me. Maybe I need to move to Boston so the Red Sox can return to establishing another 89 year drought.

 

Edit: Never mind. All is right with the world after all. Continue sucking, NY Football Giants. Suck long and suck hard.

 

Giants to sign Peyton Hillis

 

Desperately in need of depth at running back because of injuries, the New York Giants on Wednesday will sign veteran Peyton Hillis, a source confirmed to ESPN.com.

 

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/9833322/new-york-giants-add-peyton-hillis-tryout

 

 

so the jets signed cribbs today and are working out hillis and may sign him. hmm. that is all.

 

 

If they sign him I bet he takes one big against the Browns on Dec 22. 

so the jets signed cribbs today and are working out hillis and may sign him. hmm. that is all.

 

They must be really desperate to take Cleveland's garbage. Josh Cribbs is washed up, and has been for years.

Is it me or have there been more ACL tears this year? Bengals' Geno Atkins apparently tore his last night. Cleveland has lost three players to ACL tears -- WR/KR Travis Benjamin, QB Brian Hoyer and RB Dion Lewis. Other teams have lost key players to ACL tears. What's up?

 

EDIT: here ya go.....

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/95723/inside-slant-big-spike-in-acl-injuries

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/97477/inside-slant-acl-connection-to-shoes

Trend or not, it was only a matter of time with Benjamin IMHO.  I assume everyone saw the video of the toddler who wore the glow in the dark Travis Benjamin costume for Halloween?