The NFL - my perspective
 

Even though I am a lifelong Dolphin's fan and disappointed every season, I still can't get enough of football. Every week there are amazing games with the best athletes in the world.

TALK ABOUT IT...

Cue someone posting a pic of a fat NFL player. :)

Football is cool but I think MMA guys are the best athletes in the world in general. You can find out of shape guys in any sport of course, but on average, I definitely think MMA.

I love the NFL, i hate that it's only 16 games a year BUT that's what makes each week, each game so important. That the entire schedule minus one game takes place on Sunday has made every Sunday from September to February into a national holiday for tens of millions of people.

The sport itself if you understand it enough is brutal and violent and artistic and graceful at once. The strategy is complex and fascinating - it's chess, it's a war game. I've been watching it my entire life and I still don't understand a lot of it and I don't want to - I don't want to be dissecting each play and each position, takes the fun out of it. I don't want to be a coach, I'm happy being a fan.

The NFL is also smart enough to tweak the rules so that there's an emphasis on offense, some old school football fans don't like that but 10-3 games don't cut it for the average fans. We want offense, we want touchdowns.

And then there's parity amongst teams which inspired the famous quote 'on any given Sunday' - every year there are surprise teams that rise up and good teams that unravel into mediocrity and worse.

It is quite an amazing sport. As you stated, one of the things that makes it so popular is all of the scoring. Hockey and soccer should take note. I think both would be immensely more popular in the US especially, if there were more points.

i miss the old days, when girls in bikinis were featured in beer ads.

As a lifelong Eagles fan, I'm right there with you on being disappointed every season. This one is stinging the most, but I'm still holding hope that yesterday's victory over the LOLskins is the turning point where they get their heads out of their ass, remember how to tackle, and play like the football team their roster indicates they should be.

What I love is players like LeSean McCoy. McCoy had a breakout game yesterday. He had 28 carries for 126 rushing yards. This is kid who went to high school at Bishop McDevitt in Harrisburg, PA. Went to college at University of Pittsburgh, then drafted by the Eagles. McCoy has already spoken in regards to upcoming contract negotions, saying that he's not worried, it will work out because he's not playing anywhere else. Philly is his home, and that's where he's going to play. That's a kid who is loyal to his team. I remember years ago, when Reggie White said the Eagles were his team, and football was never about the money. Then he left for Green Bay. So it's really great to see someone who isn't all about the money be successful. And I have no doubt that the Eagles will give him all the money he deserves (they're masters at managing the salary cap).

Yes the Eagles looked goo yesterday. I can't believe the Niners too. I sure wish the Cowboys had won.

Wonder how much this guy will get fined? $15-25k is my guess.

http://l.yimg.com/a/p/sp/editorial_i...s_sideline.jpg

How bout Jim Harbaugh?

Big deal? or no biggie?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31751_16...-10391697.html

It's not like he was shakin hands with Don Shula or anything.

It was kind of a dickered move but he was very excited about the win and it probably came off worse than he meant it. Both and him and Schwartz will surely be fined. $50k?

How many FAT or even remotely out of shape NHL players are there again?

For some reason I find the NFL boring. That said, I am a college football, super freak. For me, nothing beats the crowd noise, spirit and drama of college football.

I love the spirit of college football and the fans but the intensity and speed of the game typically pales in comparison of the NFL.

that really is some silly shit fining the guy for flipping the bird almost as lame as fining Moss for a FAKE mooning...sometimes they are a little too familiy friendly imo.

yesterday sucked. saints blew it, vikings clobbered blech.

but glad to see some new teams on top. SF, Oakland, Detroit etc

Mitch can you get on ICQ please?

You and me both brother. I was born and raised in Fla. and was in elementary school there when THE Perfect Season happened.
I grew up idolizing Bob Griese, Mercury Morris, Larry Czonka, Jim Kick, Paul Warfield, etc.

And then in the 1980's...Dan Marino was THE MAN. Every year I prayed Shula would finally get a great running back so Marino could lead the Fins to the title. :(

I still think the Dolphins could hire back Shula and Marino and make another run! lol

Not so sure about the intensity but speed, smarts .. and skill ... definitely.

And look.. I don't say this as an argument over which is better.. there are clearly better athletes in the NFL. For me personally there is so much skill & speed that the NFL game has become robotic. Timing, precision pass routes, perfect technique, perfect reads on both sides of the ball.

maybe they just need to mute the commentators and let me hear the crowd noise :)

I don't think Soccer has to change its goal system in order to compete. It is the number 1 sport in the world. USA isn't the target market for Soccer, so it doesn't make sense changing a game that is how old, just to get more USA folks into it.

Hey Mitch, I like football too but I'd say it's a stretch to say they are the best athletes in the world. One hell of a stretch.

'Da Bears....

-L

Besides the giant linemen, many of them are incredible athletes with great stamina and agility. I don't think it is a stretch at all, but this is...

http://s0.2mdn.net/viewad/3368244/36...in_300x250.jpg

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

i think it's very much a stretch when you consider it's a sport that has nearly no relevance outside the US.

but i like to watch it though, even tried it myself long time ago

it's a lot cheaper to kick a ball around in the dirt that suit up to play football in the school systems :2 cents:

its also a lot cheaper to buy some pads and a helmet than a yearly membership for the golf club :winkwink:

I fully agree. The National Football League is the pinnacle of Western civilization.

The NFL is getting far too strict anymore. 5 years from now it just might become flag football...

Otherwise.. how about those Packers? And the Ravens aren't looking too bad this year so far either. (Packs are my #1, always have been.. Ravens are my home town team and I guess it's about time I support them).

My family moved to Coral Gables in 1967 and our neighbor was a Miami Dolphin Cheerleader and she got my sister into it and we got to go to all the games free at the Orange Bowl. Keep in mind that back then the Miami Dolphin Cheerleaders age ranged from six to 18 and my sister was about 12 when she cheered.

One of their biggest games was a Monday night football game against the Bears. Back when Dick Butkus played. My Dad and I went and we sat just below the commentators booth that had the big three, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell. We could see them plain as day as they stood in front of the window looking out on the field with their headsets on. I told my sister I wanted an NFL football and if one was to ever roll by her to hide it under her pom pom. That monday night game the ball actually rolled through her line of Cheerleaders and she didn't flinch. I never let her hear the end of it :)

She got to cheer for a few more years and we got to go to all the games free. Then the Dallas Cowboys changed NFL cheerleading with the sexy hot adult girls and the rest of the teams followed suit. My sister and the rest of the Dolphin Dolls were let go and replaced by the adult girls. I'm not sure what year that was but it was just before the 72 perfect season because I remember my Dad was mad because we did't get free tickets anymore and had to pay.

The Miami / Ft Lauderdale region back then was epic especially around spring break and would be for several more years.
I don't care much for it today. :Oh crap

And while I'm at it the Dolphins SUCK! Dumbass reciever last night couldn't even run inbounds.
Had a TD and just ran out of bounds without being touched :mad:

wow never knew you were a dolphins fan

SQUISH THE FISH

pulling all processing links now ;)

Hey, Dolphins suck no doubt, but look at Detroit. They have been bad for 20 years, or forever, and they will most likely go pretty far this year. You'll get there!

Being from the UK, i do actually like watching NFL, but the games do last a little too long for my liking.

Kinda the same with baseball. Sometimes i just want the thing to end lol...

It is actually quite popular in parts of the EU and other areas. It is a 9 billion dollar industry.

Damn it!!! I hope you are well lol.