The OFFICIAL NFL 2012 Thread

[Bladders]

People power. I think there is a lot of emotion going on here, and I could see the statue and the programme being the target of protests, over and over again, until the sheer volume of the outcry against everything connected to Penn State and Coach Joe, leads to it coming down, and the programme being closed down. Maybe even just as a "rebranding" exercise, but one way or another, I expect this to all result in the staue no longer being there in 12 months time. If that doesn't quell the reactions against the college, then I think they will close their programme.

Whether that happens or not, who knows, but that's what I was getting at with the last bit. I think the public outcry towards Penn State will be enormous, and is not going to be helped by "supporters" continue to try and defend and excuse those who were clearly culpable. That will only draw more anger towards the programme.

The Statue , maybe, but in reality no one is going to lay out some dictator justice cause it 'feels right'.

The FBI/Federal Government will go after those involved legally and prosecute those to be found guilty.

The NCAA can only act if any of their rules have been violated. The only one this may come under is the ''"duty to act ethical", however this pertains to an ethical manner in carrying out the rules and regulations of the NCAA rule book.

Also, the current students who have nothing to do with this sorry case would be punished for things that happened long before they joined PSU. What does giving PSU the Death Penalty achieve? A deterrent to others? This case is so extreme I doubt we'll see the likes of this happening again in College Football.

Whatever happens its a sorry state of affairs.

 

[Bladders]

...............just to add that Penn State football will probably fade anyway over the coming years as top recruits will be put off of going there over this.

 

[Gritt23]

Braders, stop with this business of it coming from the NCAA. That's not what I'm suggesting. I think those governing Penn State themselves will look to do some sort of re-branding, maybe by way of closing down their own programme for a couple of years, before relaunching it.

 

[Gritt23]

...............just to add that Penn State football will probably fade anyway over the coming years as top recruits will be put off of going there over this.

Exactly, now we're thinking along the same lines. Can you imagine what it would be like trying top recruit for teh programme at the moment.

 

[Bladders]

Braders, stop with this business of it coming from the NCAA. That's not what I'm suggesting. I think those governing Penn State themselves will look to do some sort of re-branding, maybe by way of closing down their own programme for a couple of years, before relaunching it.

If that happens I will eat my ruff!

EDIT: I just don't see them doing that or not sure they can. They are contracted to the BIG-10 and all the TV deals and sponsorships that go with it. Too much money involved for PSU and it's partners for this to happen.

 

[Bladders]

In other news the Saints and Drew Brees agree a 5 year $100 million deal with $60 million is guaranteed money.

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’ sports reality series starts on August 7th. This season they will be following the Miami Dolphins. The show is co-produced with the NFL and won several awards for the 2010 series on the NY Jets. I enjoyed the one on the Jets and I’m looking forward to this one.

 

[Eggman]

HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’ sports reality series starts on August 7th. This season they will be following the Miami Dolphins. The show is co-produced with the NFL and won several awards for the 2010 series on the NY Jets. I enjoyed the one on the Jets and I’m looking forward to this one.

I don't suppose Sky Atlantic will be showing this?

Anybody downloaded previous series?

 

[Stat Brother]

The big question is how long will Chad Johnson stay in Miami after the film crew have left?

 

[Bladders]

I don't suppose Sky Atlantic will be showing this?

Anybody downloaded previous series?

They usually end up on Youtube. I watched the Bengals and Jets ones on there a few days after they aired in the States.

 

[Bladders]

The big question is how long will Chad Johnson stay in Miami after the film crew have left?

Ochostinko is done. He was done in his last season in Cincy even in a pretty simple Bob Bradkowski offence he's been playing in for years. Was even worse than T.O. that year.

Makes no difference either way, the Phins will be propping up the AFC East come the end of the regular season.

 

[Tomo1794]

What does everyone think the Broncos chances are this year? I know we got Peyton but didn't really see if we drafted anyone decent?

Oh, I've also just seen via twitter that Elvis Dumervil has just been arrested... brilliant!

 

[Bladders]

What does everyone think the Broncos chances are this year? I know we got Peyton but didn't really see if we drafted anyone decent?

Oh, I've also just seen via twitter that Elvis Dumervil has just been arrested... brilliant!

I think you have a good chance of winning the AFC West but that's about it. Broncos have tough scheduling this year against the AFC North and NFC South so don't expect too many out of division wins (except against the woeful Browns of course )

Nothing too special in the draft this year, didn't have a pick till the 2nd round(36 over all) where you took DT Derek Wolfe from the Cincinnati Bearcats who if you're not sure are an average team from the Big East, in fact the Big East is the weakest of the BCS Conferences...........but I digress, Wolfe though has good size and toughness and fills a hole you need on the D-Line.

You also took QB Brock Osweiler from Arizona State with your other 2nd round pick(57) who is about 9ft tall lol!. He splits opinion regarding whether he can make the transition to the NFL as he's only had 15 starts and has a dodgy throwing action, however he has a few years to sit behind Manning to learn so time will tell.

3rd round (67)was RB Ronnie Hillman - San Diego State (good pick)
4th round (101)was CB Omar Boldon - Arizona State (good pick)
4th round (108)was C Philip Blake - Baylor (questionable)
5th round (137)was DE Malik Jackson - Tennessee (be lucky to make roster)
6th round (188)was LB Danny Trevathan - Kentucky (be lucky to make roster)

So over all with Manning in the fold and playing in a fairly mediocre division I don't see why the Broncos cant make the playoffs. Don't see too much threat from the Chiefs unless Cassell starts showing the form he showed in New England. The Raiders will probably go 8-8 as usual with Carson Palmer throwing more picks that TD's.

The real threat comes from the Chargers but for this to happen Philip Rivers needs to find his Pro Bowl form again.

Only one team as usual will come out of the AFC West for the playoffs and I think this year it will be the Broncos.

Hope that helps.

 

[Gritt23]

What does everyone think the Broncos chances are this year? I know we got Peyton but didn't really see if we drafted anyone decent?

Oh, I've also just seen via twitter that Elvis Dumervil has just been arrested... brilliant!

It doesn't take a genius to basically break it down to "how Peyton will look, getting up from his first big hit." He is not going to take any hits in camp, so even if his action is as strong as ever, we just don't know how durable the neck is until that first big hit.

If he's fine, then there are some good pieces around him. Tamme was a great pick-up, as there is a connection there already, Hillman is what they needed in the backfield alongside McGahee, while I line Thomas and Decker at WR. He has pieces in place to make that offense work, while the D has looked pretty decent the last couple of years. But, it all falls apart if Peyton limps from the field holding his neck and shoulder in week 1.

 

[Gritt23]

The NCAA can only act if any of their rules have been violated. The only one this may come under is the ''"duty to act ethical", however this pertains to an ethical manner in carrying out the rules and regulations of the NCAA rule book.

And act they have!

4 year ban from post-season, and a $60m fine.

The statue has already come down.

 

[Hotchilidog]

And act they have!

4 year ban from post-season, and a $60m fine.

The statue has already come down.

Heavy penalties but I think the NCAA have struck the right tone with their punishments. Hopefully the message about rebalancing the priorities between athletics and academics will reverberate throughout collegiate sport in the US.
I'm glad Paterno was retrospectively punished by having his wins taken away.

 

[Gritt23]

Heavy penalties but I think the NCAA have struck the right tone with their punishments.

I think so too.

Playing football at Penn State at all, may well come with protests and demonstrations, particularly if the hardcore of Penn State supporters refuse to give up their blind support for Paterno, but no-one can say they haven't been punished.

Still makes me feel physically sick when I think about what went on there.

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

The NCAA have definitely shown they are taking this seriously. They have also vacated (cancelled) all wins for PSU since 1998 which has effectively wiped out Paterno's record. His reputation is now rightly in tatters. PSU will still have to face lawsuits from victims and their families. This isn't over yet.

 

[Bladders]

I'll post this here as well

Mark Emmert is a grand-stander who loves the sound of his own voice, he's actually loving the exposure he's getting over this, he's been on more U.S chat shows in the last couple of weeks than a D-List celebrity.

The fact is the NCAA actually had no power to to dish out these punishments on PSU, this is no more than Caesar justice cause the masses want it. This is a criminal case which is in the hands of the FBI, local law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney.

PSU could easily take the NCAA to court over this and easily win as they have gone well outside their remit, but they wont as the public backlash would be huge. So they have just decided to shut their mouths and take it on the chin, and the NCAA knew they probably would. The NCAA even asked the BIG-10 if they minded ffs.

This piece on ESPN yesterday pretty much shows that the NCAA are just making this up as they go along:

The former chair, who has been involved with the NCAA for nearly three decades, said he couldn't use his name on the record because the case could come before him and the committee he still serves on in an appeals process.
"This is unique and this kind of power has never been tested or tried," the former chair said. "It's unprecedented to have this extensive power. This has nothing to do with the purpose of the infractions process. Nevertheless, somehow (the NCAA president and executive board) have taken it on themselves to be a commissioner and to penalize a school for improper conduct."
The chair said that the NCAA was dealing with a case that is outside the traditional rules or violations. He said this case does not fall within the basic fundamental purpose of NCAA regulations.
"The purpose of the NCAA is to keep a level playing field among schools and to make sure they use proper methods through scholarships and et cetera," the chair said. "This is not a case that would normally go through the process. It has nothing to do with a level playing field. It has nothing to do with whether Penn State gets advantages over other schools in recruiting or in the number of coaches or things that we normally deal with."
The NCAA, the chair said, had never gotten involved in punishing schools for criminal behavior.
"The criminal courts are perfectly capable of handling these situations," the former chair said. "This is a new phase and a new thing. They are getting into bad behavior that are somehow connected to those who work in the athletic department.
"This is an important precedent. And it should be taken with extreme care."


Whats going to happen here is everyone currently associated with PSU and who had nothing what so ever to do with this scandal will be punished i.e the current players, coaching staff, Athletics director and school governors etc. I'm not sure how ruining this program for the next decade is going to solve anything, SMU have never fully recovered from their Death penalty.

Personally I feel the NCAA should have left it to PSU, whilst quietly leaning on them, to come up with some kind of self imposed punishment , no TV exposure for 2 seasons would have been a good start and self imposed fine/donation.

This sort of investigation should be left to the real Police, not the Keystone Cops of the NCAA.

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

Paterno’s family are saying that the NCAAs actions “defame the legacy of Paterno” and that it was a “panicked response to the public’s understandable revulsion at what Sandusky did”. Talk about deluded – it’s a response to what Paterno DIDN’T DO