The 2013 NFL Season Thread

[dsheinem]

This is opening weekend of the NFL season, hooray!

Today always feels a bit like a national holiday (or, depending on your perspective, a national day of mourning ), and I plan to celebrate with plenty of Sam Adams Octoberfest, a big fat fucking sandwich full of meat, and games on the TV/laptop/tablet/etc. all day long.

As a lifelong Cowboys fan, my expectations for this season (and for every future one while Jerry is GM) are securely in check, but I'm a fan of great football regardless of who's playing it and so I always find a lot to look forward to every week. Being in a couple of fantasy leagues helps maintain interest too, of course

Anyway, this thread can be a catch-all for NFL related discussion this year. Anyone think their team actually has an excellent shot at a title?

[Luke]

The older I get, the less I care about overpaid assholes who play with balls and the people who are obsessed with a trivial and often rigged game.

But, yeah, I'll still watch and place wagers. Made out like a bandit last season, with my only loss being $27usd to Dish.

I am holding a BBQ today, complete with a full bar and freshly mowed grass and outdoor games, but football has become more of an excuse to have fun than a source of fun. As long as I make a little scratch, I don't give a flip who wins. It's not like the Cubs going to the World Series or anything. SOS, new year.

Sincerely,

Negative Nancy

[dsheinem]

and often rigged game

oh please

[BogusMeatFactory]

I live in the Detroit area, so you know how I feel about football. It is so hard to not have a defeatist mindset when it comes to football. Fingers crossed that we don't suck. I will be sitting around in my underwear, cooking food and keeping my screams to a dull roar as my wife tries to get some sleep before working 12 hours overnight.

[Luke]

and often rigged game

oh please

You don't find cheating as rigging?

You don't find flopping and taking dives as rigging?

You don't find pulling your QB for no reason as rigging?

You don't find intentional fumbles/interceptions as rigging?

You don't find referees who have been paid to blow calls rigging?

I'm not saying the "Tuck rule" was placed to rig a game, but the NFL is not a pure sport by any means.

[BogusMeatFactory]

and often rigged game

oh please

You don't find cheating as rigging?

You don't find flopping and taking dives as rigging?

You don't find pulling your QB for no reason as rigging?

You don't find intentional fumbles/interceptions as rigging?

You don't find referees who have been paid to blow calls rigging?

I'm not saying the "Tuck rule" was placed to rig a game, but the NFL is not a pure sport by any means.

Very true...but it could be worse... it could be Soccer.

[dsheinem]

and often rigged game

oh please

You don't find cheating as rigging?

You don't find flopping and taking dives as rigging?

You don't find pulling your QB for no reason as rigging?

You don't find intentional fumbles/interceptions as rigging?

You don't find referees who have been paid to blow calls rigging?

I'm not saying the "Tuck rule" was placed to rig a game, but the NFL is not a pure sport by any means.

Maybe I'm in the dark, but I'd be really interested to see evidence of "cheating" "pulling the QB for no reason" "intentional" turnovers or "refs paid to blow calls". No offense, but you sound like a Paranoid Peter more than a Negative Nancy. The whole "OMGWTF RIGGED!" thing reminds me of the sour grapes I hear from people who unsuccessfully predict game outcomes...

[MrPopo]

The older I get, the less I care about overpaid assholes who play with balls and the people who are obsessed with a trivial and often rigged game.

People who play with hard plastic disks are much better, right?

[Luke]

I wouldn't say Paranoid Peter, more like Skeptical Stanley. The NFL is all about making money as it's an entertainment company. Also think about the players who always have and always will take bets and bribes.

When there is money to be made, people make money. Even a fan favorite and loyal teammate Urlacher admitted "we always had a fall guy".

Was it a defensive strategy? Sure. Was it cheating the game? Sure. Was it rigging the game? Questionable. Do I believe some games are rigged for monetary game? Yup.

How many NFL players were arrested last year? You don't think these guys aren't betting on and against themselves?

[Luke]

People who play with hard plastic disks are much better, right?

Disc Golfers get paid $22millions a year? Well slap my ass and call me Charlie, I'm pretty darned good at disc golf. A new career awaits me.