NFL 2014 Thread

[Luke]

So much going on I don't know where to start.

Ware and Revis up for grabs, the Bears releasing Peppers is a place to start.

I believe from a financial stand point, releasing Ware and Revis was a good idea, but I will sorely miss having Pappers play for the Bears.

Expectations, hopes for your team for the season and draft?

[dsheinem]

Expectations

.500 with lots of drama

hopes for your team for the season

Jerry Jones selling the team

and draft?

The draft is categorically the most boring and overblown "sports event" of the year. Sooooo yawn-inducing.

That said, I am curious to see how the Michael Sam thing pans out. I feel like there are certain teams where his being drafted would be a bigger or smaller "deal"...

[Luke]

That said, I am curious to see how the Michael Sam thing pans out. I feel like there are certain teams where his being drafted would be a bigger or smaller "deal"...

Even if things don't pan out well for him football wise (I think he'll be a beast) can you imagine how many sponsorships Sam is going to get?

I'm a bit more interested in all the Manziel talk. Yes, it's gotten more than crusty old and it seems like all ESPN talks about when it comes to the draft, but I look forward to see if Johnny "Tebows" it.

[SirGawain]

Jerry Jones selling the team

I think I wish for this every Christmas, and every year I am disappointed.

[dsheinem]

it seems like all ESPN talks about

About a year or two ago I basically stopped watching anything OTHER than sports on ESPN. No Sportscenter, no PTI, no Mike and Mike, no 30 for 30, no Skip and Steven, etc. Best thing I ever did when it comes to sports. I will still watch a little commentary if there's an especially big story (e.g. the Penn State stuff, some major thing affecting a team I follow closely/root for, etc.), but cutting ties from the "entertainment" aspect of sports was revelatory.

That said, I do still read Grantland and Deadspin with some frequency.

[Jmustang1968]

I love the draft Dave. One of my favorite sporting events. I almost like the draft more than the Super Bowl.

I think, for better or worse, Sam will take some of the media circus spotlight off Manziel. I dont think Manziel will be like Tebow at all, completely different players and followings. His biggest hurdles will be some maturity issues and staying healthy.

[cha cha]

The train wreck that is the Bills, has no end in sight.

Sign 1-2 aging vets a year, let almost all home grown talent walk in FA every year.... and the cycle continues.

My wants for the draft will be- Dynamic big receiver that can win a jump ball from our highly inaccurate QB down field, an upgrade at RT, a better pass catching TE and another athletic OLB to shore up the weak side.

My fears (aka- what ends up always being reality) in the draft are- We will reach for a high round Safety to replace Byrd, draft our positions of need in the mid rounds (such as RT and OLB) and then overdraft another small speedy receiver that will not be able to run intermediate routes or get open on short routes, which is literally all the receivers we have on the roster.

One of these years, I will stop wasting my Sundays watching this abortion of a franchise that rebuilds every 3 years and continually dupes the fanbase by selling them on hope and words. Then continues to sell tickets when the season is lost by always spreading propaganda about how the team will move if we don't support it.

I commend my fellow Bills fans though. We've suffered so much and still sell out a stadium, and support a team that hasn't been to the playoffs since '99.

[Luke]

Good thing to see Martin traded.

I've been too involved with hockey to really know what's going on in the NFL off season.

[SirGawain]

The train wreck that is the Bills, has no end in sight.

Sign 1-2 aging vets a year, let almost all home grown talent walk in FA every year.... and the cycle continues.

My wants for the draft will be- Dynamic big receiver that can win a jump ball from our highly inaccurate QB down field, an upgrade at RT, a better pass catching TE and another athletic OLB to shore up the weak side.

My fears (aka- what ends up always being reality) in the draft are- We will reach for a high round Safety to replace Byrd, draft our positions of need in the mid rounds (such as RT and OLB) and then overdraft another small speedy receiver that will not be able to run intermediate routes or get open on short routes, which is literally all the receivers we have on the roster.

One of these years, I will stop wasting my Sundays watching this abortion of a franchise that rebuilds every 3 years and continually dupes the fanbase by selling them on hope and words. Then continues to sell tickets when the season is lost by always spreading propaganda about how the team will move if we don't support it.

I commend my fellow Bills fans though. We've suffered so much and still sell out a stadium, and support a team that hasn't been to the playoffs since '99.

I have a buddy who is a huge Bills fan. I can say that after watching the past 6 or so Drafts with him, they astound everyone with their choices. The commentators can always find something good about almost everyones picks, except the Bills. I have seen their first round pick leave the commentators dumbfounded and speechless almost every year

[catnip]

I was shocked when I saw that Ware got released. Maybe it was the right move, but knowing the luck of the Cowboys, he's gonna break the sack record next year.

Expectations? Dallas Cowboys, 8-8, lose in Week 17, missing a chance to win the division/go to the playoffs. Same as every other year.