NFL New to NFL - Looking for a Team to Follow

[aussiedude]

Same re-cycled crowd as the "Benny Graham" bandwagon group?

didnt they all jump off to join the jets, cant blame them for jumping off the jets.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

I'd say the Broncos got a lot of new fans today in Australia.

Watch them jump off Tebows arc next week.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Watch them jump off Tebows arc next week.

Appropriate use of biblical references if you ask me (and yes, I know you didn't)

 

[Last Line Hero]

I'm not sure Big Ben is above being trolled on an NFL forum, excellent QB but if he was an AFL players there would be 8,500 threads about him and his alleged "indiscretions". Why he felt the need to do it when he has pulled some absolute hotties like Missy Peregrym ill never know.

Missy is tidy

 

[Nick Lions]

I'm trying to find a team to support, I've got some teams I don't want to follow and some that appeal to me. Which teams have Aussie punters or Aussie players in general? That might help get me over the line on a team.

 

[drd23]

I'm trying to find a team to support, I've got some teams I don't want to follow and some that appeal to me. Which teams have Aussie punters or Aussie players in general? That might help get me over the line on a team.

AFAIK there are only 3 Aussies in the NFL atm and they are all punters - Matt McBriar with the Cowboys, Ben Graham with Detroit and Sav Rocca with the Redskins.

The best advice I can give in respect to picking a team is to watch a few games and see if there are any players that appeal to you or if you like a certain style of play (i.e. defense, passing offense, run based offense). Playing Madden might help too.

Failing that, just pick the Ravens

 

[phantom13]

With the phins out (as per the last few years) I am all over the 9ers now, great game yesterday!!!

 

[Dirty Bird]

Failing that, just pick the Ravens

Baltimore - The team for ALL bandwagoners.

 

[Oakland Raider]

I'm trying to find a team to support, I've got some teams I don't want to follow and some that appeal to me. Which teams have Aussie punters or Aussie players in general? That might help get me over the line on a team.

Sav Rocca went from the Eagles to the Redskins.

 

[RiggoDiesel44]

I'm trying to find a team to support, I've got some teams I don't want to follow and some that appeal to me. Which teams have Aussie punters or Aussie players in general? That might help get me over the line on a team.

I've sort of been chiming in on the flip side of this question in the AFL room (though my AFL team has been chosen). Anyhow, drd23 has good advice. Watch games....just see if any teams just naturally appeal to you (like Geelong did for me). Just let nature take it's course. BUT........if you want some teams to avoid:

Arizona Cardinals: Possibly the worst franchise, not only of the NFL, but in North American sports, period (them and the Clippers duking it out for that dishonor). Somehow they damn near won the Superbowl a couple years back. This, from a team who's playoff wins I could count on a couple of fingers. Next scheduled superbowl appearance for Cards.....2077.

Cleveland Browns: If you read this similar thread in the AFL room, another American fan was wondering if there was an AFL team similar to the Browns. Overwhelmingly, the response was Richmond. Generally lousy team, not much hardware, solid, incredibly loyal fan base that's taken several kicks to the nuts.

Detroit Lions: Yeah, they're actually flirting with respectability......but in my lifetime (almost 50 years), they've made the playoffs maybe 3 times. Solid qb and wr and a maniac on the defensive line (maybe to nutty).

Miami Dolphins: Oh, the Dolphins were something back in the day (70s, early 80s). But since Dan Marino departed (c. 2000), so have the wins. This team sucks.

Jacksonville Jaguars: What a non-descript team. Occasional playoff appearances but not much to cheer for. Just purchased by a Geraldo Rivera look-alike, don't be surprised if he moves the team to Los Angeles.

Cincinnati Bengals: They finally made the playoffs this year...and were promptly flicked aside. Every now and then, they'll rise above mediocrity but most seasons, their fans have little to cheer about. Ugliest uniforms in the NFL.

Minnesota Vikings: Oh, dear. This is my favorite team. If you want a team that's usually pretty good, usually makes the playoffs.....but can't get over the hump, this is the team. And occasionally, they'll field the top team in the entire league, but will have a total meltdown moment in a huge playoff game, spearing their fans through the heart yet again. Oh, the humanity!!! I'll be lucky if they every win a superbowl (much less appear in one) in my lifetime.

Dallas Cowboys: This used to be the most polarizing team in the NFL. They used to make the playoffs EVERY year back in the day....leading to people either hating or loving them. Last superbowl win was 1996. Playoff wins since: One. Jerry Jones bought the team in the late 80's and fired a legendary coach, turning the stomachs of many a Cowboy fan, some that STILL won't root for them. HOWEVER, Jones brought in a superb college coach and the Cowboys improved steadily (getting help from a wild trade that fleeced the ...ahem.....Minnesota Vikings) and won 3 superbowls in the 90s. Jones paid top dollar for talent and it showed. But a salary cap was put in place and he could no longer spend like crazy. Today, he is the only owner that is also the team's General Manager....and THIS is what has made the Cowboys an 8-8 team every year. He doesn't really know football but thinks he does and won't give up his role...ever. So until he dies, Cowboy fans have little to cheer about.

San Diego Chargers: San Diego is the biggest city in America without a professional sports championship. Don't look for that dry spell to end any time soon. Chargers have had some incredibly exciting teams......but have nothing to show for it but a lot of gawdy statistics. Pretty cool uniforms though.

Oakland Raiders: This is the evil element of the NFL. Gangs, thugs, lowlifes as fans, they've always had a dark mystique to them. Going to a game there is a risky proposition. Their owner, Al Davis (who died recently) was just plain weird. Dude was from Brooklyn, wore gawdy jewelry and glasses attached to one of those librarian chains around his neck, greased back hair, and satin warm up suits. Pretty astute, they had a lot of success in the past....but as Al got older, his sanity (well, what there was) was questionable and that led to zero stability in the organization, numerous coaching changes, and a bundle of crappy players in the last 10 years or so. That probably won't end soon. Davis' son is now thinking about moving the team...back to LA!!!! WTF?

Kansas City: Only Superbowl win came against MY TEAM, back in 1970. Since then, some decent teams but always flamed out in playoffs. Great fan base...cool city. The Barbecue there is MUCH better than the football.

Hope that helps. If you're interested in some good teams, I can provide.

 

[drd23]

Baltimore - The team for ALL bandwagoners.

Someone's jealous

 

[Chris25]

What a crap post. Basically discounting any team because they haven't had the success of others. I mean if you want to be a bandwagoner then sure listen to his 'advice', but there are some good teams with exciting players, and also with a rich history in that list of 'teams to avoid'.

Cleveland Browns: If you read this similar thread in the AFL room, another American fan was wondering if there was an AFL team similar to the Browns. Overwhelmingly, the response was Richmond. Generally lousy team, not much hardware, solid, incredibly loyal fan base that's taken several kicks to the nuts.

I mean, who wants to support a team that has incredibly loyal fans? Nah, I'd rather have fans who only show up when they're winning. I quite enjoy watching the best young LT, one of the best young CBs and DEs and the best kick returner in the game.

 

[Rakuten06]

I'm willing to help out as much as possible, but I won't read 33 pages of it... anyway, I'm a fan of Green Bay Packers (and I'm acknowledging the loss to NY Giants as a disgraceful performance but that's what life happens sometimes) so if you need some help with teams in historical sense, I'm happy to help out.

 

[RiggoDiesel44]

What a crap post. Basically discounting any team because they haven't had the success of others. I mean if you want to be a bandwagoner then sure listen to his 'advice', but there are some good teams with exciting players, and also with a rich history in that list of 'teams to avoid'.



I mean, who wants to support a team that has incredibly loyal fans? Nah, I'd rather have fans who only show up when they're winning. I quite enjoy watching the best young LT, one of the best young CBs and DEs and the best kick returner in the game.

Was just trying to help they guy with some fair advice. NO NFL fan will disagree with my assessments. Go ahead, ask any fan....hell, even Cardinal fans...if Arizona is a team to support! See what they'll say. Most likely, they'll laugh. But hey, I know what it's like.....I'm a Vikings -AND- Chicago Cubs fan. I know all about being a fan of dog doo teams and/or getting close to the big prize....and getting your heart stomped on.

Then again, perhaps there is something about being a fan of a crummy team or one with history of gagging in the clutch. Look at the Red Sox. They were that "Oh, so close...if not for (insert choke job here)!!!!!" team. This gave them a certain mystique. But now that Boston has won a couple of World Series, they've lost some of that cache....though I'm sure their fans couldn't care less (and their fans are still douche bags). Cubs, on the other hand, will always have that uniqueness. Man, I can't even say, "If they ever win....things will change" because I honestly don't think they'll every win squat. 103 years and counting..... Sucks, but I'm locked into being a fan of such ineptness. (Side note: ironically, the Cubs hired former Red Sox General Manger, Theo Epstein...who built Boston's World Series winning teams) But like I said, just trying to spare dude of rooting in vain.

But like I told him, watch games and you'll likely gravitate toward some team. I did the same with AFL...just happened to be the Grand Final, so the team I like is in the midst of a great run. I didn't know that at the time.

 

[Woodson]

I'm trying to find a team to support, I've got some teams I don't want to follow and some that appeal to me. Which teams have Aussie punters or Aussie players in general? That might help get me over the line on a team.

Best advice is to just enjoy / appreciate the game as it is, barracking for any team is easy campese. Following a team is more about wanting to embrace them with or without an Australian punter. I'm grateful that the Steelers don't have an australian on their roster.. couldn't handle the (frauds) bandwagoners claiming the glory (in recent years).

Posters like Chris25 have been keen students of the game for a few years now. They appreciate the hard knocks, the stuff that goes on beyond the score, they are the real supporters of the NFL. Hope you can embrace the game before latching onto a team. Took me as much of 8 years to find mine, from the early 80's.

 

[Primetime Pricey]

Posters like Chris25 have been keen students of the game for a few years now. They appreciate the hard knocks, the stuff that goes on beyond the score, they are the real supporters of the NFL. Hope you can embrace the game before latching onto a team. Took me as much of 8 years to find mine, from the early 80's.

8 years!! i saw Brett Farve play once and that was it for me haha

 

[Rakuten06]

Best advice is to just enjoy / appreciate the game as it is, barracking for any team is easy campese. Following a team is more about wanting to embrace them with or without an Australian punter. I'm grateful that the Steelers don't have an australian on their roster.. couldn't handle the (frauds) bandwagoners claiming the glory (in recent years).

Posters like Chris25 have been keen students of the game for a few years now. They appreciate the hard knocks, the stuff that goes on beyond the score, they are the real supporters of the NFL. Hope you can embrace the game before latching onto a team. Took me as much of 8 years to find mine, from the early 80's.

I agree, try to enjoy the game as much as you can and when u make a emotional attachment to your team, whether they miss the playoffs or winning the Super Bowl, you'll know that you find your own favorite team.

My one cent

 

[Nick Lions]

Cheers for the advice, there are some handy tips in there. I don't see myself as a bandwagoner. I've been supporting Brisbane in the AFL since they were the Bears and have been pretty lucky being able to see the three-peat, wouldn't consider changing sides during the Lions current lean run (even with the persistent jibes from mates). I also follow Parramatta in the NRL and those who follow league, would know they haven't had success since the eighties, I've never even seen them win a flag. Success isn't a massive factor in which team I choose. I'd rather not follow a team that will never win anything, but I don't need to follow a team that wins the SuperBowl every year either. I'd go as far to say that I don't like overly successful teams either. (I have a strong dislike for Essendon, the Brisbane Broncos and the Maroons state of origin team). I've watched bits and pieces of the NFL for about 3 seasons, but by no means followed it religiously. I really enjoy it and hopefully after watching it more often in the future, I will be able to pick a side (I do find that free TV, shows the same teams a lot though).

 

[RiggoDiesel44]

Pretty good strategy, Nick. I was born into being a Vikings fan. It ain't easy but I'm stuck there. Don't worry, there isn't a team that "wins the Super Bowl every year." Steelers were the team of the 70s, 49ers the 80s, Cowboys the 90s, Patriots the 00s.....and they just got back to the Super Bowl earlier this afternoon. But winning 3 Super Bowls in a decade is LEGENDARY. It just don't happen much. On the flip side, there are teams that won't win it either (see my above post). But picking a team based on suggestions is sort of silly. As has been said, just watch at your leisure....you'll lean to some team out there. If it happens, let us know.....I'll be sure to let you know what you're in for.

 

[tb_fanboy]

Was just trying to help they guy with some fair advice. NO NFL fan will disagree with my assessments. Go ahead, ask any fan....hell, even Cardinal fans...if Arizona is a team to support! See what they'll say. Most likely, they'll laugh. But hey, I know what it's like.....I'm a Vikings -AND- Chicago Cubs fan. I know all about being a fan of dog doo teams and/or getting close to the big prize....and getting your heart stomped on.

Welcome to my life. Freo- cubs- Oregon ducks- broncs

All I can add is what i did. I was always going to support Nyg, broncos or Chiefs because they appealed to me. Being a college football fan before NFL (ducks) I was already aware of Tim Tebow, and being a Christian i found he was a good link once drafted. Now I've grown to love broncos in about a year and am thankful I started following the NFL as well as college football. Good luck and definitely pick a team that first off appeals to you. Infact to probably pick the team you like most other than success watch them before you find out their history if you can and go from there

 

[Woodson]

Cheers for the advice, there are some handy tips in there. I don't see myself as a bandwagoner. ....

I've watched bits and pieces of the NFL for about 3 seasons, but by no means followed it religiously. I really enjoy it and hopefully after watching it more often in the future, I will be able to pick a side (I do find that free TV, shows the same teams a lot though).

Could only be a player that catches your imagination or a bunch of players. The point of overcoming the odds, the struggle within perhaps, is what gives you the temptation to hang tough with them.

There are a bunch of great stories right across the league, regardless of the team. I use to buy a monthly lil' mag called Football Digest which was a MUST BUY before I picked my team... the loaded stories of players, games and facts about the league along with understanding the rules a lil' better had me hooked/ a real student of the game in the mid '80's. Today's generation have the 'net which allows for weekly LIVE games... I never had access to such.. but still travelled 10km every Tuesday to buy USA Today (into city) to keep up with weekly results/ game scoring details. Then I found a job accross the road and that made it easy.

 

[peterbuch74]

Could only be a player that catches your imagination or a bunch of players. The point of overcoming the odds, the struggle within perhaps, is what gives you the temptation to hang tough with them.

There are a bunch of great stories right across the league, regardless of the team. I use to buy a monthly lil' mag called Football Digest which was a MUST BUY before I picked my team... the loaded stories of players, games and facts about the league along with understanding the rules a lil' better had me hooked/ a real student of the game in the mid '80's. Today's generation have the 'net which allows for weekly LIVE games... I never had access to such.. but still travelled 10km every Tuesday to buy USA Today (into city) to keep up with weekly results/ game scoring details. Then I found a job accross the road and that made it easy.

You didn't happen to make the trek to McGills on Elizabeth Street like myself each week did you?

If I didn't make it to McGills I used to sit up watching the USA Today show at 2am to catch a 5 second glimpse of the scores and that was all we had until the following Wednesday night when Channel 10 showed a game once a week post midnight a full week and a half after the match had been played! Geez it was tough being a fan of the NFL in the 80s and early 90s in Australia wasn't it Tones!

We've got it easy nowadays with the internet and pay TV!

I reckon we must have crossed paths somewhere along the line Woody... between the VGFL, McGills and I'm sure you visited Santo at Melbourne Sports Books quite a bit too... Geez I dropped a lot of money in that place buying up NFL books, mags, gameday programs and NFL cards!

 

[peterbuch74]

All I can suggest for anyone deciding on who to support in the NFL is to watch some games... jump online and watch different team highlights... you'll gravitate to a team for one reason or another... give it time though.

When I was watching CH10 replays on a week and a half delay in the mid 80s they showed this long haired blonde young gunslinger by the name of John Elway 3 weeks out of 5 bringing his Broncos team back from dead late in games to win. I loved his passion and his wanting to win and loved it. They were on again a couple weeks down the track and got to know other players in the team and that was that... I was hooked on the Broncos... been a hell of a ride for the past 26 years! But was rewarded with 2 Superbowl wins along the way.

 

[Woodson]

You didn't happen to make the trek to McGills on Elizabeth Street like myself each week did you?

If I didn't make it to McGills I used to sit up watching the USA Today show at 2am to catch a 5 second glimpse of the scores and that was all we had until the following Wednesday night when Channel 10 showed a game once a week post midnight a full week and a half after the match had been played! Geez it was tough being a fan of the NFL in the 80s and early 90s in Australia wasn't it Tones!

We've got it easy nowadays with the internet and pay TV!

I reckon we must have crossed paths somewhere along the line Woody... between the VGFL, McGills and I'm sure you visited Santo at Melbourne Sports Books quite a bit too... Geez I dropped a lot of money in that place buying up NFL books, mags, gameday programs and NFL cards!

Absolutely.

One of the weirdest moments is when I took the USA paper outside McGills to read, there were TWO other guys doing the EXACT SAME THING!!
We got chatting and one of the other guy's teams (Seattle) broke my QB's (Neil O'Donnell) leg and he felt sooo bad. fast fwd.. friendship grew.. we started hanging out once in a while, he played VGFL also and I started officiating. Got to get my NFL network growing also @ the ol' CROWN casino. Those days were ace. The steak sandwiches and nachos.. @ 6am whilst watching the early games.. would of been 20 of us watching NFL. circa 1994-1996. I actually come up with the Endzone Sunday NFL tipping comp which got a bunch of NFL fans I'd met @ the casino into it, would of been 20+ in all with a few friends also. Had 28 in all.

We also had a AE tipster who shouted a bunch of us to one of the Southbank restuarants.. it was extravagant. Eat all you like... Greek restaurant.. then a few weeks later... this very guy, is making FRONT PAGE HEADLINES!! (for the wrong reasons!!! )... apparently, the TAB had mistakingly put in close to a Million in his account and he skipped the country and there was a Mokbel type chase to find/ track him down in Greece..

His assets were frozen.. his family not answering police enquires.. Ken Bruce times!! I think he was right up there with the leaders in a particular year. Ironically he looked like John Grossbard (Seinfeld), Kramer ex-roomate who he saw @ the airport who owned Kramer rent money many years ago.

Getting back to the Seattle fan, as he knew I officiated VGFL, our friendship crumbled after the Steelers- Seahawks XL SB... man, the explosive tirade of HATRED (email) was quite evident.. (and very funny) I think after two weeks, he apoligized but I didn't hear anything from him after that.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Ah the memories!! McGills, USA Today, Football Digest, Santos sports book shop. I've always worked in the city so used to pop into McGills every Tuesday and occassionally pop into Santos, although his books were a bit expensive (don't know how he stays open still with the internet).

It's funny but i never saw anyone else getting a copy of USA Today or looking through NFL books at Santos. Felt like i was the only bloke in Melbourne who followed the game.

Went to old casino a couple of times, usually with a mate who would go up the other end of the room to punt on the horses.

Thank **** for Foxtel and the internet!!!