NFL New to NFL - Looking for a Team to Follow

[Woodson]

Anything but the patriots please just anything but that.

But in all seriousness, ravens have a better defence, better running game and a younger quaterback
Patriots have a living legend coach close to retirement (who is a bit of a douchebag), a living legend quarterback close to retirement, and a really impressive passing game

(ravens for future patriots for right now)

I think Cinci is the AFC North real 'future' team to follow. Aging D for Baltimore will show them up this season. Their leading sack master Suggs is still months away. Flacco has had his chances. Been to the CC twice and couldn't get it done. Probability says the Ravens are getting closer to re-building rather than moving closer back to where they were a drop pass away last season from the Big Dance. Cinci need just as much love as the Ravens.. Cinci have one of the most durable front offices in the league and have won the AFC North twice since 2005. IMHO, the Bengals had the best draft. They are definitely one of those 'under the radar' teams to keep tabs on. I expect them to push the Steelers for the division title.. if they can win just split their Division match ups against both the Steelers & Ravens, I'm sure the Bengals have the front foot thru the door to claim the AFC North.

And the Bengals have shaken off the 'dickheads'.. suddenly too!

 

[ausbacker]

I think Cinci is the AFC North real 'future' team to follow. Aging D for Baltimore will show them up this season. Their leading sack master Suggs is still months away. Flacco has had his chances. Been to the CC twice and couldn't get it done. Probability says the Ravens are getting closer to re-building rather than moving closer back to where they were a drop pass away last season from the Big Dance. Cinci need just as much love as the Ravens.. Cinci have one of the most durable front offices in the league and have won the AFC North twice since 2005. IMHO, the Bengals had the best draft. They are definitely one of those 'under the radar' teams to keep tabs on. I expect them to push the Steelers for the division title.. if they can win just split their Division match ups against both the Steelers & Ravens, I'm sure the Bengals have the front foot thru the door to claim the AFC North.

And the Bengals have shaken off the 'dickheads'.. suddenly too!

It'll be interesting to see how far Marvin Lewis takes them. You're right in that the Bengals look like a very good team in the making. The funny thing about the Ravens and Steelers is you can never discount them. They are two well run organisations with a knack for unearthing talent.

 

[Woodson]

1. How did you start taking interest in American football? Channel surfing on Foxtel and reading a biography on Vince Lombardi - a man who has always fascinated me.

Welcome to the American Football forum Scoopar.

The doco on HBO was quite superb. I trust you'll enjoy it immensely like I did. I actually own a copy of it.

Some legendary Lombardi clips..

 

[drd23]

I thought you were smarter* than that Woodson. Just because the Ravens have 3 players on their defense who are older than 30 (Lewis, Reed and Kemoeatu) doesn't make the defense "ageing". The fact that the defense has played a number of games without them without missing a step (1st 6 games of 2010 w/o Reed, 4 games in 2011 w/o Lewis) suggests they aren't as important as ignorant fans seem to think. Suggs's injury is FAR more concerning than Lewis/Reed being a year or 2 away from retirement

* Not really

 

[Big Red Machine]

I thought you were smarter* than that Woodson. Just because the Ravens have 3 players on their defense who are older than 30 (Lewis, Reed and Kemoeatu) doesn't make the defense "ageing". The fact that the defense has played a number of games without them without missing a step (1st 6 games of 2010 w/o Reed, 4 games in 2011 w/o Lewis) suggests they aren't as important as ignorant fans seem to think. Suggs's injury is FAR more concerning than Lewis/Reed being a year or 2 away from retirement

* Not really

Besides, Ray Lewis is the Terry Funk of the NFL. The man will never retire.

 

[Woodson]

I thought you were smarter* than that Woodson. Just because the Ravens have 3 players on their defense who are older than 30 (Lewis, Reed and Kemoeatu) doesn't make the defense "ageing". The fact that the defense has played a number of games without them without missing a step (1st 6 games of 2010 w/o Reed, 4 games in 2011 w/o Lewis) suggests they aren't as important as ignorant fans seem to think. Suggs's injury is FAR more concerning than Lewis/Reed being a year or 2 away from retirement

* Not really

Thanx for admitting the main point of my question marks over the Ravens.

We'll see how the Ravens cope without Suggs who I rate higher for his output (31 sacks in last two seasons) than Lewis & Reed (drastically slowing down) in their twilight years. You realise that some teams are choosing to roll the loaded dice with carrying the spiritual warriors one year too many. That has to be concerning. Last season's CC was the 'icing' on the Lewis-Reed cake. Too bad Evans can't catch.

 

[Scoopar]

Welcome to the American Football forum Scoopar.

The doco on HBO was quite superb. I trust you'll enjoy it immensely like I did. I actually own a copy of it.

I didn't see the Lombardi doco on HBO, unfortunately.

The biography I read about Vince Lombardi was written by David Maransis. It's called "When Pride Still Mattered". It's the best biography or autobiography of any sportsperson I've read. Maransis's exhaustive research and attention to detail is extraordinary. It's as if he lived in Lombardi's shadow throughout his life.

Any idea what's the latest on the Lombardi movie starring Robert DeNiro? Any release in Australia?

 

[Handsuper47]

Hey guys, trying to get a handle on this game and thought it would be better to get a team to follow. I'm thinking about following the Buccaneers, could anyone give me some info on them?

 

[Exe Gesis]

Wikipedia is always a good first stop....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers

 

[Woodson]

Hey guys, trying to get a handle on this game and thought it would be better to get a team to follow. I'm thinking about following the Buccaneers, could anyone give me some info on them?

Smart choice. Team that won't rake in Bandwagon supporters. Had their stellar run from 1999-2002 which landed the elusive Lombardi Trophy. Have claimed the NFC South division twice since then. Are in a 're-build phase' that in the NFL isn't as drastic as it sounds... teams can pop up in any given year with the right leadership at the helm. The Buccs have a new Head Coach (9th) named Greg Schiano, who prodimately has an impressive 'successful' College Coaching resume with his 'non-nonsense' approach.
Already have a up n' coming rapidly developing QB, Josh Freeman (#5) in his fourth season, have added star WR Vincent Jackson from San Diego to the team. Have TWO players to look out for, they're rookies but they'll likely be the next LEADERS and mainstay players of this up n' coming franchise.. Look for #24 Mark Barron who plays deep in defence (safety) and the Running back named Doug Martin (#22).

 

[Handsuper47]

Cheers guys!

 

[TheLad!]

http://media.oregonlive.com/nfl_impact/photo/doug-martin-nfl-draftjpg-fac86a7606f07d1e.jpg[/IMG]

 

[TheLad!]

i would support the buccaneers if they got rid of those uniforms and went back to the orange crush

sorry i meant creamsicle

 

[TheLad!]

^^^^^^ delicious

 

[aussiedude]

who would want to support tampa it they went back to the "Yucks" or "Chucks" unis. nobody liked them.

 

[TheLad!]

who would want to support tampa it they went back to the "Yucks" or "Chucks" unis. nobody liked them.

pretty sure that everyone now over the internet likes them, been some calls to return to it,
just like in denver with their orange and the bills returning to a style similar to their original ones, people are wanting to go back to their original uniforms,
hell even the pats uni of the afl is 100x better

 

[Exe Gesis]

Preachin it

 

[RiggoDiesel44]

sorry i meant creamsicle
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View attachment 4026

Ugh....those original TB suits are hideous. Nice picture of Josh Freeman, though. Sat next to his dad, Ron on a flight from Dallas to KC a couple months back. He had a cup of coffee with the Chiefs and played in the USFL. Sharp guy....became a Josh fan just because.

 

[The House]

Re: Help me pick a team!

I can't tell you which team to select. However, I can pass along some advice to you. Don't select the 49ers. Too aggravating these days.

Ye had far too little faith - been a niner since the Montana days, and I'm pretty sure a neutral fan couldn't pick a better side than ours....most exciting roster in the NFL.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Ye had far too little faith - been a niner since the Montana days, and I'm pretty sure a neutral fan couldn't pick a better side than ours....most exciting roster in the NFL.

You really think that's more exciting than Vick, McCoy, Jackson, Maclin and DRC?

 

[The House]

You really think that's more exciting than Vick, McCoy, Jackson, Maclin and DRC?

in the sense that they're a powerhouse side who has been in the wilderness for so long, and is now very much on the rise.

They've drafted really well all over the roster and now have a really well balanced list with good depth, and the last couple of weeks A Smith with some extra talent to throw to is looking like a much better QB than many thought he ever would be.

I guess it would be like barraking for Richmond in a way....when they come good, they will be a very exciting team to follow all things considered! (that's not to say there's not teams with more flair, just that under the circumstances that would be a very exciting time in their history to follow them).

 

[EagleOz]

Equus this will be the best place for you to pick a team. The guys here like Woodson, GG are very knowledgeable on the game.

 

[Equus]

Thanks Eagleoz83.
I'm trying to understand American Football and I need assistance in picking a team. I've been to and enjoyed Arizona so the natural assumption would be to go for the Cardinals but I hear they are in a rebuilding stage? Is it a good choice or have I forever doomed myself to eternal failure?

 

[Woodson]

Thanks Eagleoz83.
I'm trying to understand American Football and I need assistance in picking a team. I've been to and enjoyed Arizona so the natural assumption would be to go for the Cardinals but I hear they are in a rebuilding stage? Is it a good choice or have I forever doomed myself to eternal failure?

Rebuilding isn't as much the 'long term thing' as you dare to believe. This isn't a league of kids like the AFL embody. Ready tough nuts are part of the establishment. Arizona proving to be the Surprise packet team already. teams can have sub .500 seasons for two-three years running then suddenly be in contention the next.. that's the beauty of the NFL... completely unpredictable as the weekend upset result gave us.

 

[Equus]

Well then, Cardinals for me then.