The Official 2012 Football Season Thread

[|iR|Focalor]

This may be Atlanta's year, they were out-played today but they still came away with the win.  They have a large lead in the division with only 6 games played.  My Tampa Bay Yucks will never catch Atlanta, so I will be pulling for Atlanta.

Season's only 1/3rd over at this point, still time for some teams to get back into the mix, and definitely still time for Atlanta to fall on their faces and fail. Honestly, Atlanta isn't as dangerous as the sports media might want to talk them up to be. They keep praising Atlanta's new coaching staff for their new passing offense philosophy, but... to spill the secret (which shouldn't be much of a secret anyway), Atlanta is basically FORCED to become a pass-happy offense because RB Michael Turner just AIN'T effective anymore, which means if they gotta rely on running game... they're FUCKED.

I've been keeping an eye on the New York Giants this year. New York wasn't particularly impressive in the regular season last year, but still ended up winning the Superbowl. They look even better this year. Like... MUCH better. Dunno what would happen if Atlanta had to face them again in the post-season. They looked impeccable today against San Fransisco.

[|iR|Focalor]

Stan/ND at 3:30 - I doubt it will happen because I don't think Stanford is that good, but I would love to see ND lose.  I have always hated ND for all of the special treatment they get.  ND is televised every week even when my local team is not    I'm sure they use that when recruiting, come to ND and you will play on national TV every week.

Well Notre Dame has had a contract with NBC for exclusive rights to broadcast their games since the 90's. Back in 2007 or 2008, NBC signed a contract extension with them believing that Notre Dame was on the verge of becoming a major contender again. And then, of course, for the past several years Notre Dame has sucked and people haven't been tuning in until this year.

[Krlll Mule]

This may be Atlanta's year, they were out-played today but they still came away with the win.  They have a large lead in the division with only 6 games played.  My Tampa Bay Yucks will never catch Atlanta, so I will be pulling for Atlanta.

Season's only 1/3rd over at this point, still time for some teams to get back into the mix, and definitely still time for Atlanta to fall on their faces and fail. Honestly, Atlanta isn't as dangerous as the sports media might want to talk them up to be. They keep praising Atlanta's new coaching staff for their new passing offense philosophy, but... to spill the secret (which shouldn't be much of a secret anyway), Atlanta is basically FORCED to become a pass-happy offense because RB Michael Turner just AIN'T effective anymore, which means if they gotta rely on running game... they're FUCKED.

I've been keeping an eye on the New York Giants this year. New York wasn't particularly impressive in the regular season last year, but still ended up winning the Superbowl. They look even better this year. Like... MUCH better. Dunno what would happen if Atlanta had to face them again in the post-season. They looked impeccable today against San Fransisco.

Yea, the NY Giants look like the cream of the crop in the NFC - for now. Atlanta is a team riding a wave...who knows how far it will take them. They don't necessarily dominate other teams, but they get the turnovers and manage to win close games. N.O. did that a few years ago and won it all. Speaking of Atlanta's running game, what ever happened to J. Norwood? A local kid I've followed with a good attitude and lots of ability, but guess he's not on an active roster now?

BTW, the Saint's won't be catching the NFC South leaders this year.......

N.D. has a legitimate top notch defense this year; for what it's worth.   

[adz1La]

atlanta still sucks

[|iR|Focalor]

Speaking of Atlanta's running game, what ever happened to J. Norwood? A local kid I've followed with a good attitude and lots of ability, but guess he's not on an active roster now?

Ah yes. I knew I left someone out when I was talking about butchered rosters. I was more than just a little pissed when I heard that Atlanta ended up cutting him, but in retrospect, it was for the best.

Well... in 2010-2011, Jerious Norwood was on injured reserve for Atlanta most of the year after some type of knee injury in pre-season or training camp I believe. After the 2010-2011 season, Atlanta let him go and the St Louis Rams ended up picking him up for the 2011-2012 season. I'm not absolutely positive, but I think he was just signed with a 1 year contract, kind of a "lets see if this pays off" kind of deal. They already had a great runningback in Steven Jackson, so he was basically just signed as a backup or 3rd down RB like he was at Atlanta. They ended up rarely playing him though, I think he only saw any action at all in maybe 3 or 4 games for just one or two plays. But alas, his knee injury continued to be a factor, and the Rams didn't resign him this year. Don't know what the hell happened to him, but he's definitely not playing in the NFL anymore, and I doubt he'll ever be seen again. Sucks. He was a great runningback. Back before Michael Turner got injured and lost his superhuman steamrolling abilities, he was great 3rd down back to complement Turner. He wasn't exactly the bulldozing type of runner like Turner, but he was very fast, pretty shifty, and had excellent footwork to avoid shoestring tackles in the open field. I think I can speak for many Falcons fans when I say I sure do miss seeing that son of a bitch taking handoffs from Ryan. The only other RB's we have are Jason Snelling, who is really nothing special, and Jaquiz Rogers, who may be fast little fucker, but he's too damned small to break tackles effectively.

[|iR|Focalor]

Texans linebacker Brian Cushing out for the season with torn ACL.

I thought the hit was cheap and now he is gone for the year.

What do you guys think.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd5jR7UUMB0

Cheap shot? Nah. THIS is a cheap shot.

<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GhRQ-Yh1Svg/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GhRQ-Yh1Svg"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/GhRQ-Yh1Svg" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/GhRQ-Yh1Svg</a>

[Sgt. Dick]

Yes, definitely cheap.

I was glad to see the next two plays the o-linemen put him on his ass and I hope they got a shot in when he lost his helmet.

[adz1La]

didn't catch that play...crazy shit..

[Krlll Mule]

Yes, definitely cheap.

I was glad to see the next two plays the o-linemen put him on his ass and I hope they got a shot in when he lost his helmet.

Very cheap. I would have thrown him out of the game.

The reaction of the Mizzou O-line was classic!  Don't make those big guys up front mad.....they can be nasty too.....

[|iR|Focalor]

Hell, I don't think it even applies for "cheap shot". It's more like "going 9 miles out of your way to try to hurt someone". Hell, mere injury would be one of the better results, fucking DEATH could occur from a move like that. I definitely agree he should've been ejected on the spot, as well as sit out a game two more to contemplate the proper ways to tackle opponents. Not much difference in that and using a sidekick to the head to down a runner. The refs are fucking retarded assholes for not ejecting him.

[Krlll Mule]

Speaking of Atlanta's running game, what ever happened to J. Norwood? A local kid I've followed with a good attitude and lots of ability, but guess he's not on an active roster now?

Ah yes. I knew I left someone out when I was talking about butchered rosters. I was more than just a little pissed when I heard that Atlanta ended up cutting him, but in retrospect, it was for the best.

Well... in 2010-2011, Jerious Norwood was on injured reserve for Atlanta most of the year after some type of knee injury in pre-season or training camp I believe. After the 2010-2011 season, Atlanta let him go and the St Louis Rams ended up picking him up for the 2011-2012 season. I'm not absolutely positive, but I think he was just signed with a 1 year contract, kind of a "lets see if this pays off" kind of deal. They already had a great runningback in Steven Jackson, so he was basically just signed as a backup or 3rd down RB like he was at Atlanta. They ended up rarely playing him though, I think he only saw any action at all in maybe 3 or 4 games for just one or two plays. But alas, his knee injury continued to be a factor, and the Rams didn't resign him this year. Don't know what the hell happened to him, but he's definitely not playing in the NFL anymore, and I doubt he'll ever be seen again. Sucks. He was a great runningback. Back before Michael Turner got injured and lost his superhuman steamrolling abilities, he was great 3rd down back to complement Turner. He wasn't exactly the bulldozing type of runner like Turner, but he was very fast, pretty shifty, and had excellent footwork to avoid shoestring tackles in the open field. I think I can speak for many Falcons fans when I say I sure do miss seeing that son of a bitch taking handoffs from Ryan. The only other RB's we have are Jason Snelling, who is really nothing special, and Jaquiz Rogers, who may be fast little fucker, but he's too damned small to break tackles effectively.

One thing I will always remember is seeing a photo of him running for a touchdown in high school and noticing his skinny legs. It's probably what helped him be so "shifty". At MS State, he was ALL they had for offense. He had excellent stamina and could run middle, off tackle, or wide, and never quit on a play until he was smothered and downed. He gained yards even when the other team knew he was getting the ball. I guess he just had bad luck with injuries or his skinny legs couldn't make it in the NFL. He always gave back some of his wealth to all kinds of programs and seemed like a straight up good guy. He didn't just give money, he showed up to help. Good luck to you J.N., wherever you may be...

[|iR|Focalor]

Speaking of players who are active in bettering their communities...

Another reason I think Michael Turner is not quite as effective as he used to be is because Atlanta no longer has Ovie Mughelli at fullback to lead block for him. I have NO CLUE why Atlanta cut him, he still had a year or two left on his contract, and he was a pretty damn good player. They cut him and bring on Lousaka Polite from Miami, who isn't half as talented as Mughelli in my opinion. Just one of the several WTF moved the Falcons management made this off season.

[|iR|Focalor]

I'm sure this makes Vikings fans SOOOOOOOOOOOO proud.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/vikings-punter-chris-kluwe-poses-gay-magazine-promote-144612785--nfl.html

[Sgt. Dick]

I bet he is wide receiver also 

[adz1La]

tight end?