The NFL Thread (with added College Football)

[dubont]

Thankfully, the lockout is over.

[UK Redsox]

Looks like the pre-seasaon "Hall of Fame" game will be the only one that's cancelled.

I'd heard that the lockout had to be over by Aug 1st for the Wemberleee game to go ahead, so hopefully it'll still be Bears v Bucs in Brent.

[ADVILLAFAN]

It means we basically have nine home games and seven away games next year... Wembley will be full of Bears fans.

And hopefully us two, if we can get a ticket.

[pmarachi]

I feel weird, but I don't care that the lockout is over.

I have always been a big Eagles and NFL fan, and haven't missed a game in a REALLY long time (actually I can remember the only game I have missed since 2003, and it was because I was the best man in a wedding in Iceland in 2008). 

Maybe it is because I can't stand Mike Vick.
Maybe it is because everyone is obsessed with Fantasy Football and it is annoying as hell.
Maybe it is Chris F'ing Berman and ESPN.
I think it may have something to do with Aston Villa on Saturdays (and before that season, the nyrb) and having 2 kids and not being able to spend my sunday in a bar for 4 hours.

I don't know what it is, but I am just losing interest in the NFL

[UK Redsox]

It's on

We are delighted to announce that the NFL players and owners have agreed to a new CBA deal and in so doing, guaranteed that Wembley will stage its fifth regular-season game in October when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Chicago Bears in the Pepsi Max International Series. The game will be played at London’s Wembley Stadium on Sunday, October 23 with kickoff set for 6:00 pm in the UK (1:00pm ET).

London Game 5 features two previous Super Bowl Winners. The Chicago Bears, who have long been one of the NFL’s elite teams, have graced a sold-out Wembley Stadium before in 1986. The Buccaneers are loaded with young talent and have transformed themselves into potential Super Bowl champions! Wembley has already helped two previous Super Bowl winners along their journey to greatness so this is your chance to watch more potential Super Bowl stars. This crucial mid-season match-up could propel the winner towards NFL glory. This must-win game is not to be missed!

TICKET TIMELINE
Club seats will go on sale from September 1. Purchase details will follow in the near future.
Hospitality packages will go on sale via Ticketmaster later this week. A further email will be sent this week with a link to that site.
The on-sale date for general admission tickets will be confirmed soon. Register your interest in buying tickets by clicking here. If you do register you will have a window to buy tickets before those who haven’t registered, so this is your best chance of purchasing one of the hottest tickets in town!

[UK Redsox]

Post-lockout NFL free-agent analysis

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6800194/the-nfl-great-scrambling-act

[Jon Crofts]

Hey pmarachi, did you get that storm last night?  Pretty cool lightning show in NYC last night but hear south CT got it bad.

[UK Redsox]

Patriots trade for Ochocinco and Haynesworth

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl/columns/story?columnist=reiss_mike&id=6814510

Wow, it sure ain't going to be dull in New England with those two around.

However, if anyone can deal with them its's Bill

[UK Redsox]

The Eagles have solidified their defense by signing Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and now Nnamdi Asomugha (the latter from my truly horrible Raiders)

[UK Redsox]

The NFL takes another step towards its return to Los Angeles

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-farmer-nfl-la-20110810,0,2690282.story

A short move up the coast for the Chargers looks the most likely outcome

[pmarachi]

Hey pmarachi, did you get that storm last night?  Pretty cool lightning show in NYC last night but hear south CT got it bad.

No, I was actually away in Providence for work, then Cape Cod for vacation.

But the sky there was WILD  It was like Blue and Orange all over.  If you have me on Facebook (providing you guys still have access to Facebook, I have those pics on my profile.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=582432311&sk=wall

(not sure if doing this works)

[pmarachi]

The NFL takes another step towards its return to Los Angeles

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-farmer-nfl-la-20110810,0,2690282.story

A short move up the coast for the Chargers looks the most likely outcome

They shouldn't even bother.

The team will just leave in 2 or 3 years.

The problem with football in a city like L.A. (and in all honesty, Miami), is that is is ALWAYS on Sunday afternoon, the traffic is TERRIBLE, and the weather is ALWAYS perfect.  People just have better things to do.

And in the NFL, if a game doesn't sell out the tickets, it is blacked out on TV.

[UK Redsox]

It would be funny if Al Davis offered to move the Raiders back to LA.

However, I suspect it'll be the Chargers or Jaguars

[pmarachi]

I wish they would move the Giants to LA.

That would piss of everyone where I live.

[UK Redsox]

"Death Penalty" for "The U" ?

http://sports.yahoo.com/investigations/news;_ylt=AkUXNB4F6EaSCAqaOZkOmRwcvrYF?slug=ys-miami_violations_statute_of_limitations_081811

http://sports.yahoo.com/investigations/news?slug=cr-renegade_miami_booster_details_illicit_benefits_081611


If even a small amount of this turns out to be true, Miami are in deep shit, especially as their A.D. during this period, Paul Dee, was the guy who railed against USC's infractions involving Reggie Bush and OJ Mayo.

USC allegedly gave benefits to two players, Miami are accused of giving benefits to 73 !

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/stewart_mandel/08/16/miami.hurricanes.allegations.reaction/index.html

Could this be SMU redux ?