NFL Offseason 2012: Because contract negotiations are part of the excitement

[derspiess]

We had two.  My brother stepped on the NFC endzone on our Super Bowl XII (Cowboys vs. Broncos) field and permanently dented it, but we kept using it-

LOL, that's the exact same one I had.  Christmas '78, I believe.

I used to listen to Colts home games on the radio in my room on Sundays--they were always blacked out due to attendance, go fig--set it up on my bed, and reenact the plays on it.  Good times.

Remember the cheesey-assed offensive plays & defensive formations they had in the manual?  None of them were based in reality and some of the offensive formations were clearly illegal.  So we made our own playbooks.

Dang, I remember it took forever to line your guys up for just one play that sometimes lasted .2 seconds.

[Berkut]

A friend of mine from college officiating just got hired as a replacement NFL official.

[derspiess]

A friend of mine from college officiating just got hired as a replacement NFL official.

Cool.  Hopefully we'll see him this fall in place of Hochuli or that rather inarticulate Jerome Boger.

[Neil]

A friend of mine from college officiating just got hired as a replacement NFL official.

Cool.  Hopefully we'll see him this fall in place of Hochuli or that rather inarticulate Jerome Boger.

Hochuli isn't bad.  OK, he made a horrific mistake, but he's not Bill Leavy or Walt Coleman.

[katmai]

Oh, man.

Those of us over 40 will remember this.

Ahem I'm not over 40 like you and Ed Anger you old fogeys, and i remember it.
I had one with Steelers and Rams.

[ulmont]

Thank Christ.  It's about fucking time.

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints agreed to a five-year contract worth $100 million on Friday, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, making the 33-year-old quarterback the highest-paid player in NFL history.

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/07/drew_brees_new_orleans_saints_10.html

[Neil]

Thank Christ.  It's about fucking time.

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints agreed to a five-year contract worth $100 million on Friday, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, making the 33-year-old quarterback the highest-paid player in NFL history.

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/07/drew_brees_new_orleans_saints_10.html

No kidding.  His negotiating position must have been strengthened by the suspension of everyone on the team that was any good or provided any level of leadership.  Without him, the Saints are instantly the Aints again.

[CountDeMoney]

Well, with the state their defense is probably going to be in after the Commish drops the hammer, he should break more records this season than ever.  It'll look like a track meet.

[Neil]

Well, with the state their defense is probably going to be in after the Commish drops the hammer, he should break more records this season than ever.  It'll look like a track meet.

Are there more suspensions coming?  I thought that just the four guys and the co-ordinator got hammered.

Maybe he could suspend all the coaches and players, and have the team owner punched in the balls at the Hall of Fame Game halftime show.  Or maybe he could just fine everybody $500 and destroy all the evidence OH WAIT NOT THE PATRIOTS LOL.

[ulmont]

Well, with the state their defense is probably going to be in after the Commish drops the hammer, he should break more records this season than ever.  It'll look like a track meet.

Are there more suspensions coming?  I thought that just the four guys and the co-ordinator got hammered.

Nah, it's done.  Jonathan Vilma for the season, Will Smith for 4 games, and the other 2 guys aren't on the team anymore.  Plus, Williams was already gone, Steve Spagnuolo took over, and they did some defensive free agent work.  Defense will probably be better than last year.

[Neil]

Nah, it's done.  Jonathan Vilma for the season, Will Smith for 4 games, and the other 2 guys aren't on the team anymore.  Plus, Williams was already gone, Steve Spagnuolo took over, and they did some defensive free agent work.  Defense will probably be better than last year.

Who did they add that will keep them from getting torched in the pass game?  Did they add a lockdown corner or an elite pass rush?

[ulmont]

Nah, it's done.  Jonathan Vilma for the season, Will Smith for 4 games, and the other 2 guys aren't on the team anymore.  Plus, Williams was already gone, Steve Spagnuolo took over, and they did some defensive free agent work.  Defense will probably be better than last year.

Who did they add that will keep them from getting torched in the pass game?  Did they add a lockdown corner or an elite pass rush?

Pulled Curtis Lofton off of the Falcons, resigned Turk McBride (now healthy), and picked up Brodrick Bunkley from the Broncos.  Also got Akiem Hicks from the University of Regina and Corey White from Samford in the draft, although who knows if they'll pan out.

[Neil]

Nah, it's done.  Jonathan Vilma for the season, Will Smith for 4 games, and the other 2 guys aren't on the team anymore.  Plus, Williams was already gone, Steve Spagnuolo took over, and they did some defensive free agent work.  Defense will probably be better than last year.

Who did they add that will keep them from getting torched in the pass game?  Did they add a lockdown corner or an elite pass rush?

Pulled Curtis Lofton off of the Falcons, resigned Turk McBride (now healthy), and picked up Brodrick Bunkley from the Broncos.  Also got Akiem Hicks from the University of Regina and Corey White from Samford in the draft, although who knows if they'll pan out.

I remember thinking Bunkley did a good job clogging up the run, although they did a good job stopping the run last year.  I don't remember McBride, but hopefully he can bring it, especially with Smith missing time.  Lofton I like as a good all-round LB.  Still, Vilma's got big shoes to fill there, but if Vilma and Lofton are playing together next year, that'd be pretty impressive.  Unless this White kid turns out to be Ed Reed, I'm afraid for the Saints pass D.  Fortunately, Drew Brees is Superman.

[derspiess]

A friend of mine from college officiating just got hired as a replacement NFL official.

Cool.  Hopefully we'll see him this fall in place of Hochuli or that rather inarticulate Jerome Boger.

Hochuli isn't bad.  OK, he made a horrific mistake, but he's not Bill Leavy or Walt Coleman.

My problem with Hochuli that he's an extreme narcissist and seems to think the game is about him.  Refs like him need to be taken down a couple pegs.

[Neil]

A friend of mine from college officiating just got hired as a replacement NFL official.

Cool.  Hopefully we'll see him this fall in place of Hochuli or that rather inarticulate Jerome Boger.

Hochuli isn't bad.  OK, he made a horrific mistake, but he's not Bill Leavy or Walt Coleman.

My problem with Hochuli that he's an extreme narcissist and seems to think the game is about him.  Refs like him need to be taken down a couple pegs.

I guess I could see that.  His arms have made him probably the most famous official in the NFL.