NFL Thread

[Jaguares]

If you had to make a rugby union team with the best NFL players, according to their characteristics for each position in rugby union. Which players would choose for a team of 15 players?

 

[admartian]

And the Super Rugby???...

Regards

Not the best players in the sport (North & South hemisphere) though all playing each other, year in, year out.

If you had to make a rugby union team with the best NFL players, according to their characteristics for each position in rugby union. Which players would choose for a team of 15 players?

I've thought about this before (maybe I'll compile a XV post here, but I think QBs that can run the option, intrigue me - it's similar to the 'draw and pass' in rugby and the ability to spot a defender's assignment and the running lane.

 

[Jaguares]

Not the best players in the sport (North & South hemisphere) though all playing each other, year in, year out.

That's the beauty of rugby, we have different tournaments, different styles of play, different teams. In football there is only one tournament (NFL) and starts in September and ends in February, the rest of the year you have nothing to look.


Cheers

 

[admartian]

That's the beauty of rugby, we have different tournaments, different styles of play, different teams. In football there is only one tournament (NFL) and starts in September and ends in February, the rest of the year you have nothing to look.


Cheers

I don't understand why you feel the need to prop up rugby all the time in this thread. Seeing as the forum ***le is a rugby forum, we are all rugby diehards...

Anyway, I wasn't knocking rugby. My point was that it's hard to have a more consistent league and evaluating talent, without some sort of regular club competition that pits ALL of the best against each other. I know internationals do that, and I'm certainly not advocating of getting rid of club rugby in favour of just solely international play (though if they found a way to make something work I wouldn't be against it) but that's what the RWC is for, just not as regular to evaluate players year after year.

Please, stop derailing the thread if you're sole purpose is to say "bu bu bu bu bu b u what about rugby?!?!?" - I don't understand why you keep bringing this up as if this thread is some sort of knock against rugby.

 

[Rich Taff]

There are no NFL players who could play rugby. They are already established within the sport (which incidentally uses a similar shaped ball, and is a contact sport (but that's where the similarity ends)).
When they've reached the NFL they are trained and conditioned for extremely high impact, short stint action.(spot the oxygen bottles on the touchline in case an OL guy has to run more than 50ft)
As for those who could have become rugby players instead of NFL players, then I'd say 99.99% of them could have. (Please note: It's 'Could have' not 'Could of'(pet hate of mine))
Why? Because some are huge, and some are extremely quick guys. Some are too big to do anything that requires stamina, but I'd imagine they wouldn't have become quite as big if the sport they were playing required stamina.

 

[ABs2011]

Picks for this years NFL?

I've gone Denver and Seattle with a little nibble on the Colts! What do others think?

 

[Rich Taff]

Wondering how the Pats will do, trading Welker, then losing their 'Boston TE party' no. 2 Hernandez. Think the Fins will push them close this year in the conference.
Colts is going to be highly dependant on Luck (haha, notice the pun? I'm so clever) and Wayne staying injury free.
I like the Broncos (mainly because any team with 18 in it has a chance, and with the acquisition of Welker, they have another outlet (and apparently they have a new TE I think)).
My pick though is Texans v Cheeseheads for the SB, Cheesehead win (unless I'm messing up my conferences once again)

 

[admartian]

Picks for this years NFL?

I've gone Denver and Seattle with a little nibble on the Colts! What do others think?

If I'm picking completely dark horse team, I pick The Chiefs and Bears. Both just need stable and decent QB play. They have the talent and coaching.

If Denver can stay at .500 after the first 6 weeks (injuries and suspensions), they'll have a chance. And the Colts have Luck and they're in the AFC South so they can be a wildcard at the least (behind the Texans). Seattle still has heaps of ways to win even without Harvin (they did it last year). And if Clemons can return to 100% that defence will be just as scary - as Bruce Irvin wasn't quite as effective rushing the passer without him.

As always my pick is for the Ravens to at least make the playoffs. But unless Torrey Smith, Ed Dickson, and Jacoby Jones and/or Brandon Stokley; and maybe one or two of those UDFA Wide receivers can contribute significantly; to help Joe out, I'm not too confident about going deep in the playoffs.

 

[Rich Taff]

If I'm picking completely dark horse team, I pick The Chiefs and Bears. Both just need stable and decent QB play. They have the talent and coaching.

Think it's still a couple of years too early for the Chiefs, and Bears are overly reliant on Forte, who seems to have become 'mr injury prone when you least need it'.

Ravens will be interesting, I'm wondering if they'll be allowed to create a d-play involving Ray Lewis' zimmer frame...

 

[admartian]

Think it's still a couple of years too early for the Chiefs, and Bears are overly reliant on Forte, who seems to have become 'mr injury prone when you least need it'.

Ravens will be interesting, I'm wondering if they'll be allowed to create a d-play involving Ray Lewis' zimmer frame...

The only reason I put the Chiefs up is because they have a generally sound roster; no real holes, and they have a proven coach in Reid. The Bears are good, Cutler is as good as any - when he's not being a headcase lol. B-Marsh is great. We'll see what Trestman does with this bunch though.

But hey, I guess that's why they're a dark horse, right?

lol yeah. TBH, the Ravens haven't needed #52 (at least on the field) for about the past 1-3 season. I think we're a vastly improved roster on the defensive side of the ball this year than last. I;'d say Huff is comparable (note, not te same) to that of Reed was at last year. And we actually improved on the other side (at Strong Safety) with Elam. Our linebacking corps is stronger than the last 2-3 season imo, with Doom, Sizzle, Daryl Smith, an emerging Arthur Brown, Josh Bynes, and a successful, converted D-lineman in McPhee. Plus the guy out of Penn State (John Simon) can rush the passer. A bit raw to be full time but he;'s a good prospect.

D-line is probably the most depth, with Ngata, Canty, Speas, Art Jones, and that beast we drafted in Brandon Williams (seriously, Google this dude's arms).

Corner is probably the weakest position, where a rehabbing Webb is back, a with a solid but not great pair in Graham and Chykie Brown. And Jimmy Smith is still getting burnt and making me think he;s a 1st round bust.

 

[Rich Taff]

The only reason I put the Chiefs up is because they have a generally sound roster; no real holes, and they have a proven coach in Reid. The Bears are good, Cutler is as good as any - when he's not being a headcase lol. B-Marsh is great. We'll see what Trestman does with this bunch though.

But hey, I guess that's why they're a dark horse, right?

lol yeah. TBH, the Ravens haven't needed #52 (at least on the field) for about the past 1-3 season. I think we're a vastly improved roster on the defensive side of the ball this year than last. I;'d say Huff is comparable (note, not te same) to that of Reed was at last year. And we actually improved on the other side (at Strong Safety) with Elam. Our linebacking corps is stronger than the last 2-3 season imo, with Doom, Sizzle, Daryl Smith, an emerging Arthur Brown, Josh Bynes, and a successful, converted D-lineman in McPhee. Plus the guy out of Penn State (John Simon) can rush the passer. A bit raw to be full time but he;'s a good prospect.

D-line is probably the most depth, with Ngata, Canty, Speas, Art Jones, and that beast we drafted in Brandon Williams (seriously, Google this dude's arms).

Corner is probably the weakest position, where a rehabbing Webb is back, a with a solid but not great pair in Graham and Chykie Brown. And Jimmy Smith is still getting burnt and making me think he;s a 1st round bust.

You've gone waaaaaaaaaay too deep into the roster for me there. I rely on the sky NFL weekly's, my own excellent(compared to most people I know(who dont follow NFL, but played a bit with me in my last Uni. ) knowledge of the players, and talking to US guys for my info.

Chiefs have gone a long way from 'fantasy pick whichever RB is against the Chiefs' of a few years ago, but they're still a very young team, so expect them to have a real say in about 2 years.

 

[admartian]

You've gone waaaaaaaaaay too deep into the roster for me there. I rely on the sky NFL weekly's, my own excellent(compared to most people I know(who dont follow NFL, but played a bit with me in my last Uni. ) knowledge of the players, and talking to US guys for my info.

Chiefs have gone a long way from 'fantasy pick whichever RB is against the Chiefs' of a few years ago, but they're still a very young team, so expect them to have a real say in about 2 years.

lol sorry.

TBH, I only really know my own team. I try to keep up with others, but wouldn't know each transaction (32 teams- arrgghH!!) for all of them. The major ones are ones I try to keep up with.

 

[Rich Taff]

I've heard the Ravens have signed a cracking new QB, some guy called 'Teeebo' or something. He's going to pass for 5k, run for 2k and only get sacked once.
You should put some money on him being the MVP.


(I'm only on 10% commission from the bookies, I promise!)

 

[ABs2011]

lol sorry.

TBH, I only really know my own team. I try to keep up with others, but wouldn't know each transaction (32 teams- arrgghH!!) for all of them. The major ones are ones I try to keep up with.

No doubt you guys already know about this/it has probably already been mentioned on this forum, but NFL game pass being free to NZers has been awesome. Is this the first time it's been avaiable? ANy ideas if it will be avaiable for the regular season as well?

 

[admartian]

I've heard the Ravens have signed a cracking new QB, some guy called 'Teeebo' or something. He's going to pass for 5k, run for 2k and only get sacked once.
You should put some money on him being the MVP.


(I'm only on 10% commission from the bookies, I promise!)

YOu scared me, I actually had to check whether this happned. *phew*!

Ozzie would never do that.

No doubt you guys already know about this/it has probably already been mentioned on this forum, but NFL game pass being free to NZers has been awesome. Is this the first time it's been avaiable? ANy ideas if it will be avaiable for the regular season as well?

IIRC it was free last year as well. And the year before that, I remember paying around the range of ~$180-$220. So yeah, 2nd year running I think.

I hope they keep it up, and if they go back to a padi system, they should severely reduce it for us internationals.

 

[Rich Taff]

No doubt you guys already know about this/it has probably already been mentioned on this forum, but NFL game pass being free to NZers has been awesome. Is this the first time it's been avaiable? ANy ideas if it will be avaiable for the regular season as well?

They're not offering that to the UK this year, although they often do the promotion for a few weeks, just to drag you in.(Imagine Gronk on a street corner in a long coat offering 'first watch for free'). It sounds like a great thing, but the bandwidth is horrible, unless you get lucky.

 

[SelimNiai]

Picks for this years NFL?

I've gone Denver and Seattle with a little nibble on the Colts! What do others think?

I predict the AFC Championship game will be Houston v Denver and the NFC to be 49ers v Seahawks again

NFC is so close, any one of 7 or 8 can go deep into the playoffs. AFC less so, as per the trend over the last few years.

Think Lions and Dolphins to surprise a few

 

[Rich Taff]

Think Lions and Dolphins to surprise a few

Go Fins!!!!

(although I have to admit to being a massive 18 fan(and until a couple of years ago at Wembley, I was threatened by a sweet looking girl that 'if you support the Colts I'm going to set fire to you') a Colts fan)

 

[admartian]

They're not offering that to the UK this year, although they often do the promotion for a few weeks, just to drag you in.(Imagine Gronk on a street corner in a long coat offering 'first watch for free'). It sounds like a great thing, but the bandwidth is horrible, unless you get lucky.

Bandwidth (in terms of stream speed with little to no buffering) is great here. Yes, NZ! Even on the highest setting (though be sure you have a large data cap or unlimited, the games eat up!!!

 

[ABs2011]

Bandwidth (in terms of stream speed with little to no buffering) is great here. Yes, NZ! Even on the highest setting (though be sure you have a large data cap or unlimited, the games eat up!!!

Yeah I've had no issues with stream speed! So any word on whether we will have it here in NZ for the regular season?