2019 NFL Season Thread

BlueMerle · 2 Aug 2019 at 13:46

Karl said:
After watching their series of All Or Nothing, I was absolutely blown away by their training facility and stadium. The money that's gone in to that is absolutely insane.

Yeah, the training facility, known locally as 'The Star', is very impressive. It's located in Frisco just north of Dallas. No expense was spared, it's first class all the way. I believe that was mostly Jerry's money. I'm sure there were some tax incentives and sponsorships, but mostly his money.

The stadium where they play, aka 'The Death Star', is here in Arlington, just west of Dallas and east of Fort Worth. That was a joint venture between the Cowboy's (Jerry) and the city of Arlington to the tune of $1.3B.

The Cowboy's, unlike any other NFL team, can print money when they need it. Which helps explain Jerry's latest toy, a $250M yacht he named after his long suffering wife.

For a man who can't string a coherent sentence together he's done pretty well for himself.

No1newts · 2 Aug 2019 at 13:49

BlueMerle said:
Here's the thing. I live in the Dallas area, I'm a life long Cowboys fan. The stadium is exactly 1.5 miles from my condo. Walking distance. Jerry is an idiot!

Now, over the last several years he has ceded control to Steven, his eldest. He's much better. Don't forget that unlike many NFL owners Jerry has always wanted to win! He sucks at being a GM, but he's about the best owner in the NFL.

It's weird to be sure. I won't pretend to like him, but I do respect his desire to win. Even if he has no clue how to do so.

If you consider the Cowboys, then take all that into account along with their history. BTW, they are the most valuable sports franchise in the world. That should count for something... not much, but something.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

Yeah I went against the Cowboys but their desire to win is admirable if, as you say, at times misguided and mishandled.

Do you think you'll tie down Zeke?

BlueMerle · 2 Aug 2019 at 13:57

No1newts said:
Do you think you'll tie down Zeke?

If history is good indicator then yes.

In the early '90s after winning the SB, Emmitt Smith held out all of training camp and the first two games of the season. The Cowboy's lost both of those games, Jerry broke out the checkbook and paid Emmitt. The Cowboy's went on to become the first team to start a season 0-2 and go on to win the SB.

The sticking point here is that Zeke wants to reset the market for RBs and Jerry won't do that. In the end I believe that Zeke will accept a contract on par with Gurley.

No1newts · 2 Aug 2019 at 18:13

BlueMerle said:
If history is good indicator then yes.

In the early '90s after winning the SB, Emmitt Smith held out all of training camp and the first two games of the season. The Cowboy's lost both of those games, Jerry broke out the checkbook and paid Emmitt. The Cowboy's went on to become the first team to start a season 0-2 and go on to win the SB.

The sticking point here is that Zeke wants to reset the market for RBs and Jerry won't do that. In the end I believe that Zeke will accept a contract on par with Gurley.

Yeah I don't think Lev "won" and made it so that RB's will make huge money.

No1newts · 2 Aug 2019 at 18:13

Karl said:
Anybody had to shell out for this year's gamepass sub yet?

No1newts said:
I've not noticed it come out yet and I think I'm down for auto renewal.

Funnily enough money has just came out today.

BlueMerle · 2 Aug 2019 at 23:31

No1newts said:
Yeah I don't think Lev "won" and made it so that RB's will make huge money.

Agreed. And if memory serves, he actually ended up taking less... though I could be wrong. Either way Zeke has limited leverage here. A Trade is highly unlikely given what the other team would have give up to get him, and then what they'd have to pay to keep him. The list of teams willing/able to do that is a number rapidly approaching zero. Not impossible but highly unlikely.

His options are essentially accept a "Gurley" contract or sit out for two years and make zero. Then hope that someone would pay him on par with Gurley, cause no one would be willing to reset the RB market for a guy that's been out of the league for 2 years.

In the end cooler heads will prevail, Zeke will play for the Cowboys for the next several years and all will be right with the world.

No1newts · 3 Aug 2019 at 10:02

BlueMerle said:
Agreed. And if memory serves, he actually ended up taking less... though I could be wrong. Either way Zeke has limited leverage here. A Trade is highly unlikely given what the other team would have give up to get him, and then what they'd have to pay to keep him. The list of teams willing/able to do that is a number rapidly approaching zero. Not impossible but highly unlikely.

His options are essentially accept a "Gurley" contract or sit out for two years and make zero. Then hope that someone would pay him on par with Gurley, cause no one would be willing to reset the RB market for a guy that's been out of the league for 2 years.

In the end cooler heads will prevail, Zeke will play for the Cowboys for the next several years and all will be right with the world.

Who do you fancy for the Superbowl this year?

Talent wise I can see the Falcons, Cowboys and Colts making good runs alongside the perennial contenders like Eagles (great roster this year) Pat's (always there) Chiefs, Rams, Saints.

Could see the Browns and Ravens being interesting as well depending on how things land for them, really, really interested to see how the Ravens go with their odd offence. Vikings with a fixed Oline could have a chance too.

AndyCr15 · 3 Aug 2019 at 10:28

I can't imagine the Ravens offence will be successful, but then I guess we need to see how Jackson has progressed. I personally don't think Dak is good enough for the Cowboys to be real contenders, but then again Trent Dilfer has a ring, so....

No1newts · 3 Aug 2019 at 13:45

AndyCr15 said:
I can't imagine the Ravens offence will be successful, but then I guess we need to see how Jackson has progressed. I personally don't think Dak is good enough for the Cowboys to be real contenders, but then again Trent Dilfer has a ring, so....

Dak is about bang on par on the Dalton scale (nod for you around the NFL listeners

) and I think his O has enough talent now for him to perform in line with that.

Ravens like you I'm not sure it will work but the sheer amount of runs will put a lot of pressure on the D and then Jackson being able to scramble or alternatively target his now good TE's on short passing routes when the D are expecting a run could upset a lot of play making. The sheer fact of the unknown will make it difficult for teams to face them, I think, yet equally it go horribly, horribly wrong and teams just plug the line and he can't take on any throws but he hasn't the talent. Not sure, hence the interesting comment.

BlueMerle · 3 Aug 2019 at 16:26

No1newts said:
Who do you fancy for the Superbowl this year?

Talent wise I can see the Falcons, Cowboys and Colts making good runs alongside the perennial contenders like Eagles (great roster this year) Pat's (always there) Chiefs, Rams, Saints.

Could see the Browns and Ravens being interesting as well depending on how things land for them, really, really interested to see how the Ravens go with their odd offence. Vikings with a fixed Oline could have a chance too.

Pats, Chiefs, Rams and Saints are the early odds on favorite imo. The thing I love about the NFL is there is always two or three cinderella teams each year.

BlueMerle · 3 Aug 2019 at 16:36

No1newts said:
Dak is about bang on par on the Dalton scale

Not even close.

https://edraft.com/nfl/fantasy-football/tools/start-sit/27876/andy-dalton-vs-dak-prescott/

Note that Dak's overall rating is #10 while Andy's is #25.

AndyCr15 · 3 Aug 2019 at 21:28

Fantasy scoring rank probably isn't the best way to judge a QB...

If you swapped them, how would they both perform?

No1newts · 3 Aug 2019 at 22:26

AndyCr15 said:
Fantasy scoring rank probably isn't the best way to judge a QB...

If you swapped them, how would they both perform?

Hence the Dalton scale comment. Pure Dalton is a QB who plays up (or down) to the talent around him, I would put Dak bang on that, though I guess I could be persuaded he is slightly above, he would such just as bad in the Bengals as Dalton does but put him in an O with a lot of talent and I believe he will play up to it, as he does with the Cowboys and a strong line.

BlueMerle · 4 Aug 2019 at 20:11

AndyCr15 said:
Fantasy scoring rank probably isn't the best way to judge a QB...

If you swapped them, how would they both perform?

I agree about the fantasy rank bit, it was just a quick way to show that Dak has much more to offer and is a better QB than Dalton. As for swapping them that's pure conjecture. No different than asking who is the better boxer, Mike Tyson or Muhammad Ali. We can guess but we'll never know for sure.

AndyCr15 · 4 Aug 2019 at 20:20

BlueMerle said:
I agree about the fantasy rank bit, it was just a quick way to show that Dak has much more to offer and is a better QB than Dalton. As for swapping them that's pure conjecture. No different than asking who is the better boxer, Mike Tyson or Muhammad Ali. We can guess but we'll never know for sure.

You think we should never compare two players and discuss who we think is better?

BlueMerle · 4 Aug 2019 at 20:33

AndyCr15 said:
You think we should never compare two players and discuss who we think is better?

No, of course not. I'm just pointing out that at the end of the day it's pure conjecture. Totally subjective with no real facts to substantiate an opinion either way.

It's fun, and makes for a good conversation sitting around the bar, but doesn't prove anything. No one can know how either would perform should they be swapped. Period. As it stands today, Dak is a better QB than Andy based on fact and that's all we can really pass judgement on.

I'm not knocking Andy in any way. He played college ball locally at TCU in Fort Worth. I was a big fan of his, and have followed him since he went pro. He's a good QB, but not as good as Dak. And neither are elite.

AndyCr15 · 4 Aug 2019 at 21:50

BlueMerle said:
Dak is a better QB than Andy based on fact

I guess I missed that 'fact'? I'm not saying he's not, but I think he's overrated and does as well as he does because of his supporting cast. (Mind you, I also said the same about Montana

)

BlueMerle · 4 Aug 2019 at 23:35

AndyCr15 said:
I guess I missed that 'fact'? I'm not saying he's not, but I think he's overrated and does as well as he does because of his supporting cast. (Mind you, I also said the same about Montana )

That's fair. We can agree to disagree on that. (BTW, I would have bet the mortgage that Ryan Leaf was going to be a superstar!

)

No1newts · 9 Aug 2019 at 22:26

Apparently Brown refusing to play because he can't wear the type of helmet he wants

this is on top of him getting frostbite from a cryo chamber on his feet

He does an A grade job of making himself looks complete tit with no help at all

BlueMerle · 10 Aug 2019 at 00:57

No1newts said:
Apparently Brown refusing to play because he can't wear the type of helmet he wants this is on top of him getting frostbite from a cryo chamber on his feet

He does an A grade job of making himself looks complete tit with no help at all

Such a bizarre story. Even some teammates are commenting on how completely insane this is. Couldn't happen to a better coach!