NFL thread

[r4derby]

It seams we have 9 interested parties at the moment which is great, I am sure we will get more to even it up.

Interested

Bridgford Ram

Posh Ram

r4Derby

General Ram

Sweetness34

AnimalisaRam

American Ram

Scott129

KGDCFC

10 is probably the maximum for a decent size league. This allows everyone a chance at getting a few stud players, but also means that teams will have to be savvy towards the end of the draft to find those players who could potentially break out next season.

[Bridgford Ram]

10 is probably the maximum for a decent size league. This allows everyone a chance at getting a few stud players, but also means that teams will have to be savvy towards the end of the draft to find those players who could potentially break out next season.

​Happy with that if others are.

You do seem to know the most about this Fantasy Football lark.  Maybe we should find a time when we are both on here and set the league up together.  There are hundreds of options we can pick that will decide how the draft works, how the points work, how trades and free drafts etc...  I would imagine we will leave a lot of the as NFL default settings but the option of an offline draft could work as we could do it on here. 

[r4derby]

​Happy with that if others are.

You do seem to know the most about this Fantasy Football lark.  Maybe we should find a time when we are both on here and set the league up together.  There are hundreds of options we can pick that will decide how the draft works, how the points work, how trades and free drafts etc...  I would imagine we will leave a lot of the as NFL default settings but the option of an offline draft could work as we could do it on here. 

Yep, sounds good. The only issue with offline draft is that it could take some time, we could potentially start a new thread and take turns picking players. We would all need to check it regularly to make sure it progresses though, and everyone would need to look at the players list for their picks, as there would be no assistance. Using the NFL draft client will probably be the most straight forward option, and it has a chat feature, but I'm open to other options.

yeah most of the defaults are fine, it will just be our leagues preference to trades and waiver wire/free agents that need sorting.

[davenportram]

I might be interested if someone can send me a link to the website. But I may have to autodraft

[Bridgford Ram]

I might be interested if someone can send me a link to the website. But I may have to autodraft

​We now have 10 interested parties, fantastic.  The league will be on NFL.com but r4Derby and I haven't set it up yet.

Interested

Bridgford Ram

Posh Ram

r4Derby

General Ram

Sweetness34

AnimalisaRam

American Ram

Scott129

KGDCFC

Davenport Ram

[Bridgford Ram]

I've just read the story of Aaron Hernandez (ex Patriots).  I had never heard of him before but his story is such a sad story, how can someone who has the talent to be given the largest ever contract given to an NFL tight end sink so low to be convicted of murder and linked to numerous others and several shootings.

It seems that Hernandez had a stable upbringing until his father died at 16 but we sometimes think, with footballers in this country, that their talent saves them from a potential life of crime.  Surely if the Patriots valued him enough to give him a £27m contract they could have done more?  Or was he just out of control?

Anyone know any more?

[Scott129]

I've just read the story of Aaron Hernandez (ex Patriots).  I had never heard of him before but his story is such a sad story, how can someone who has the talent to be given the largest ever contract given to an NFL tight end sink so low to be convicted of murder and linked to numerous others and several shootings.

It seems that Hernandez had a stable upbringing until his father died at 16 but we sometimes think, with footballers in this country, that their talent saves them from a potential life of crime.  Surely if the Patriots valued him enough to give him a £27m contract they could have done more?  Or was he just out of control?

Anyone know any more?

​I don't think it's sad at all.

Many other kids have had difficult upbringings yet haven't murdered multiple people (not sure if he's been convicted for the double shooting yet though).

I just think he's an idiot. With all that money he was making, he could have easily got some sort of help if he really wanted to. Even within the Patriots organisation.

I'm led to believe most of it was gang-related. That's about as much as I know. I'm not sure motives have ever really been revealed.

[Bridgford Ram]

​I don't think it's sad at all.

Many other kids have had difficult upbringings yet haven't murdered multiple people (not sure if he's been convicted for the double shooting yet though).

I just think he's an idiot. With all that money he was making, he could have easily got some sort of help if he really wanted to. Even within the Patriots organisation.

I'm led to believe most of it was gang-related. That's about as much as I know. I'm not sure motives have ever really been revealed.

​I think I probably meant it is sad that such talent was wasted on someone who threw it all away.

Hard to understand why someone with millions of pounds and a million dollar house is still hanging round in gangs.

[r4derby]

​I think I probably meant it is sad that such talent was wasted on someone who threw it all away.

Hard to understand why someone with millions of pounds and a million dollar house is still hanging round in gangs.

The same reason British papers show images of Ravel Morrison walking down the street with a bunch of hoodlums looking like they're about to mug someone. You can give someone all the money in the world, It doesn't necessarily mean they're mentally prepared or their character will change.

Hernandez situation is a funny one, but you could assume that the money just added to more splashing of the cash, attracting the wrong crowd, and the wrong attention. It wouldn't take much for a young man with a posse and money, thinking he is above others, to take offense at others

[Scott129]

​I think I probably meant it is sad that such talent was wasted on someone who threw it all away.

Hard to understand why someone with millions of pounds and a million dollar house is still hanging round in gangs.

​Once you're in a serious gang, it's really hard to get out. Not that I've ever been in one haha.

[Bridgford Ram]

​Once you're in a serious gang, it's really hard to get out. Not that I've ever been in one haha.

​Surely if he'd failed to pay his annual gang subscription, perhaps by cancelling his direct debit, he'd have been thrown out of the gang and had his membership card taken away.  Easy.

[Bridgford Ram]

I'm going to set up a NFL Fantasy League thread to keep it separate from general NFL chat.

[Animal is a Ram]

NFL owners approved the Competition Committee's proposal on extra points for the 2015 season.

The NFL announced the extra point will now be kicked from the 15-yard line with two-point conversions remaining at the 2-yard line. The new rule also gives the defense the ability to score two points on returns.

According to the rule change, if the defense returns a blocked extra point or failed two-point try for a touchdown (i.e. on an interception), they will be awarded two points. Under the previous rule the ball was dead on a failed try.

NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino said teams could change their attempt decision if a penalty occurs. For instance, if a team chooses to go for two points and is called for an offensive penalty, they could then decide to kick a 1-point try. 

The approved rule, which was decided by a 30-2 vote by owners, was one of three proposals considered by owners on Tuesday at the NFL's Spring League Meeting.

Owners considered a proposal by theNew England Patriots similar to the adopted plan, but without the defense's ability to score. A plan proposed by thePhiladelphia Eagles called for a 15-yard PAT and the ball on the 1-yard line for two-point tries.

The NFL has been tinkering with the PAT in hopes of making it a more difficult and therefore entertaining play for spectators. The latest change might be just the first step of further adjustments in years to come.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport also reported that the Redskins' proposal to have roster cuts done all at once -- moving from 90-man to 53-man rosters prior to the start of the season -- was voted down by owners, per a source.

[Bridgford Ram]

NFL owners approved the Competition Committee's proposal on extra points for the 2015 season.

The NFL announced the extra point will now be kicked from the 15-yard line with two-point conversions remaining at the 2-yard line. The new rule also gives the defense the ability to score two points on returns.

According to the rule change, if the defense returns a blocked extra point or failed two-point try for a touchdown (i.e. on an interception), they will be awarded two points. Under the previous rule the ball was dead on a failed try.

NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino said teams could change their attempt decision if a penalty occurs. For instance, if a team chooses to go for two points and is called for an offensive penalty, they could then decide to kick a 1-point try. 

The approved rule, which was decided by a 30-2 vote by owners, was one of three proposals considered by owners on Tuesday at the NFL's Spring League Meeting.

Owners considered a proposal by theNew England Patriots similar to the adopted plan, but without the defense's ability to score. A plan proposed by thePhiladelphia Eagles called for a 15-yard PAT and the ball on the 1-yard line for two-point tries.

The NFL has been tinkering with the PAT in hopes of making it a more difficult and therefore entertaining play for spectators. The latest change might be just the first step of further adjustments in years to come.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport also reported that the Redskins' proposal to have roster cuts done all at once -- moving from 90-man to 53-man rosters prior to the start of the season -- was voted down by owners, per a source.

​I read an article predicting a change of this nature and it was intimating that it could give Tebow a way back into the NFL as a specialist 2pt conversion player.  Didn't understand why though.

[r4derby]

Anyone on here who wishes to join the forums fantasy football, head over to the seperate fantasy thread, and make yourself known. The league is being set up tomorrow (Friday), and I'm not sure whether the number of teams can be changed.

(If we are inundated with people asking, a second league can be arranged, so don't worry about too many people saying yes!

[Bridgford Ram]

As I learn more about the NFL it amazes me how many of the players have had brushes with the law, serious issues in their home lives or links with drugs.  Imagine if this was also the case in football in this country. 

[Bridgford Ram]

Newbie question.  What makes a franchise player?  Is it a status that a team can offer that entitles the player to a more lucrative contract?

[Day]

Test post

[Posh Ram]

Newbie question.  What makes a franchise player?  Is it a status that a team can offer that entitles the player to a more lucrative contract?

​I think "franchise player" is just a saying to show that a player is very important. AP, Andrew Luck, Aaron Rodgers, JJ Watt are good examples.

The "franchise tag" is when a team puts a tag on a player whose contract is expiring, giving them a lucrative one-year deal, if they can't reach a long-term one before free agency but they don't want to lose them. Each team can only tag one player. Justin Houston, Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant and Jason Pierre-Paul got franchise tagged in 2015, for example.  

[Bridgford Ram]

I hadn't realised when I watched Hard Knocks last year that it was a regular event featuring a different team each year.  Looking forward to the  Houston Texans series.