2011 NFL Thread: The Lazarus Season - Part 7

[The Incredible Hulk]

In fairness, Peyton's accent makes him impossible to comprehend, especially when it is not scripted with several takes to cover it up. His interview on NFL Today this past Sunday seriously made him sound like Foghorn Leghorn. That being said, someone will hire him to sit in their studio simply because he is Peyton Manning.

LOL

"I say, I say, I say...that boy ain't right in the head....."

 

[Erzengel]

They are hoping they can coast to the playoffs and hopefully Cutler and Forte will be back.

But with the Falcons, Lions, Giants or Cowboys in the Wild Card hunt that doesn't seem likely.

 

[Genesis 1.0]

According to Chris Mortensen, sources within the Bears are unhappy with Matt Forte's rehabilitation, the general feeling being that he isn't doing all he can to get back in the lineup.

The Bears decided to have good business sense, can't fault them for that, so they in turn can't be upset with Forte for protecting himself from further injury while not being paid. Without a new contract, he went out there & played 100%, without reservation & looked fantastic with a leaky O Line.

Should they decide to continue their current route & franchise him, leaving him an option at the close, there will be ALOT of teams lined up when he inevitably decides to follow the money.

 

[Ness]

A quarterback can put you over the hump, but Bill Cowher proved time and time again that you can be competitive without one. Patriots went 11-5 without Brady (who was a 6th round pick, mind you). Alex Smith is having a decent season. With the right coaching and support a team can survive and compete with an average QB.

Not to mention, there is no immediate need in Indy. Manning just got a very encouraging report and is practicing again. He could stay in Indianapolis for another 3 or 4 years. Meanwhile, by trading their first pick to a team like Seattle or Miami, with what they get they can build a young and solid foundation for when the day comes that they NEED a quarterback. They have the most valuable pick in the 2012 NFL draft. To waste it on a quarterback, says to me, that Bill Polian has not learned from his mistake of building his whole team around said quarterback. Great pre-2005 picks aside or not, that was nearly 7 years ago. This is now. Polian has become complacent and his football philosophy is little more than, "Let a great quarterback carry a mediocre team."

Peyton Manning is practicing again? Since when? This is the closest Manning has come to practice as of an hour ago via ESPN:

Caldwell said he did not expect Manning to participate in team workouts this week and that he wasn't sure if that would happen before the season ends.
The Colts have kept Manning on the active roster all season in hopes he could start throwing before the Jan. 1 finale at Jacksonville. Colts vice chairman Bill Polian, general manager Chris Polian and Irsay also must decide whether to exercise a $28 million option or let Manning become a free agent.

And yes you can have good seasons without a franchise quarterback, but how many years can you do that consecutively? This isn't the 90's anymore where the offensive rules aren't geared towards offenses as they are now. Defenses have a harder time defending offenses than even 10 years ago.

And you are really being optimistic about Peyton Manning's health. Manning may never play again. And even if he does he's in his mid thirties and has had what, three neck surgeries in less than two seasons? It's obvious all these years of starting every game are taking it's toll.

 

[Ness]

I could be wrong, but I truly believe that Luck going to Indy will be a disaster. I'm talking a disaster of Ryan Leaf proportions. But I don't think it will happen. It was made very clear on Sunday that Peyton runs that franchise by order of Jim Irsay and Peyton is not ready to share.

Unless Luck has an attitude problem and blows off media reporters, then it will never be as bad.

 

[CConn]

Not to mention, I really don't see how you could call Luck NFL ready, then in the same sentence say he could turn into a guy who threw 5 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions in one season. It inherently doesn't make sense.

 

[Holiday]

Jared Allen lolz:

“I’m not trying to be mean, but it’s just depressing when I go there. There’s two cities like I don’t go out to eat or don’t do anything. It’s Detroit and New Orleans. New Orleans looks like I’m driving through a third-world country every time I get off the plane, I’m like, ‘Oh, flak jacket.’ I’m trying to get down. I’m like, ‘Ah, crap, I can’t carry my gun here. This sucks.’”

He may be my new favorite player, ha.

 

[CConn]

Wow. I'm an ******* and even I wouldn't say something like that.

 

[StorminNorman]

According to Chris Mortensen, sources within the Bears are unhappy with Matt Forte's rehabilitation, the general feeling being that he isn't doing all he can to get back in the lineup.

The Bears decided to have good business sense, can't fault them for that, so they in turn can't be upset with Forte for protecting himself from further injury while not being paid. Without a new contract, he went out there & played 100%, without reservation & looked fantastic with a leaky O Line.

Should they decide to continue their current route & franchise him, leaving him an option at the close, there will be ALOT of teams lined up when he inevitably decides to follow the money.

It's not good business sense to not take care of the best player on your team. I understand running back is a risky position, but Forte is arguably the best running back in the country. You pay the man, because it demonstrates that you reward your playmakers.

Forte should never play for the Bears again. Period. He shouldn't have even played a game this year.

 

[CConn]

LeSean McCoy is the best running back in the country.

 

[StorminNorman]

Definitely one that deserves mention.

I would almost rather have McCoy or Forte over Peterson due to their versatility. A running back that is no danger in the passing game is a real limitation on what you can do as an offense. For a similar reason I would rather have Vernon Davis over almost any wide receiver in the league.

 

[Genesis 1.0]

“I’m not trying to be mean, but it’s just depressing when I go there. There’s two cities like I don’t go out to eat or don’t do anything. It’s Detroit and New Orleans. New Orleans looks like I’m driving through a third-world country every time I get off the plane, I’m like, ‘Oh, flak jacket.’ I’m trying to get down. I’m like, ‘Ah, crap, I can’t carry my gun here. This sucks.’”

Best. Quote. Ever.

I can't remember the last time I laughed this hard at something an NFL player has said.

It's not good business sense to not take care of the best player on your team. I understand running back is a risky position, but Forte is arguably the best running back in the country. You pay the man, because it demonstrates that you reward your playmakers.

Forte should never play for the Bears again. Period. He shouldn't have even played a game this year.

If you know the Bears organization, you know they have a history of doing this & it's worked fairly well for them for years. So yes, it's a proven formula for them that's worked for them financially.

What you're arguing is morals & there's no argument there, it's as cruddy as it gets. He has earned his money 10 times over & he's well known as a high character guy, I've already said he shouldn't rush himself to get back & play for a franchise that decided not to pay him.

 

[Raiden]

If you know the Bears organization, you know they have a history of doing this & it's worked fairly well for them for years. So yes, it's a proven formula for them that's worked for them financially.

What you're arguing is morals & there's no argument there, it's as cruddy as it gets. He has earned his money 10 times over & he's well known as a high character guy, I've already said he shouldn't rush himself to get back & play for a franchise that decided not to pay him.

Yeah, Forte doesn't own Bears anything, so there's no reason for him to rush back from injury when the team isn't even interested in signing him with an extension. He should rest himself and then start looking at all the offers from other teams who will be more than happy to pay him for his worth.

 

[Genesis 1.0]

Yeah & I just hope no one in the AFC grabs him.

 

[SpideyInATree]

This has been an awful game. Steelers can't hold onto the ball and now Ben is down. Doesn't look too good.

 

[Yurka]

The Steelers look terrible right now. Ben needs to come back but it didn't look good at all.

*sigh*

Damnit.

 

[Hush]

Very very boring game!

 

[Genesis 1.0]

Come on Cleavland, punting on the Steelers 40, the frack?

 

[SpideyInATree]

The Steelers look terrible right now. Ben needs to come back but it didn't look good at all.

*sigh*

Damnit.

Yeah, that looked really brutal. I doubt he'll come back. And they've got Charlie Batch in there. They need a big play on their running game, special teams, or defense. Or they could just hold the Browns off like they've been doing and just win 7 to 3...

Ben's ankle looked like it snapped. Depending on how badly it was hurt he may be out the rest of the season.

 

[Genesis 1.0]

Titans Defenive Coordinator: Just hit 'em & fines from the Commish be dammed: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...fines-for-big-hits?module=HP11_headline_stack

I'd like to hear this from every other team in the league.

 

[Yurka]

Yeah, that looked really brutal. I doubt he'll come back. And they've got Charlie Batch in there. They need a big play on their running game, special teams, or defense. Or they could just hold the Browns off like they've been doing and just win 7 to 3...

Ben's ankle looked like it snapped. Depending on how badly it was hurt he may be out the rest of the season.

I've never seen him limp that much, I seriously, seriously doubt he's coming back, maybe for the rest of the year.

I expect to see a QB acquired this week regardless of how this game turns out.

Not good.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Well, they have Batch in there now. Dixon and Leftwich are on the team but they aren't active for this week. So if something happens to Batch they will have to find someone else on the team who is active to play QB.

 

[enterthemadness]

Well, they have Batch in there now. Dixon and Leftwich are on the team but they aren't active for this week. So if something happens to Batch they will have to find someone else on the team who is active to play QB.

Big Ben is coming out...

As a football player, I respect him. As a person...um, as if...

 

[Yurka]

Well, they have Batch in there now. Dixon and Leftwich are on the team but they aren't active for this week. So if something happens to Batch they will have to find someone else on the team who is active to play QB.

If Ben's out extensively, I doubt they start Batch the rest of the year. I would take Dixon.

 

[Yurka]

Toughest Quarterback in history.


Ever.