2025-2026 NFL Season Thread

[BizCat]

Originally Posted by bipbop13

I don't see how they're forgotten. They only bailed Brady out what, 3 times for SB victories?

And it was the QB that drove down the field.. jesus

[Tony208]

These upstart leagues like AAF and XFL trying new things that the NFL will eventually copy and refine. NFL just so slow innovating.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Tony208

These upstart leagues like AAF and XFL trying new things that the NFL will eventually copy and refine. NFL just so slow innovating.

At least the NFL actually does implement rule changes to better the sport. Unlike MLB that is basically the same product as it was a century ago.
Could you imagine if the NFL had two different sets of rules for each conference.
That’s why baseball is getting passed up, and the NFL is top dog.

[BeastCreatureTrapper]

I've watched some AAF highlights. You know, it's pretty decent. If you had NFL uniforms on them, I could be fooled that it's a regular season game in the NFL.

I remember the XFL play looking really rough at times. It wasn't helped that the first week or two had all the sideshow distractions around the game.

At any rate, hmmmm, these new leagues might not be so bad. As long as the football play is quality, I could see an audience for it.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by BeastCreatureTrapper

I've watched some AAF highlights. You know, it's pretty decent. If you had NFL uniforms on them, I could be fooled that it's a regular season game in the NFL.

I remember the XFL play looking really rough at times. It wasn't helped that the first week or two had all the sideshow distractions around the game.

At any rate, hmmmm, these new leagues might not be so bad. As long as the football play is quality, I could see an audience for it.

I couldn't even get into the Arena League!

[BeastCreatureTrapper]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

I couldn't even get into the Arena League!

AFL is too compact, too easy (at least at first blush). I couldn't get into it either.

[BizCat]

AAF has been very good so far, as I suspected.

[BizCat]

Originally Posted by rickah88

At least the NFL actually does implement rule changes to better the sport. Unlike MLB that is basically the same product as it was a century ago.
Could you imagine if the NFL had two different sets of rules for each conference.
That’s why baseball is getting passed up, and the NFL is top dog.

I don't think the 2 conferences having one difference is a deal breaker for most fans... lol. Other things for sure.

[RageATL]

Originally Posted by Tony208

These upstart leagues like AAF and XFL trying new things that the NFL will eventually copy and refine. NFL just so slow innovating.

They let other leagues innovate and implement changes so that they don't have to assume the risk and deal with all the backlash yet they can't even get their own referee situation handled in-house. Cowardice at it's finest.

[fatediesel]

Per John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal the NFL is leaning towards having Bears-Packers in Chicago as the opening kickoff game. The Patriots would then open the season on Sunday Night Football, and Ourand believes (although it's a guess) the Giants would be the opponent as the league would want to save Patriots-Chiefs and Patriots-Steelers for later in the season. He also says Thanksgiving will likely feature the Bears-Lions game on Fox (which was the 2018 game as well) and Dolphins-Cowboys on CBS.

https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/...s-Packers.aspx

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by BizCat

I don't think the 2 conferences having one difference is a deal breaker for most fans... lol. Other things for sure.

It’s the #1 criticism of MLB. Has been for years, decades. Now that the purists(baby boomers) don’t make up the bulk of the viewing audience.
It’s why the Commish made it a point of address in the 2021 CBA, ideally in 2020.
It’s the dumbest thing in all Pro sports. The benefits far outweigh the lone con of “that’s the way it’s always been”. Sorry stat keeping fan, time for a change that is long overdue.

[dcowboy7]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Per John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal the NFL is leaning towards having Bears-Packers in Chicago as the opening kickoff game. The Patriots would then open the season on Sunday Night Football, and Ourand believes (although it's a guess) the Giants would be the opponent as the league would want to save Patriots-Chiefs and Patriots-Steelers for later in the season. He also says Thanksgiving will likely feature the Bears-Lions game on Fox (which was the 2018 game as well) and Dolphins-Cowboys on CBS.

https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/...s-Packers.aspx

Yep we kinda talked about that possibility last wk - pats winning to me cinched it.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by RageATL

They let other leagues innovate and implement changes so that they don't have to assume the risk and deal with all the backlash yet they can't even get their own referee situation handled in-house. Cowardice at it's finest.

Nah, that’s called smart business. It’s like lab testing. Want to make sure something works before you spend money and/or implement change.

[BLMN]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Per John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal the NFL is leaning towards having Bears-Packers in Chicago as the opening kickoff game. The Patriots would then open the season on Sunday Night Football, and Ourand believes (although it's a guess) the Giants would be the opponent as the league would want to save Patriots-Chiefs and Patriots-Steelers for later in the season. He also says Thanksgiving will likely feature the Bears-Lions game on Fox (which was the 2018 game as well) and Dolphins-Cowboys on CBS.

https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/...s-Packers.aspx

Giants on week one, Sunday night and banner #6, I will take that.

[Bigdog]

Originally Posted by BizCat

AAF has been very good so far, as I suspected.

The problem I can see here already is why are fans going to invest in teams that will have basically a revolving door of players just looking to make it to the NFL and leave the AAF behind?

TV ratings might of been strong but I saw half full stadiums at best when I watched. If the NFL takes a supporting role that will be good and bad. Good that you always have the financial backing on a billion dollar industry but you will also never be anything more then the NFL's minor league and more then likely a beta tester of sorts for new ideas to be pushed to the NFL level.

My main question here though would be, were does this leave the XFL? I really don't think there is room for yet another league. Even with it being Vince I doubt he has anything close as far as the spending power that the NFL team owners have, without talent I doubt it will be able to do any better then the first time he tried. I think if Vince is smart he cancels plans for a new xfl league.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by rickah88

It’s the #1 criticism of MLB. Has been for years, decades. Now that the purists(baby boomers) don’t make up the bulk of the viewing audience.
It’s why the Commish made it a point of address in the 2021 CBA, ideally in 2020.
It’s the dumbest thing in all Pro sports. The benefits far outweigh the lone con of “that’s the way it’s always been”. Sorry stat keeping fan, time for a change that is long overdue.

Baseball seems to be losing popularity as time goes on.

[RageATL]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Nah, that’s called smart business. It’s like lab testing. Want to make sure something works before you spend money and/or implement change.

Fair enough, but eventually you need to make a move which the NFL almost never does or only does until something goes horribly wrong and they get a black eye over it. How long would it be before they made a change if another league didn't step in and make their own move?

[Bigdog]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Baseball seems to be losing popularity as time goes on.

Because they consistently resist any changes that might speed up and modernize the game.

There really is no excuse to not use new technology to take balls and strike calls out of the hands of the umpires along with a pitch clock to stop the constant batter and pitcher delays that are allowed.

Those two simple to implement changes alone would do wonders for the game.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by RageATL

Fair enough, but eventually you need to make a move which the NFL almost never does or only does until something goes horribly wrong and they get a black eye over it. How long would it be before they made a change if another league didn't step in and make their own move?

The NFL does make changes. Almost every year. Some big, some small.
If some other league wants to try something radical, the NFL has no problem sitting back and seeing the results.
That’s why the NFL is king, and probably will be on top for a long time.
I know that irks some people, but somtimes the truth hurts.

[RageATL]

Originally Posted by rickah88

The NFL does make changes. Almost every year. Some big, some small.
If some other league wants to try something radical, the NFL has no problem sitting back and seeing the results.
That’s why the NFL is king, and probably will be on top for a long time.
I know that irks some people, but somtimes the truth hurts.

Eh, the yearly changes they make are usually negligible at best. I mean, shit, how long did it take for them to remotely do anything about concussion safety? That was pretty much only enacted after the lawsuits began, guys started offing themselves due to CTE issues or whatever and the Will Smith movie came out which pushed the issue even more so to the forefront.

If you're implying it irks or hurts me, not in the least. I couldn't give a shit, just providing a counterpoint/stating an opinion much like you did.