2025-2026 NFL Season Thread

[yoshi_5]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Top-Tier - Rodgers, Brady
Next-Tier - Peyton, Romo, Brees, Luck, Roethlisberger
Third batch - Wilson, Ryan, Flacco, Eli, Rivers, maybe Kaepernick

I like your list and ranking.

Peyton is borderline Top-Tier, but being dominated in last year's Super Bowl and then the meltdown the 2nd half of this year. Yeah, you've got him where he belongs.

Romo, if it wasn't for his performance this year, I might still have him in Third Batch, but he punched his ticket and validated some things this year. Good call there as well.

However, you forgot a few folks. Cutler and Stafford. Oh, wait, nevermind, no you didn't. Sorry, just couldn't keep a straight face after typing that...

[West E]

Yeah they didnt cheat right???
From ESPN.....

The New England Patriots had 11 of their 12 allotted game footballs under-inflated by 2 pounds of air (PSI) as required by NFL regulations, according to league sources either involved or familiar with the investigation of Sunday's AFC championship game when the Patriots beat the Colts 45-7 to advance to their sixth Super Bowl.

Yet to be determined is what, if any, penalties may be imposed upon Patriots. One source described the league as "disappointed ... angry ... distraught," after spending considerable time on the findings earlier Tuesday.

Those sore loser Colts.... say goodbye to some draft picks New England! Hopefully multiple years.

[yoshi_5]

I get it...

The Patriots cheated, they are a bunch of cheaters, I'm like many people and I'm not fans of them either...

However, don't the refs spot the balls every down? How could they have NOT noticed the difference when they were spotting the balls for the Patriots?

I'm not saying the balls weren't under inflated, I'm just surprised with the ability for this to happen and the benefit behind it, the refs wouldn't be checking this more often and much more closely.

It's really unfortunate too, I think Brady and the Patriots have the talent to not be cheaters and be true contenders year after year.

Even worse is when they are caught red handed cheating and called out on it, their fans have the audacity to mock other teams fans saying they are hating on the Patriots because the other teams fans hate winners.

Yeah, whatever. I don't hate winners. Cheaters on the other hand? Well, it goes without saying.

[walruswarrior]

What is an appropriate punishment? Picks? Perhaps they should sit out the playoffs next year and learn the definition of fairness


Supposedly the advantage gained is that it is easier to grip the ball especially when it's raining.

[West E]

Id love to see Belichick suspended for the Superbowl

[TitansFan4Life]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

He's not on par with Brady or Rodgers yet but you're crazy if you think he's definitely not in the top-5 conversation in the NFL. Right not I'd put the QB's in the following tiers. I'd say he's right around #5.

Top-Tier - Rodgers, Brady
Next-Tier - Peyton, Romo, Brees, Luck, Roethlisberger
Third batch - Wilson, Ryan, Flacco, Eli, Rivers, maybe Kaepernick

Why I wouldn't put him in the top 5 just yet:

In 2012 he had the second most turnovers in the league behind only Sanchez (buttfumble season). In 2014, he had the third most turnovers behind only Cutler and Bortles. I think his turnovers were lower in 2013, but I bet he has the most turnovers in the NFL over the last three seasons (I'll check later). That's not top 5 worthy.

And 12 INTs in 6 playoff games.

He's improving, and he's definitely top 10. But top 5? Ehh... Not yet. Sample size is too small.

[AndersonVision]

They're really hellbent on keeping this smear campaign going for the next 12 days.

[walruswarrior]

Originally Posted by AndersonVision

They're really hellbent on keeping this smear campaign going for the next 12 days.

Is it a smear campaign if it's the truth lol?

[AndersonVision]

Originally Posted by walruswarrior

Is it a smear campaign if it's the truth lol?

It's only the truth if it can be proven and tied specifically to the team. Right now, the detractors are grasping at straws during an incomplete investigation.

[walruswarrior]

Originally Posted by AndersonVision

It's only the truth if it can be proven and tied specifically to the team. Right now, the detractors are grasping at straws during an incomplete investigation.

You're right. There is a perfectly logical explanation. It was colder on the Patriots side of the field thus causing a drop in pressure and volume of the ball. No worries guys problem solved

[kidkash]

Originally Posted by walruswarrior

You're right. There is a perfectly logical explanation. It was colder on the Patriots side of the field thus causing a drop in pressure and volume of the ball. No worries guys problem solved

I didn't know smaller balls stopped you from tackling people? Blount murdered them plus the balls were switched out at half time when, the pats then scored 28 points. Besides the refferee takes the balls 2 hours and some change before the game and then hands them to the ball boy before the game starts. With all this technology I'm sure someone would catch something.

[AndersonVision]

Originally Posted by walruswarrior

You're right. There is a perfectly logical explanation. It was colder on the Patriots side of the field thus causing a drop in pressure and volume of the ball. No worries guys problem solved

It's not like the Pats were going to their own sideline to get the ball. At every turn, those balls were handled by AFC Official Refs who had hours to figure out what's going on. HOURS.

All this is and will be is speculation until we get a final ruling.

Given the current state of the NFL at policing itself, you're going to stay butthurt until next season.

[Brady_2_Moss]

Yawn...incompelete investigation and people already jumping to conclusions. Nothing new here

[AndersonVision]

Plus, how's Belichick supposed to work a camcorder and deflate balls at the same time while coaching?

Get your story straight, haters.

[Brady_2_Moss]

Originally Posted by kidkash

I didn't know smaller balls stopped you from tackling people? Blount murdered them plus the balls were switched out at half time when, the pats then scored 28 points. Besides the refferee takes the balls 2 hours and some change before the game and then hands them to the ball boy before the game starts. With all this technology I'm sure someone would catch something.

The refs changed the balls out at half...and yet the pats played better in the sexond half then first...

[AndersonVision]

Times like these make me miss Hernandez. D'Qwell Jackson would've never made it off the field with that ball.

[kidkash]

At the end of the day the colts could have played with deflated beach balls and the pats still would have beat their ass, stole their money and snatched their chains. Hey colts go cry to your momma. Drops the mic. Someone add a mic dropping gif I'm out.

[walruswarrior]

Originally Posted by kidkash

I didn't know smaller balls stopped you from tackling people? Blount murdered them plus the balls were switched out at half time when, the pats then scored 28 points. Besides the refferee takes the balls 2 hours and some change before the game and then hands them to the ball boy before the game starts. With all this technology I'm sure someone would catch something.

The narrative is not that the Colts would have won. It's pretty safe to assume that the Pats would still win. But rather it is another instance in which the Pats attempt to circumnavigate the rules. 11/12 balls is pretty significant. One could chalk up 2-3 balls out of 12 as a random error. But 11/12? That's pretty blatant. Again if proven wrong then I retract. But if not, it's just another instance of the Pats attempting to cheat.

[Navster]

[Eye Candy]

Originally Posted by AndersonVision

They're really hellbent on keeping this smear campaign going for the next 12 days.

They want to be relevant up to the SB I suppose ?

They lost. They really lost.