2025-2026 NFL Season Thread

[Batman1980]

The Denver Post reports Willis McGahee is "unhappy with his contract" and recently asked the Broncos for a raise.
McGahee wanted the club to upgrade the four-year, $9.5 million deal he signed last July, but the Broncos flatly refused. He has since fired agent Drew Rosenhaus, but reportedly isn't planning to hold out. McGahee is due only $2 million in 2012 after rushing for 1,199 yards and making the Pro Bowl last season. Soon to be 31 with a history of knee problems, however, he has precious little leverage. This is a reminder that running back is a weakness for Denver's offense entering the offseason. Backups Lance Ball and Jeremiah Johnson are replacement-level at best, and McGahee is an aging, injury-prone, now unhappy starter.

Source - http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/2265/willis-mcgahee

[Tony208]

You want the "bounties" to be some sort of side bet between players to see who has a better game, not something the coach implements to encourage the players to injure others.

[Blu-Benny]

Hawk cut his hair for kids cancer!!

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Source - http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/2265/willis-mcgahee

They know he's sitting at the edge of falling off, I'd throw him a million for last season, but nothing beyond that.

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by Tony208

You want the "bounties" to be some sort of side bet between players to see who has a better game, not something the coach implements to encourage the players to injure others.

Give this a read sometime, it's awesome:

[Show spoiler]tatum.jpg

It's by Jack Tatum (former Raider Safety/headhunter) and he discusses the bounties they put out and the breakdown of payments. Here's Jack in his playing days, he was one tough dude:

[Show spoiler]jack-tatum_1687125c.jpg

Here he is during his infamous hit on the Pats Darryl Stingley. Stingley never walked again. He spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair:

[Show spoiler]sp-obit-stingley-caoak502.jpg

[Blu-Benny]

Originally Posted by filmnut5

Here he is during his infamous hit on the Pats Darryl Stingley. Stingley never walked again. He spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair:

[Show spoiler]Attachment 44734

if i remember right, he never apologized for that hit either did he??

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

if i remember right, he never apologized for that hit either did he??

Nope he was proud of it, like the guy who ended Phil Simms' career.(I think)

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

if i remember right, he never apologized for that hit either did he??

Not initially he didn't. He later wanted to go see Stingley but Stingley said no way. Both players have passed on and I don't believe there was ever a meeting or reconciliation.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

if i remember right, he never apologized for that hit either did he??

My understanding was Tatum never even talked to Stingley after that, nor wanted to. Crazy thing is Stingley died of heart disease related to that injury at age 55 in 2007. Jack Tatum died of a heart attack just 3 years later in 2010 at age 61. Both died relatively young of heart problems.

I don't think it was anything personal. It was just the way things were in the old days of the NFL. I mean remember the famous play where Chuck Bednarik shattered Frank Gifford's career? It's one of the most famous images in NFL history and I don't think Bednarik ever felt the least bit bad about it. In the photo Bednarik looks really pumped about it.

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

My understanding was Tatum never even talked to Stingley after that, nor wanted to. Crazy thing is Stingley died of heart disease related to that injury at age 55 in 2007. Jack Tatum died of a heart attack just 3 years later in 2010 at age 61. Both died relatively young of heart problems.

I don't think it was anything personal. It was just the way things were in the old days of the NFL. I mean remember the famous play where Chuck Bednarik shattered Frank Gifford's career? It's one of the most famous images in NFL history and I don't think Bednarik ever felt the least bit bad about it. In the photo Bednarik looks really pumped about it.

Nice pic Chad, I haven't seen it in a while.

Chuck was one Tough F*cker. He played offense and defense. He's always contended that he wasn't celebrating the KO of Gifford, but rather the win...Bullshit, Chuck. Frank Gifford was the NFL's pretty boy with tons of talent and endorsements (plus he was a NY Giant). Nothing could have gotten under Benarik's skin more than Frank Gifford's accolades. Gifford missed the rest of this season and the entire following season because of the hit.

Chuck Bednarik a.k.a. "Concrete Charlie", look at that nose...nails tough.

Bednarik.jpg

I could go on talking about players like Bednarik, Dick Butkus, Ray Nitschke, Dick "Night Train" Lane, Deacon Jones and Mike Curtis all day.

[filmnut5]

Intimidation Personified by these 5 HOFers:

1. #51 Dick Butkus, Chicago Bears.

[Show spoiler]butkus.jpg

2. #66 Ray Nitschke, Green Bay Packers.

[Show spoiler]ray-nitschke-1968.jpg

3. #81 Dick "Night Train" Lane, Detroit Lions.

[Show spoiler]Dick-Night-Train-Lane.jpg

4. #75 Deacon Jones, Los Angeles Rams.

[Show spoiler]Jones_Deacon_Action_180-220.jpg

5. # 32 Mike Curtis, Baltimore Colts.

[Show spoiler]MikeCurtis_crop_340x234.jpg

They Hit to Hurt...end of story.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by filmnut5

Intimidation Personified by these 5 HOFers:

1. #51 Dick Butkus, Chicago Bears.

[Show spoiler]Attachment 44739

2. #66 Ray Nitschke, Green Bay Packers.

[Show spoiler]Attachment 44740

3. #81 Dick "Night Train" Lane, Detroit Lions.

[Show spoiler]Attachment 44741

4. #75 Deacon Jones, Los Angeles Rams.

[Show spoiler]Attachment 44742

5. # 32 Mike Curtis, Baltimore Colts.

[Show spoiler]Attachment 44743

They Hit to Hurt...end of story.

I'd put Jack Youngblood right up there too. I heard him on local radio recently (he's a lifelong Floridian) and he's as intense as ever. He played the entire 1979 playoffs with what was more or less a broken leg. He sounds like he still wishes he could get back on the field and kill people.

[Blu-Benny]

as a life long packer fan....u ain't doing nitschke justice unless u're using a pic like this!!

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I'd put Jack Youngblood right up there too. I heard him on local radio recently (he's a lifelong Floridian) and he's as intense as ever. He played the entire 1979 playoffs with what was more or less a broken leg. He sounds like he still wishes he could get back on the field and kill people.

Jack played in the Super Bowl against Pittsburgh with a broken bone in his leg...Freeze it and tape it...Great Choice with J.Y., and it doesn't surprise me that he'd Love to get out there again and crack skulls.

#85 Jack Youngblood, Los Angeles Rams.

[Show spoiler]1979-jack-youngblood.jpg

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

as a life long packer fan....u ain't doing nitschke justice unless u're using a pic like this!!

Ray was AWESOME. Do you remember him in the original "Longest Yard" (1974). He played on the prison guard's team and twice took throws to the balls before being carted off on a stretcher. One would have probably killed a normal person.


Another one I can think of is:

#70 Art Donovan, Baltimore Colts.

[Show spoiler]aaid069.jpg

Art once said the word concussion didn't exist in the English lanuage when he played. He said when he got his bell rung, the Colts trainer gave him 2 aspirins and a Schlitz Beer to wash it down with and then sent him back on the field...AWESOME.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by filmnut5

Art once said the word concussion didn't exist in the English lanuage when he played. He said when he got his bell rung, the Colts trainer gave him 2 aspirins and a Schlitz Beer to wash it down with and then sent him back on the field...AWESOME.

Can you imagine if a player got caught drinking a beer at halftime today? He'd get a four game suspension!

[Blu-Benny]

i think i have a pic of it and will have to find it.

did u guys ever hear about the time the packers were practicing outside and there was a massive storm that blew threw??

well, it knocked an elec. tower or something over and when it hit the ground, a bolt shot out and smoked nitschke in the helmet!!!

the helmet is in the packer hall of fame and saved his life!!!

here's an article from the paper @ the time:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...pg=2171,262804

[wilky61]

What about Jack Lambert?

Or Mean Joe Green?

Or the guy they called "The Hammer"? (I forget the name... All three of these guys were well before my time...)

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Can you imagine if a player got caught drinking a beer at halftime today? He'd get a four game suspension!

Hahaha...Art Donovan said the toughest, grouchiest S.O.B. he ever played against was Detroit's QB Bobby Layne. Art recalled they were hammering the Lions (and pounding Lane) at the half, but everything changed in the 3rd Qtr. Lane had guzzled whiskey during the break, and played the 2nd half smashed. He said Bobby couldn't feel their hits and was picking fights with as many Colts players as he could.

#22 Bobby Lane, Detroit Lions.

[Show spoiler]bobbylayneheartoflionbook.jpg

I must get this book.
Jack Tatum's "They Call me Assassin" & Art Donovan's, "Fatso" are Great reads covering the NFL in the 50's (Donovan) and 70's (Tatum).

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

i think i have a pic of it and will have to find it.

did u guys ever hear about the time the packers were practicing outside and there was a massive storm that blew threw??

well, it knocked an elec. tower or something over and when it hit the ground, a bolt shot out and smoked nitschke in the helmet!!!

the helmet is in the packer hall of fame and saved his life!!!

here's an article from the paper @ the time:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...pg=2171,262804

Would Love to see a pic of Art washing down aspirins with a beer during a game & a pic of Nitschke's helmet.

WOW...He was lucky. Although let's be serious, there's no way an electrical bolt was going to slow down Ray. He was a BEAST.

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by wilky61

What about Jack Lambert?

Or Mean Joe Green?

Or the guy they called "The Hammer"? (I forget the name... All three of these guys were well before my time...)

Actually Wilk, I'm a lifelong Browns fan and have a Great deal of trouble (well...I never have) saying anything nice about the Steelers. I will say this however, there have only been 2 Steeler players I've ever wished could have been Browns. Jack Lambert and Rocky Bleier. When the Steelers lost to Oakland in the AFC Title game (1976) in Oakland, Lambert said..."give me a half hour to rest & a six pack and we'll play 'em again."

Rocky Bleier had his foot blown apart in Vietnam and when they told him he'd never walk again, he said "F*ck you, I'm going to play in the NFL again".

Fred Williamson was "The "Hammer", who opened his trap before Super Bowl I and then had his words shoved back down his throat by the Packers.

[wilky61]

Originally Posted by filmnut5

Fred Williamson was "The "Hammer", who opened his trap before Super Bowl I and then had his words shoved back down his throat by the Packers.

Yeah, that sounds right; I can recall the announcer exclaiming "They've just knocked out The Hammer!"

You mentioned Jack Tatum in your previous post; yeah, that's another one of the names noted for his toughness that I recall from watching NFL Films in my childhood.