Is it just me or is the NFL just not as fun to watch as it used to be. As I was watching the games this weekend I found myself really let down and actually switched the channel to something non football related. The players have become pu$$ies and don't hit like they used to. All they want to do is bump into the guy or lay down and hope the runner trips over them instead of squaring up and trying to hit the bastard into next week. Another thing that really pisses me off is all the penalties. I mean you can't get through 2 downs without a flag being thrown. I understand the clear and obvious fouls. I also understand that you have to protect the players to a point but they are getting paid millions of dollars to go out there and play a game and the refs need to let them do just that, play and don't call a foul every other play. They also need to go back to kicking off from the 30. One of the exciting parts of football was wondering and waiting to see if there was going to be a return because lets face it, who doesn't love a 99 year kick return to get the crowd fired up. Now everything is just a touchback and it is extremely boring. Am I the only ones that feels this way that the NFL needs to get back to its roots? Rant over

 

Its just you!

THANK GOD Football is back. Did you guys know there was a basketball lockout? Who knew with all this football to watch.

 

Yeah, I thought the games were really good. The NO/GB game was excellent and down to the wire, the Eagles game was great for big plays, there were a lot of amazing catches / plays this week.

I'm really glad it's back.

And that puppy is ridiculous, Nate.

 

Daaaaaaa Bears FTW!!!!!!

 

must have been watching a different game then I was, the ravens rolling over the steelers was sweet.

 

Okay I know it's not just me. I was talking with a bunch of co workers who have noticed the same thing. I'm not saying there there were not good games on because there were. I'm not saying that there weren't good plays or big plays. I'm not saying that I'm not happy to have football back. I am saying the player intensity isn't what it used to be. Players don't hit each other like they use to. They dive on the ground or throw a shoulder into them hoping to knock them off balance. Refs throw a lot more flags for BS reasons. For example this one flag was thrown because they player ran out of bounds and didn't come back in quick enough so that's a flag, what kinda of BS call is that! Also refs are throwing very late flags. A WR will get popped and no flag is thrown until he doesn't get up then bam a personal foul penalty. If he would have got up no flag. That is crap. It is either a flag or its not. Call it as you see it, don't wait. Like last night game there was a intentional grounding flag but it didn't come out until 3 min after the play. No ref throw a flag until they all got together for 3 min. discussed it then a flag was thrown. NO! You throw the flag right then and there or you move on. Now a days there are all these wide receivers that are drama queens and pretty boys. Was Jerry Rice a drama queen. No he went out there and did his job. Now you have Plaxaco shooting himself, Chad Johnson changing his name and CJ holding out cause he doesn't get paid enough yet he makes more that 90% of the population. Did you ever see Walter Payton hold out or did you see him out there tearing it up. Back in the day people just played without crying all the time. I guess all I am saying is that the game, players and refs have changed and I personally like the old way better.

 

Holy block of text Dubs

 

haha yeah my bad. Sometimes I just get revved up and go off on tangents. Sorry.

 

^^^^^
This is super cute

 

Huge Packers fan, so I'm glad football is back on. I'm looking forward to our rivalries this year, and especially excited to play the Lions with all their hype.

I'm on the fence about games this week. The NO/GB game was indeed awesome (esp. since it's my team). The only other games I caught were the Monday night games. The NE/MIA game was pretty good - I wish Miami wouldn't have made such dumb decisions later in the game, because it looked like they might've given NE a bit of a run.

Now the OAK/DEN game was downright pathetic. Play, fight, flag. Play, fight, flag. Rinse and repeat. Janikowski's field goal was amazing, and there was certainly no shortage of hitting in the game, but it felt like the game took forever with all the pauses from pushing and shoving or penalties. Yawn.

I agree on the kick off, also. They should kick from the 30 like normal. You want more touchbacks, get better kickers.

I saw a couple plays this weekend where a receiver running the slot caught the ball and then got popped by a defender, but only hard enough to make the receiver flip directions and go running the other way. I have mixed feelings about that. It's exciting to watch someone bounce off tackles and continue to make a big play, and I'm glad that there's rules regarding players who can't make the time to protect themselves after catching a ball. But at the same time, that's the game. It's exciting to see someone get flattened, also (as long as they aren't on my team )

I'm excited for the season regardless. But there were some things in the first weekend that I hope do not become commonplace. I guess we'll see!