Official 2008 NFL Thread

[fluid.forty.one]

Philadelphia defense is crazy good.

[BGMaverick9]

I told you...it might be vintage Manning, but it's still the same Colts D.

FG, is good.

[Dtownsfinest]

Eagles defense has been impressive. Makes you wonder how in the hell we limited them to 0 sacks. Also makes you wonder how we allowed them to score 37. Westbrook is hurt though so i'm sure that's a huge factor.

[fluid.forty.one]

wow

I could play better defense than the Colts.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by Dtownsfinest

Eagles defense has been impressive. Makes you wonder how in the hell we limited them to 0 sacks. Also makes you wonder how we allowed them to score 37. Westbrook is hurt though so i'm sure that's a huge factor.

Well, 14 were off of turnovers.... Plus, I'm willing to bet there were alot more possessions in the Dallas game... The first few scoring drives of this Pitts/Philly game took forever. Long scoring drives obviously aren't as conducive to putting alot of points on the board when compared to quick scoring strikes.

[BGMaverick9]

To give up almost 60 yards in a minute, at home. That's just terrible stuff.

[fluid.forty.one]

I hate the NFL so far today

I hope the cowboys game is better.

[fluid.forty.one]

when does basketball season start again?

[BGMaverick9]

Almost a week away for Mavs training camp.

Colts are in trouble this year. The AFC is whacky, so many surprises. The NFC East continues to look like a monster division. Cowboys just need to Take Care of Business tonight.

[fluid.forty.one]

not a huge fan of any NFL team, but I like the colts more than most teams. Hopefully Peyton can ride that last offensive drive's momentum over to their next game.

[BGMaverick9]

Wow, Saints miss a FG to take the lead.

They probably would've given up a FG anyways, but still...that hurts.

[fluid.forty.one]

just realized that miami beat the patriots so my football day just got a lot better

[Windmill360]

NFC east still the best conference in football. Why won't those teams just give up and die?

[FINtastic]

Yeah, I think the NFC East is undefeated outside the division. Let's hope the Cowboys keep that up tonight

[alby]

Don't tell flaco that the NFC east is the best division in the NFL and that the AFC is overrated.

[FINtastic]

Originally Posted by alby

Don't tell flaco that the NFC east is the best division in the NFL and that the AFC is overrated.

I'm sure he'll just say it's a down year for the NFL or something. Anything to pile on the Cowboys hate.

[FINtastic]

We really aren't good at third downs defensively, which I think is an indictment on our pass defense.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by FINtastic

We really aren't good at third downs defensively, which I think is an indictment on our pass defense.

GB was 4-14..I'll take that.

[BGMaverick9]

Some teams have some serious shots to stay undefeated for a while:
Buffalo, Denver, Giants, Whoever can win out of Tennessee and Baltimore in a couple of weeks, and the 'Boys.

[FINtastic]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

GB was 4-14..I'll take that.

Yes, tonight was a definite improvement in that regard.

[alby]

Brett is going off right now.

[Dtownsfinest]

And Rodgers isn't lol. I knew his youth would catch up with him at some point. I thought it would've been last week which he didn't play as well as his stats indicated but I expected a INT atleast.

[BGMaverick9]

Anyone hear about Boldin? Looks like he took a TERRIBLE helmet to helmet hit at the end of the game today and was totally motionless afterwards and had to be carted off.

[BGMaverick9]

Anquan Boldin, Arizona’s Pro Bowl WR, was taken off the field on a stretcher after a scary collision.

Boldin was moving all his extremities on the field and was talking to his teammates coming off the field and going into the locker room. He was being taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons.

“He’s alert,” Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “He’s talking and moving all his extremities. He asked to get up and the doctors won’t let him.”

Late in the fourth quarter, Boldin went airborne attempting to catch a touchdown pass, but was hit from behind from Jets FS Kerry Rhodes, causing his head to snap forward, and then — almost simultaneously — was hit in the front by SS Eric Smith and Boldin’s head snapped backwards.

Both Boldin and Smith were on the ground for a while. Smith eventually got up, but Boldin stayed down not moving, as both teams gathered in a circle close by. Boldin eventually had his head immobilized, was put on a stretcher and taken off the field.

-nfl.com

[FINtastic]

Is it just me or does Al Davis pretty much look like death?

[alby]

He looks pretty good IMHO for being dead for 12 years now.

[alby]

Getting juicy.

We just finished up a conference call with Chad Ocho Cinco -- or Johnson, if you prefer -- from the Bengals. You're not going to believe what all he had to say. This is just a taste. More to come.
Johnson: "I've got so much respect for y'all, if I score Sunday, I've love Dallas so much, I'm going to take my helmet off, get a fine and kiss the star."
Q: The one at midfield?
A: Midfield? That's a long [expletive] jog.
Q: What do you mean 'if?'
A: OK, when I score, I'm going to take my helmet off and kiss the star. Can I do that?
Q: Why not?
A: That's not a sign of disrespect. That's a good thing isn't it?


---


Here's how things started today with Chad Ocho Cinco. Cincinnati PR man Jack Brennan asked a simple question: "Everybody read for Chad? OK, here he is?"
Thirty seconds in, we had a good idea that Ocho Cinco was ready to flap his gums.
"Is this D-town?," Johnson asked. "Get up, get your pen, get your records, get everything you need to get, because I'm letting it rip. I'm not holding nothin' back. We 0-4. We pissed off. I'm pissed off. The players over here are pissed off. Somebody's got to pay.
"I want you to tell [defensive coordinator] Brian Stewart that I love him to death, but somebody's got to get it."
Is that to say after an 0-4 start, are the Bengals ready to do whatever it takes to get a win?
"Man, we are going to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, out there in Dallas. I'm bringing the cold tub, the hot tub, I'm bringing the training room. What else can we do?"
Q: You guys are 0-4, so how can you say that?
"We don't have a choice. We've got to do everything possible to get out of this slump? T.J., am I right. Housh just said I"m right. He's standing right here with me. You know what, our trainer just said we need a slump buster. I think we need to open up -- period. That's what I think. I think we've been very vanilla. I don't know the word to use. I'm not sure why, but at this point, you've got to go all out. Why not? You're playing against a team like Dallas, there's no time to half-step at all."


---


Leave it to Chad Ocho Cinco to agree with T.O. that 18 passes thrown his way in a game isn't enough.
"If they throw him 20 balls and he only caught seven and they lost ... throw him 40 and he's going to catch 14 and they're going to win," Ocho Cinco said. "I tell y'all out of that 14 that he's gonna get, some of those are going to be big plays and some of those are going to add up to touchdowns."
Ocho Cinco isn't the only Bengals WR who believes that. He handed the phone to T.J. Houshmandzadeh to chime in on the topic.
"Tell T.O. to tell Jason Garrett they need to throw the ball to him 24 times," Houshmandzadeh said. "Me and Chad ain't had 17 balls thrown our way in a game yet combined. Tell him they need to give it to him 24 or 25 times.
"As you see, when the ball don't go through him, they don't move the ball. Give him the rock. Throw the ball to him the whole time. They don't even have to run the ball! Jason Witten needs 15 catches, T.O. needs 20. That's the recipe for success right there."



---


You knew this would come up. Just what exactly should we call him in our stories?
Chad Johnson or Chad Ocho Cinco?
"I'm going to be Ocho until the cows come home," the receiver said.
Q: So our stories should say Chad Ocho Cinco?
"Matter of fact, don't even say Chad."
Q: What are you a Brazilian soccer player?
"Yeah, Ocho Cinco. Just one name. I might as well. Hey, Dallas, dude, I ain't never been in Dallas before, but I love y'all. I don't know why."


---


Chad Ocho Cinco asked the Valley Ranch media to pass on a message to Cowboys players that he needs some extra tickets.
"I need 10 tickets so my family does not have to sit in the sky," Ocho Cinco said. "If I am going to put on a show, I want them to be able to sit close."
You're gonna put on a show, huh?
"I don't have a choice. I don't have a choice," he said. "Somebody tell Pacman or Adam or whatever the hell he wants to be called -- he is going to get it. Anthony Henry, he's going to get it."


---


Yes, we're a little wrapped up with Chad Ocho Cinco this morning. But we've overlooked this from the Cincinnati Enquirer. Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer said he's playing after missing a game with an elbow problem.

"I've already made up my mind I'm playing," Palmer said Monday, according to the newspaper. "I'm going to do what I can in practice and do what they let me do, but I'm 100 percent expecting to play going into this game and planning on playing. I'll probably be limited in practice, but do what I can."

Johnson said Palmer went through the Bengals' walk-through today and, by all appearances, plans on following through with his promise to play.


---


T.O. is about to have his weekly Wednesday chit-chat with the Valley Ranch media. You can get a taste of what he's about to say by watching last night's edition of Inside the Huddle, his weekly talk show.
"With the press conference after the game, I felt like I really said nothing wrong," he said. "Obviously, it has something to do with the political race, the campaign going on. I think ESPN, their ratings are really down. Anytime I say something, obviously their ratings are going to pick up this week."
T.O. was especially harsh in regards to ESPN's Keyshawn Johnson, whom he referred to repeatedly as "Sheshawn" and made sure to mention that Keyshawn's days in Dallas ended when he arrived.
"He's doing his job, and I'm the reason why he's in the booth," T.O. said after pointing out the Keyshawn went No. 1 overall in the draft in which T.O. was a third-rounder. "I think everybody's aware here that when I was being brought to Dallas, he was the one that let go. So I'm pretty sure there's a lot of bitterness on his behalf."
T.O. also clearly stated that he has no problems with Tony Romo and doesn't anticipate any.


---


Tank Johnson had words for Washington's Rock Cartwright last week after the Redskins player did whatever it was he did on the Cowboys' midfield logo.
When Johnson was first told that Chad Ocho Cinco wants to kiss the star this weekend, Johnson just laughed. But he did offer some sage advice for No. 85.
"That's a lot of energy he's going to have to exert to do all that celebrating," Johnson said. "If he's got extra energy laying around to exert just celebrating, then more power to him.
"I don't know if I'd go on the star," Johnson added. "Hey, Chad's a good player. He's proven himself in this league. He's not the kind of player who would do anything childish. He'll do something fun, but it won't be childish."


---


Adam "Pacman" Jones laughed when informed that Chad Ocho Cinco called him out this morning. They're friends, and Ocho Cinco dates one of Pacman's cousins, so Pacman didn't take the trash talk personally.
But Pacman made sure to shoot down talk about Ocho Cinco kissing the star or doing any other type of TD celebration on the Texas Stadium turf.
"I expect him to have the same horrible games [as] the first four weeks," Pacman said, moments after claiming he wouldn't engage in a trash-talk exchange. "He hasn't done nothing so far, so hopefully we can keep it like that."


---


T.O. made it clear during his weekly Wednesday chit-chat with the media (transcript after the jump) that he thought his postgame comments about not getting the ball enough were blown out of proportion. And he was adamant that there absolutely, positively aren't any problems between him and Tony Romo or Jason Garrett or any other teammate or coach.
Whether he really believes that he wasn't targeted enough after having 18 passes thrown his way (19 including a penalty) is much murkier. He said he still thought his argument was "legitimate," but then he picked holes in it.
"You guys watched the game," he said when asked if 18 is enough. "I think it's really unfair to say 18 balls or 18 plays were called my way. If you want to dissect those, put on the screen all the 18 passes that were thrown my way, and you make the assessment of all those passes. Other than that, I'm really confident in this team. I'm really confident in my ability. I'm still going to say that I feel like I should get the ball on certain plays."
So he wants the ball more often but shouldn't have been Tony Romo's target on several of Sunday's incompletions. Is that right?


---


Rookie running back Felix Jones admitted he was surprised by the fan reaction after Sunday's loss when he didn't get a single carry. But, Jones knows he's a rookie, and all good things come to those who wait.
"Yeah, I'm kind of surprised," Jones said. "That's a great football team out there on the field. I'm just a rookie. I'm just waiting on my opportunities, and once I get mine, I'm going to take advantage of it.
"The Redskins' defense, they put us in a situation where we really couldn't do what we wanted to do. I understand what happened during the game. I can't complain at all."
The biggest surprise to me through the first four games is that Felix Jones has only one reception. I thought that was supposed to be one of his biggest strengths -- catching the ball out of the backfield. Jones simply hasn't been asked to run many pass routes on the few plays he's actually gotten with the offense.
"We get put in situations where we have to do certain things," Jones said. "You never know what can happen."


---


No. 85 had plenty to say today in his conference call with the media at Valley Ranch ...
CAUTION: Some language might be offensive.


---


Terrell Owens and Tony Romo talked about the weekend "controversy" today.
Here's the video.


---


Tony Romo played dumb when asked about T.O.'s postgame comments, claiming he ignores the media after losses. He also apparently never got the message that Wade Phillips felt the Cowboys audibled out of too many running plays in the loss to the Redskins.
"When you run the ball, you've got to see production," Romo said when asked about the Cowboys abandoning the run. "If a team doesn't have a very good quarterback and he's not connecting on passes, you're probably not going to keep on throwing. The production wasn't there in the beginning, so we had to throw the ball there in the beginning and we didn't connect on the third downs.
"We had too many three-and-outs. They weren't giving us good looks. Too many situations where we were used to getting a lead and then we would give Barber the ball and it adds to the stats. When you're trailing, that's one when you get three-and-outs. You're not extending the drives."
So much for the theory of letting Marion The Barbarian and the Cowboys' massive offensive line wear down opponents, huh?
Phillips said that Romo does exactly what the coaches tell him to when he comes up the line. And the coaches will tell him to hand the ball off to Barber a lot more often than last week, whether he sees an eight-man front or not.



---


Chad Ocho Cinco tried really hard to make it happen. He even lobbied to become a Cowboy on national TV in March.
"If I end up in Dallas, I would just look at which finger I'm gonna put it on," Ocho Cinco said, referring to a Super Bowl ring. "That's it. Ain't no ifs, ands or buts about it."
But, of course, it didn't happen despite Jerry Jones spending the off-season trying to get a "wow" receiver to complement T.O. The Bengals wouldn't give in to Ocho Cinco's trade demands, but that isn't stopping him from picturing the possibilities of pairing with Ocho Uno.
"I tried," Ocho Cinco said during his epic conference call with the Valley Ranch media. "I talked to 81 almost every day, man. I love 81. We talk all the time. That would've been a circus.
"Let me tell you, I don't mean to be funny ... I'm not tried to be rude or piss anybody off, but if I was in Dallas, they would have to change all of our damn games to pay-per-view because you need to pay to see that [beep]. I'm serious. I'm so serious. They would have to put all the games on pay-per-view. Because you can't just watch a show like that for free; 81 and 85? Come on, now. Please."
And Ocho Cinco isn't giving up yet.
"Tell Jerry Jones I said hello," he said as the conference call wrapped up, "and give me a call some time."
Maybe this March.


---


Wade Phillips wanted to drive home the point that quarterback Tony Romo is not freelancing at the line of scrimmage. Apparently, some out there in Cowboy land have this misconception that Romo did just that against Washington, and thus the team ran the ball only 11 times.
"Now, let me clear this up," Phillips said, slightly raising his voice. "Romo doesn't do anything we don't want him to do. Any plays, and it's not necessarily 14 or 15 plays, it was certain plays in the game that we had an option of run or pass. When he comes up to the line, he does exactly what the coaches tell him to do. If he sees what we say is a run defense, then he's supposed to that.
"I just want to make it clear that he doesn't go up to the line and say, 'Well, it's run or pass. I think I'll pass it.' He doesn't do that. He does exactly what we tell him to do. It seems like it's going out like he's on his own and is going to call what he wants to call."
Personally, I didn't know this was an issue. As was pointed out in Tuesday's paper, the decision to run or pass is a numbers game. When Romo sees eight defenders near the line of scrimmage, the offense doesn't have enough blockers. So, he audibles into a pass out of a running play.
There isn't much for Romo to decide. If the numbers are in the offense's favor, the Cowboys can stay in a running play.


---


Defensive tackle Tank Johnson is still bothered by an ankle injury and did not practice Wednesday. He played against Washington but came out of the game with more pain than he had hoped.
"Tank Johnson - Terry Johnson - didn't participate in practice although he watched and did all his rehab stuff, which some of that is more strenuous as far as his ankle is concerned," coach Wade Phillips said. "I think it's a lot like last week, except it's better. He played last week, and he'll probably practice tomorrow."
The Cowboys are also being cautious with safety Patrick Watkins (shoulder, neck stinger), and it appears doubtful that he'll play this week. Stephen Bowen (hamstring) was limited. Fullback Deon Anderson (knee) was back out there, though. He had to keep from going too hard, lest his injury give him more problems.
"Just a little anxious, but I was told not to go all out," Anderson said before practice. "They don't want me having any setbacks. I'm going to try to tone it down about 3 percent. That should keep me alright. So 97 percent is alright for today."


---


There was a touching moment in the Valley Ranch locker room today when Adam "Pacman" Jones was asked about his ex-West Virginia running buddy Chris Henry, the Bengals WR who happens to be making his return from suspension against the Cowboys this week.
"That's my boy," Pacman said.
Pacman added that he talks to Henry often, offering wisdom gained by coming back from an unpaid, involuntary, season-long vacation. Henry had the first half of last season off, too, but apparently needed another four-week session in Sheriff Goodell's Scared Straight program.
Pacman implored his pal, whom the Bengals cut while pretending to try to clean up their act and picked back up weeks later, to keep his head up while he was unemployed.
"We're best of friends," Pacman said. "He made some bad decisions and he has to deal with consequences, same way I did. He manned it up and he took all the responsibilities and now he's ready to play."



---


Looks like it is getting pretty interesting over at VR... or as interesting it can be when a 3-1 team plays a 0-4 team lol.

[MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs]

I actual benched Chad in the keeper league for some Saints receiver named Lance Moore who had 31 fantasy points last week and is projected to have 21 this week and be Brees' top target. Chad is projected 6 points.

[Flacolaco]

Looks like the Giants are giving the middle finger to Plax today. They don't need him.

[BGMaverick9]

Pretty much, lol.

It'll be an interesting week for Plax when he comes back on Monday.

[jthig32]

It is absolutely ridiculous that Fox hasn't switched to the Philly/Wash game. I'd love to know why the Dallas market doesn't have the national game in the first place.


Edit: Ask and ye shall receive I guess.

[Flacolaco]

Colts, Packers, Eagles???

Are there any GOOD teams in the NFL?

San Diego? Wtf are they doing?

I told you guys....the Cowboys, almost by default, are the only GOOD team in the NFL

[BGMaverick9]

The colts....SUCK. Goodness.

Flacolaco, don't forget about the team that beat Dallas in the playoffs...they've looked fine today without Plax. Yeah it's Seattle, but it still says something to get the job done convincingly.

[jthig32]

I'm pretty sure you have to qualify NYG and Washington as good at this point.

[MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs]

Meant to post in fantasy thread.

[MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

Colts, Packers, Eagles???

Are there any GOOD teams in the NFL?

San Diego? Wtf are they doing?

I told you guys....the Cowboys, almost by default, are the only GOOD team in the NFL

The Giants look pretty damn good, maybe better than the 'Boys.

[BGMaverick9]

Originally Posted by MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs

I'm cutting Peyton for Daunte Culpepper, yes I know Culpepper retired.

Chris Cooley, my opponents TE gets 26 points. My quarterback he throws to, Jason Campbell has 6 points.

you're merging the two football threads, lol.
That last one = the power of PPR/yardage scoring for QBs.

[Flacolaco]

I need to see the Giants play somebody.

[BGMaverick9]

Originally Posted by jthig32

I'm pretty sure you have to qualify NYG and Washington as good at this point.

The NFC East is going to be like the West for the NBA. It's stacked, the rest of the conference stinks, and someone is going to get screwed b/c of it probably.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

I need to see the Giants play somebody.

Well...they did beat Washington, who has looked pretty darn good since then.

I agree though, they need to play a few more good teams before we know for sure.