The National Football League

pjhawks

The Juggler said:

Cliffy6745 said:

Jason P said:

Amazing how much of an issue this is being made of. ESPN has been beating the drums and doing seances for years for gay people to come out in sports so I guess this is a watershed moment for them. I'm so happy for ESPN.

The bigger issue should be on how well he can read the playaction or stuff the 2-gap.

I think it's pretty crazy to think that this is just about football, especially when GMs are saying that the NFL isn't ready for a gay player. For you and most other fans who aren't bigots, sure, it is just about football, but it's pretty naive to think that this is all just about how he can read an offense and get to the qb in the bigge rpicture. It is also a pretty huge moment for a pretty huge group of people.

agree cliff. this isn't like some tebow non story that espn blows out of proportion. this is a huge story. guy has a ton of guts. gotta respect that.

i wish we can just fast forward past these awkward times that lie ahead and get to the point where this isn't a big deal. that will be a long time ahead, unfortunately.

I think it's a big deal in the sense that this guy is actually a legitimate NFL player and will be in the league next year. Jason Collins career in the NBA was basically over when he came out last year.

one of the overrated aspects of the story is people asking the question about how this will affect his draft status. the NFL teams were going to find out he was gay even if he hadn't come out publicly. Sam admitted as much in the ESPN interview saying that even the reporters covering the team knew he was gay. he understood that NFL background checks by the teams were going to reveal it to them. i don't think publicly stated will affect his draft status all that much.

i don't think it will be that long for the awkwardness to go away though. once you get into the season i imagine mostly it will be pushed to the side. remember the eagles accepted a convicted felon and a racist back onto their team because they could perform. and even some of the numskulls in the NFL have to realize that by pure numbers they have had to have been on teams with a gay teammate before.

The Juggler

well sam did drop 70 spots in cbs's latest mock yesterday...

and i mean awkwardness just in general when other players come out. once the games start, of course the focus will be on the game. but as other's come out, i can't imagine it not being a big deal until many years down the road.

for example, let's say sam gets taken in the 5th round and plays sparingly for some team this year and then next off season some other prominent nfl player decides to come out. like a big name who everyone recognizes. there's no way that will not be a big story.

pjhawks

The Juggler said:

well sam did drop 70 spots in cbs's latest mock yesterday...

and i mean awkwardness just in general when other players come out. once the games start, of course the focus will be on the game. but as other's come out, i can't imagine it not being a big deal until many years down the road.

for example, let's say sam gets taken in the 5th round and plays sparingly for some team this year and then next off season some other prominent nfl player decides to come out. like a big name who everyone recognizes. there's no way that will not be a big story.

I would suspect that is just CBS reacting to the story and not based on merit. In fact I a story in today's Daily News with Mike Mayock and in it Mayock mentions that the NFL teams already knew Sam was gay and was spoken about by teams and scouts during the Senior Bowl. Mayock projects him to be a 3rd to 5th round pick.

I would suspect you might see another player or two come out before or during next season.

JK_Livin

Many gay people have been playing sports forever. Whoever thinks they haven't is never going to accept them. People and teammates know who they are. I'm sure a very high % of NFL personnel knew he was gay, except maybe in Cleveland!. If he's on my team, I hope he does well. When he vs. my team, I hope he fails as miserably as any heterosexual player.

How is this guy the SEC D POY and he's not a 1st round pick? When's the last time that's happened?

The Juggler

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/cbs-dropped-michael-sam-70-spots-draft-rankings-173605773--nfl.html

For Sam to fall totally out of the draft would be fairly unprecedented given his college resume. He won the SEC defensive player of the year award after leading the conference in sacks and tackles for loss, and as CBS's Bruce Feldman points out, since the conference started giving out that award LSU's Chad Lavalais is the only winner to not go in the top 33 picks of the draft. Lavalais went in the fifth round, 142nd overall, in 2004. Each of the last seven winners were taken in the first round, Feldman said.



article also says he is undersized and didn't look good playing lb at the senior bowl...

F Me In The Brain

He will end up on someone's club based on game performances in the top conference. Will he stick? Hopefully.
I still wouldn't want the Tebowmania level bullshit media attention on my team but I think it is great that someone is choosing to be 'the first' --- always has to be someone to blaze the trail.

Bant

The Juggler said:

DewieCox said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

I'll never understand this "Brady had better teams" argument. Manning's teams have had at least 10 wins every year since 2002 (except that year he was injured). Obviously those were all good teams packed with playmakers on both sides of the ball. From 2003-2009, Manning's Colts teams had at least 12 wins a year. That's not ALL him. And I'm a Dolphins fan that can't stand Brady. But come on...

It's simple. Brady has had better complete teams around him. Good, not great skill players on offense, good offensive lines, good sometimes great defenses and always a great gameplan. Look what the Pats have done since Billy B's ego has taken control...a couple SB losses to a team not in the same realm as that Seahawks team we saw last night.

Manning has had Harrison, Wayne and James and then a bunch of scrubs he's made into studs. On the other side of the ball, they were built to defend against a trailing team, so when that didn't happen they were screwed. Freeney, Mathis and Sanders(for a couple years) were/are great, but again, there's a big dropoff in talent.

No offense, but I disagree with just about your entire premise other than Brady has had the edge with coaching.

Billy' B has a losing record without Brady.

Brady > Manning.

The Juggler

Bant said:

The Juggler said:

DewieCox said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

I'll never understand this "Brady had better teams" argument. Manning's teams have had at least 10 wins every year since 2002 (except that year he was injured). Obviously those were all good teams packed with playmakers on both sides of the ball. From 2003-2009, Manning's Colts teams had at least 12 wins a year. That's not ALL him. And I'm a Dolphins fan that can't stand Brady. But come on...

It's simple. Brady has had better complete teams around him. Good, not great skill players on offense, good offensive lines, good sometimes great defenses and always a great gameplan. Look what the Pats have done since Billy B's ego has taken control...a couple SB losses to a team not in the same realm as that Seahawks team we saw last night.

Manning has had Harrison, Wayne and James and then a bunch of scrubs he's made into studs. On the other side of the ball, they were built to defend against a trailing team, so when that didn't happen they were screwed. Freeney, Mathis and Sanders(for a couple years) were/are great, but again, there's a big dropoff in talent.

No offense, but I disagree with just about your entire premise other than Brady has had the edge with coaching.

Billy' B has a losing record without Brady.

Brady > Manning.

didn't they win 10 games with matt casell?

Bronx Bombers

Bant said:

The Juggler said:

DewieCox said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

I'll never understand this "Brady had better teams" argument. Manning's teams have had at least 10 wins every year since 2002 (except that year he was injured). Obviously those were all good teams packed with playmakers on both sides of the ball. From 2003-2009, Manning's Colts teams had at least 12 wins a year. That's not ALL him. And I'm a Dolphins fan that can't stand Brady. But come on...

It's simple. Brady has had better complete teams around him. Good, not great skill players on offense, good offensive lines, good sometimes great defenses and always a great gameplan. Look what the Pats have done since Billy B's ego has taken control...a couple SB losses to a team not in the same realm as that Seahawks team we saw last night.

Manning has had Harrison, Wayne and James and then a bunch of scrubs he's made into studs. On the other side of the ball, they were built to defend against a trailing team, so when that didn't happen they were screwed. Freeney, Mathis and Sanders(for a couple years) were/are great, but again, there's a big dropoff in talent.

No offense, but I disagree with just about your entire premise other than Brady has had the edge with coaching.

Billy' B has a losing record without Brady.

Brady > Manning.

eeriepadave

I am Mike Sam, Sam I am. How i like green eggs and man.

Cliffy6745

The Juggler said:

Cliffy6745 said:

Jason P said:

Amazing how much of an issue this is being made of. ESPN has been beating the drums and doing seances for years for gay people to come out in sports so I guess this is a watershed moment for them. I'm so happy for ESPN.

The bigger issue should be on how well he can read the playaction or stuff the 2-gap.

I think it's pretty crazy to think that this is just about football, especially when GMs are saying that the NFL isn't ready for a gay player. For you and most other fans who aren't bigots, sure, it is just about football, but it's pretty naive to think that this is all just about how he can read an offense and get to the qb in the bigge rpicture. It is also a pretty huge moment for a pretty huge group of people.

agree cliff. this isn't like some tebow non story that espn blows out of proportion. this is a huge story. guy has a ton of guts. gotta respect that.

i wish we can just fast forward past these awkward times that lie ahead and get to the point where this isn't a big deal. that will be a long time ahead, unfortunately. so far, at least, you have to be encouraged by the initial reactions though.

No doubt, aside from a few moronic comments from the likes of Vilma and anonymous GMs (weak), the reaction has been great. Really hope the NFL doesn't embarrass its self and dude gets drafted where he should.

Poncier

The Juggler said:

Bant said:

The Juggler said:

DewieCox said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

I'll never understand this "Brady had better teams" argument. Manning's teams have had at least 10 wins every year since 2002 (except that year he was injured). Obviously those were all good teams packed with playmakers on both sides of the ball. From 2003-2009, Manning's Colts teams had at least 12 wins a year. That's not ALL him. And I'm a Dolphins fan that can't stand Brady. But come on...

It's simple. Brady has had better complete teams around him. Good, not great skill players on offense, good offensive lines, good sometimes great defenses and always a great gameplan. Look what the Pats have done since Billy B's ego has taken control...a couple SB losses to a team not in the same realm as that Seahawks team we saw last night.

Manning has had Harrison, Wayne and James and then a bunch of scrubs he's made into studs. On the other side of the ball, they were built to defend against a trailing team, so when that didn't happen they were screwed. Freeney, Mathis and Sanders(for a couple years) were/are great, but again, there's a big dropoff in talent.

No offense, but I disagree with just about your entire premise other than Brady has had the edge with coaching.

Billy' B has a losing record without Brady.

Brady > Manning.

didn't they win 10 games with matt casell?

No, they went 11-5 with Cassel.

SVRDhand13

Bronx Bombers said:

Bant said:

The Juggler said:

DewieCox said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

I'll never understand this "Brady had better teams" argument. Manning's teams have had at least 10 wins every year since 2002 (except that year he was injured). Obviously those were all good teams packed with playmakers on both sides of the ball. From 2003-2009, Manning's Colts teams had at least 12 wins a year. That's not ALL him. And I'm a Dolphins fan that can't stand Brady. But come on...

It's simple. Brady has had better complete teams around him. Good, not great skill players on offense, good offensive lines, good sometimes great defenses and always a great gameplan. Look what the Pats have done since Billy B's ego has taken control...a couple SB losses to a team not in the same realm as that Seahawks team we saw last night.

Manning has had Harrison, Wayne and James and then a bunch of scrubs he's made into studs. On the other side of the ball, they were built to defend against a trailing team, so when that didn't happen they were screwed. Freeney, Mathis and Sanders(for a couple years) were/are great, but again, there's a big dropoff in talent.

No offense, but I disagree with just about your entire premise other than Brady has had the edge with coaching.

Billy' B has a losing record without Brady.

Brady > Manning.

twice

Indifference71

And now all of the Incognito/Martin crap is back to being shoved down our throats.

JK_Livin

Indifference71 said:

And now all of the Incognito/Martin crap is back to being shoved down our throats.

Wouldn't be surprised if Philbin is gone. How can you not know this shit is going on?

mca47

This is fantastic...especially the part about the "no panties".

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/ben-gals-cheerleader-lawsuit-cites-low-pay-no-151328717--nfl.html
Ben-Gals cheerleader lawsuit cites low pay, ‘no slouching breasts,’ no panties

The Cincinnati Bengals team cheerleaders are required to follow a stringent set of rules pertaining to their appearance and skimpy uniforms, and they aren't even paid minimum wage for it, a recent lawsuit contends.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Ben-Gals cheerleader Alexa Brenneman, 24, says that she was paid an average of $2.85 per hour — well below the Ohio minimum wage of $7.85 — for her 10 games of cheering this season, her first with the team, plus mandatory practices, charity events and required volunteer work that added up to more than 300 hours.

Her take-home pay was a flat rate of $90 per game, for each of the Bengals' 10 games this season.

But that's not all. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, contends that the cheerleaders were subjected to sartorial and conditioning requirements that seem a bit ... extreme.

Ben-Gals are weighed twice a week and must stay within 3 pounds of their “goal weight” or face discipline, including mandatory “extra conditioning” after practices, being “benched for weight violations,” probation, and ultimately dismissal from the team.
And, per the New York Daily News, Brenneman presented a six-page document titled "Cincinnati Ben-Gal Rules," which detailed the strict appearance code for the 24-member cheerleading team.

No panties are to be worn under practice clothes or uniform, not even thong panties. Wear pantyhose to match skin tone (L'eggs). No Danskins/Dance type tights. No control top at practices or games. No exposed skin at ankles — pantyhose must extend down into socks.
No slouching breasts. Support as needed. Black or nude seamless bra mandatory for games. (No lace)
This is reminiscent of the Oakland Raiders' cheerleader lawsuit (minus the panty and breast stuff, specifically) filed by a member of their cheer squad last month, attesting that their pay was substandard.

The Ben-Gals' case is interesting because of the extremely low pay Brennaman is claiming, along with the uniform and weight requirements. We'll see if this lawsuit has legs.

JK_Livin

Goodell made 44 million last year and some out going NFL Media head made 26 million.

Cliffy6745

JK_Livin said:

Goodell made 44 million last year and some out going NFL Media head made 26 million.

Just came here to post this....good god.

pjhawks

Cliffy6745 said:

JK_Livin said:

Goodell made 44 million last year and some out going NFL Media head made 26 million.

Just came here to post this....good god.

utterly ridiculous he gets paid that much.

but is it enough to pay his cable bill?

this has to make even Ryan Howard's contract look good to the Fixer.

pjhawks

Darren Sharper - what a scumbag

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/14/darren-sharper-rape-charges_n_4789445.html