With the various sport threads out there, and with this being the first week of NFL training camps, figured I would start this off for those football fans.

Lot's of changes and things to look for this year - we have Jake in Denver now, Brian Griese in Miami to try and carry on his namesake (won't happen), we have Emmitt in Phoenix (what a way to end a great career), we have Parcells in Dallas Mooch in Detroit, and on and on.

My local team is Da Birds - I know JJ5 is with me on that one - although I am probably within equal distance of both the Giants and the Jets - and not too far away from the Steelers. Being an NFC person I hate the Giants and can tolerate the Jets -barely. And does anybody really care about the Steelers ? :p My 'away' team though is probably Kansas City - always liked them from when Marty was there in addition to the Nigerian Nightmare - I would hate to have had to tackle him once he got a head of steam.

So Da Birds will do well but if I look at it objectively I don't see them going to the SuperBowl. We'll see how the Rams do, they can still be tough, Tampa Bay will be tough also. From the AFC, Oakland again will be tough, Kansas City will be tough but they don't have enough yet, and Tennesee could once again be tough. I will say that I do not see any one team that I can say is dominate as there is no way 'this team' doesn't get to the SuperBowl so it should make for an intersting year.

So any other thoughts, things to look for, predictions for the upcoming season ....

Go Bucs!!!

BDD,

By your geography, I guess your team is the Eagles. Da Birds (I guess you have to be local). Not the Cardinals or the Seahawks or the Ravens. There is only one team to consider this year G-I-A-N-T-S.

Da Bears all the way BDD!

I'm still reeling from when your Eagles put a hurtin' on the Bears a couple of years ago in the first round of the playoffs. I bought a TV for that game and everything.

As for some local insight for my team, if the A-Train can get back on track, I think it might be an alright year (alright meaning 9 - 7). I think David Terrel is going to breakout this year big time, that is if Kordell isn't a headcase. The defense will be alright as long as Urlacher gets some help and the secondary holds up- too weak on third down last year.

I do not think Tampa will repeat this year.

I remember the days where there used to be dominant teams. Not anymore. The era of the 49'ers, or Bears, or Dallas. Now every year could be anyone's game. Which I feel is the way it should be. No fun watching the games if you can practically predict who will win.

Yeah, I think BDD is the Eagles, while I of course am the Ravens. Now, to get on MaryCas about "fearing the turtle"....

MaryCas - as if you had to ask - of course it is the Eagles. The Cardinals, Seahawks and Ravens are not even real football teams.

And the G-I-A-N-T-S oh we'll have a lot of fun during the season . They will never win anything with Kerry Collins in there - although at times he can be quite good - but never win the big game for them - and what about all your RBs - I can't believe Dayne is destined to stay.

And DS - you bought a TV for the Eagles - Bears playoff game. Guess you were ready to take it back when we took Miller out of the game in the 1st quarter. I'm not sure but I don't believe Da Birds even broke a sweat that game. :p Ok so who do the Bears have; A-Train, he is actually pretty good and Urlacher is very good - but I'm about stumped after those two.

Don't forget about our huge free agent pick up- Kordell "Slash" Stewart! :rolleyes:

Other than Urlacher, the best player the Bears have is a safety, Mike Brown.

All I can say about our draft is Rex Grossman is very much looking like Cade McNown, Jr. Any Florida fans out there that can give me some hope and say I'm wrong??

Go Saints?

*sigh*

Oakland baby!

As most people here already know , I am a die hard fan of my hometown team 49ers. Through good times and bad times, that won't change.

Just made reservations and got tickets to the Niner/Cardinal game in Phoenix October 26. I try to get to any Niner game I can in San Fran, Denver, Phoenix or Dallas each year.

I also play in two fantasy football leagues each year. Because I am having so much fun with the sports fiends on this board during baseball season, :rolleyes: , I will probably be playing on a third this year .

PS: I miss the Mooch!

SaladBar, don't sigh. I saw lots of Saints in Italy, well their statues and some of their bones. I even saw the chains they used to bring St Peter to his crucifixtion. The toughest guy was St. Andrew, they roasted him to death. But your Saints, well...pray.

Beth E, I wondered if my turtle remark would stir you out of your shell. A bunch of my in-laws are Terp fans, so I jest with them about that Fear the Turtle stuff.

BDD, I won't even tell you how great the NY press make the Giants. Probably the same in Philly. Do you think Brian Mitchell has any game left in him?

MaryCas, with LDV on board on this thread, I wonder if you made it known to her how you felt about the Giants / Niners playoff game last year? :p

That game had to be, without a doubt, one of the biggest choke jobs in football history by the Giants, but at the same time, a referee mistake cost the Giants a chance to win the game.

Although it was a choke job by the Giants, it still doesn't surpass the Bills/Oilers game. That game haunts me to this day (I was a huge Oilers fan). One of the few things I remember distinctly from childhood...

Urlacher is New Mexico's own....from my old stomping grounds - UNM. He was UNM's 1st first round pick since sometime in the 70's. This guy is awesome. Nice guy too, still does alot of charity work here. The only reason I will even sit through a Bears game.

Bethie: you were talking about eras and great teams and you mentioned da Bears? Yeah their era was exactly 1985

SB, I met Kyle Turley at the airport once. He was by himself and noone I was with believed that it was him. I knew it was him by his intricate and unique tattoos.....nice guy too!

I admit, I hated to see them lose Mitchell. He is a leader and the guy is a workhorse. I will say though that for the past few years the Eagles have done pretty well at letting players go at just the right time so something to think about there, but I still wish we had him.

You should miss Mooch - Erickson failed his first time, he will do so again. The problem last year was NOT with Mooch. As much of a talent as Owens is, I just don't think a team can win with him - to much about himself and not enough for the team.

That was the funniest thing I read today - you are in for a long year :p

I'm sorry DS, I don't recall that game. After my intense psychotherapy, I can only remember the games the Giants won. Dr. Melfi where are you?

Choke job, indeed but when a ref makes a bad call, whether in my team's favor or not, I can own up to that fact. Bad call.

I live in a place we call Little NY because of all the migrators from the East coming to live in our City (it was developed by a corporation out of NY) so all my friends are Giants fans. Let's just say I made out ($$) like a bandit from that game!

No Niner/NY games this year but I would wager on any others.....(September 7 Don Sicilia????)

I think I need the number of your doctor after all the games da Bears (brought to you by Bank One ) lost last year!

You're on LDV! Straight up or on points??

I have to mention- the Bears comeback a couple of years ago against the Niners had to be one of the sweetest games I've ever seen. It was great!

Ok, DB - I'm always up to finding a way to make the games more interesting. I am not quite in football mode yet, still gotta shake a certain person off my back in the other sport. Definite bet but we can talk about points when the season starts...You're not gonna make it easy are you?

I forgot all about this. So what are the thoughts out there in Chicago about this? Kind of a new approach but can't believe it will generate as much interest as having the stadium name - but seems there was no way they could ever rename it though.

I think the contract with Bank One stipulates that the phrase "brought to you by Bank One" or something to that effect must be mentioned every time the team makes some sort of announcement or public release. It was big news in Chicago for a couple of days but long forgotten. People weren't surprised at all with all the corporations taking over stadium-naming rights. Bank One gets some bonus points for originality though!

In the end, Bears fans won't care either way. Hard-core fans are still living and breathing the 1985 Bears and just as long as the Fridge and his co-horts show up every now and then, any outrage caused by the team selling out will be overlooked.

See my avatar.

The trend is crazy. But I still go out every year to "Candlestick" and the hotel I stayed at a few weeks ago in Denver was on the "Mile High Stadium" grounds. 3 Comm Park? Invesco? Ugly, ugly, ugly .

At least Soldier Field sounded like a place where the men could be men and play hard!!!

Who's Tuna with this year? That's my team -- I've been rooting for his teams for years -- unless it's Miami or Dallas! Though I still like the Jets, too.

I usually don't get into pigskin mode until baseball is over (though I still make my quick picks so I don't get behind in fantasy). Too much sports/stats can make a mind go numb.

Well you got yourself a dilema this year than.

Ewwwwww Geoff - Cowboys! I love Parcells too but I despise the Cowboys.

Reason to watch the Jets - Kevin Mahwe. He is actually a friend of my father's. The age old question as in baseball's Yankees or Mets.....Giants or Jets?

Gotta stick with the right division so I say Giants. But in baseball I'd rather go against my NL grain and WATCH the YankMe's (can never root for them except in fantasy )......

Fuck Parcells!

I like Dallas too only because of fond memories of childhood/adolescence with Roger Staubach and Tom Landry!...the originators of the "shotgun position". I mean, geez, I had to root for something besides the 'Aints. Dallas is sorta close to Louisiana.

And, really guys. Can you really blame the Saints/'aints? If you lived in New Orleans could you concentrate on football? Not to mention playing in an airconditioned stadium that is sinking into the Delta?

I should root for Oakland though given that is spittin' distance from where I'm now. Just things get so WILD here during/after games.

You won't have to worry much about Parcells this year. He will make Dallas better, he is a good coach, and he has been known to get a lot from his QB, but come on who does he have this year Chad Hutchinson or Quincy Carter ? Besides Jerry Jones will need to get involved and that is when the fun will begin. I just hope it is the week they play Da Birds - make it more interesting.

Um, did you miss my "unless" in there, SB?