Football is Coming!!! YEAH!!!

[ElijahPrice]

So where do the loyalties lie in this here CG forums?  What are some opening season thoughts?  My team is the Ravens and then a follow up with the Washington Redskins since they are local.

I think the Ravens have a shot at the bowl this year ALL based on Boller or whoever is at the helm.  I wouldn't be surprised with mediocre performance by Boller for the first 3 weeks and then a switch to Anthony Wright but I think the rest of the team is going to be downright amazing.

Even though they are local I hadn't paid much attention to the Redskins.  But some local buddies of mine got me reading the redskins.com site everyday since that is their media outlet it appears and they had awesome coverage for the offseason so I am interested now.  I think Ramsey will be better and be able to lead the team to at least a 9-7 record.  Defense is solid and the WRs are much better IMO.  I think They still lack a true #1 and that Moss will be underwhelming, but Patten and Cooley will be sick helping Portis also have a better year.

[Exodor]

[JLu]

New England Patriots!

New England native who started watching religiously at the start of the 1995 season -- which lead us to the forgettable Superbowl against Green Bay.  I think I've missed watching four regular season games since that time?

I like thier chances to repeat again unless someone proves that they can beat us (see: November 7th vs. the Colts)

[AgtFox]

I was born and still am a Vikings fan.  This could be the year, but there could also be a monumental collapse.  I see the games start on Thursday with the Pats facing Oakland.  We'll see how good Randy Moss is I guess in black and silver, but I expect the Pats to win.

[Devil]

Pats season ticket holder and HUGE Eagles fan.

Them are my teams.

[Jancelot]

I've always been a Cowboys fan through thick and thin.

[Destructor]

Go Cardinals!

BHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

Sorry.

[AgtFox]

Go Cardinals!

BHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

Sorry.

Actually, many places are picking them to win the West...sad, but true.

[WinoMcCougarstein]

Packers in the NFC and Bengals in the AFC.

[Graham]

Packer fan as long as I can remember.

[TheMissingLink]

Sticking with the Patriots for about 10 years has really paid off

Seahawks in the NFC, I GUESS, because they're the closest to where I live.

[Thin_J]

Bengals in the AFC.

Me too.

/hangs head in shame

[soulbringer]

Rams fan since the 70's but i also pull for Pittsburgh since i grew up there.

[Zarkon]

Always a Houston fan.

[Calvin]

Go Titans!!! Can't fucking wait for the season to start!

[Ralph-Wiggum]

You can't run/You can't hide/You can't stop Carolina pride!
Unleashed/Are the Panthers!

What a great song.  

[Hrothgar]

Always a Houston fan.

+1

[CrayolaSmoker]

Always a Houston fan.

+1

!!! HOUSTON SUCKS !!!

I don't follow football, and have no substantial knowledge of the sport.  Houston's team may be aces for all I know.  However, as a born-and-raised Dallasite, I'm obliged to point out that Houston is an inferior city, just on  principle.  So I say, again,

!!! HOUSTON SUCKS !!!

:wink:

[Gratch]

I'm one of "them".

[Zarkon]

Always a Houston fan.

+1

!!! HOUSTON SUCKS !!!

I don't follow football, and have no substantial knowledge of the sport.  Houston's team may be aces for all I know.  However, as a born-and-raised Dallasite, I'm obliged to point out that Houston is an inferior city, just on  principle.  So I say, again,

!!! HOUSTON SUCKS !!!

:wink:

This coming from someone living in a town with the Second-Best football team in the state.  America's Team?  They're not even -Texas's- Team.  

That being said, I enjoyed being in Dallas during Houston's first football game, watching them -beat- the Cowboys on national TV.

[Soulchilde]

Baltimore Ravens fan here.  The Ravens will rise or fall depending on the Defense.  Kyle Boller hasn't looked spectacular and I honestly don't expect him to last very long as QB.

Btw, does CG have a fantasy football league?


Just wanted to add I hate all things Deadskins, Stoolers, Clowns and Bungles...

[ElijahPrice]

Hah...there is so much to respond to in this thread!

1.  Bengals - don't be ashamed.  They are going to be good this year, but the Ravens will beat them.  Maybe next year.

2.  Patriots - ugh, its getting gross.

3.  Eagles - I have several eagle friends and I kinda like the team.  They are very intelligent as a team and brian westbrook is amazing, I LOVE watching him.   BTW - sorry to hear about Scott Stevens retiring from the devils, that guy is awesome.

3.  No Ravens or Skins Fans?  Maybe this will help:

http://www.redskins.com/news/multimedia.jsp#
GOTO: Cheerleaders/Sooin in cancun!  

Man, I tried to find some hot baltimore cheerleaders, but me having some trouble.  Heh...

[JLu]

Patriots, getting gross??  NEVER!

I actually can finally understand the other side of the coin.  I hated the Cowboys and the Bulls in the 90s due to thier dominance.  Hated.  Now that it's my team on top, well, I just want that to keep going since I know it's a short window that you can have something so special.

I'll still be watching when we are 1-15 again.  I just hope that isn't for a long, long, long time.

[Devil]

BTW - sorry to hear about Scott Stevens retiring from the devils, that guy is awesome.

Sucks to see him go, but it was a matter of time.  :cry:

[Gwar21]

Chicago Bears!  And we'll be well on our way to a 6-10 record this year with a victory over Washington this week.  

[Beer Goggles]

Tonight!

[Bulletpig]

Die hard Chiefs fan here.  It is very very rare that I am in a position to root for our dreaded rival Raiders.

On a hunch though, I did pick the Raiders to beat the Patriots tonight.  So they better step up.  My football pool is riding on it.


Pig

[Skeld]

IF the young offensive line would gel and created a little time for Griese to throw, and some running room for Cadillac and Pittman, I think the Bucs might surprise a lot of people even in the ultra competitive NFC South.

Then again if they just managed a .500 above .500 season I would be satisified.

[WinoMcCougarstein]

Hah...there is so much to respond to in this thread!



3.  Eagles - I have several eagle friends and I kinda like the team.  They are very intelligent as a team and brian westbrook is amazing, I LOVE watching him.  

TO excluded.  And seriously, if he doesnt play his best the entire season, I fully believe they Eagles will be eliminated early in the playoffs... I wont say they will miss the playoffs, they are in a weak division and the NFC as a whole is pretty weak right now.

[RightBastard]

:oops: to say it but...

[Kev199]

I feel worse about the...

[ElijahPrice]

Chicago Bears!  And we'll be well on our way to a 6-10 record this year with a victory over Washington this week.  

BTW - the redskins site has a video preview of the matchup (on the multimedia then news/highlights channel).  You should check it out, I am curious to see what you think.

I am guessing between Bears 10 - Redskins 20.  Boom Bang!  I hope to see some Benson in action, he is on my FF team.

EAGLES - I don't think it is possible for them not to win out their division.  THey will be fine.  And I think TO will have another huge year.

[stiffler]

I feel worse about the...

I am a Browns fan, but seeing Trent Dilfer at QB makes me sad.  At least Doug Johnson appears to have fallen to #3 on the depth chart.  I'd rather see the rookie start.  Bring back Bernie!

My other team, the Falcons, are at least fun to watch.  Still, even as a fan of the team, I get sick of hearing the commentators gush over Vick.

[Calvin]

Trent Dilfer rocks! He's the best quarterback that shitty team has seen in half a decade. He will make them better, I will bet big money on it. Maybe not good, but better.

[stiffler]

Trent Dilfer rocks! He's the best quarterback that shitty team has seen in half a decade. He will make them better, I will bet big money on it. Maybe not good, but better.

That may be so (I hope!) but I am not really a Dilfer fan.  He did lead his team to the Super Bowl (not that anybody, including his own team) gave him any credit for that.  Oh yeah, I hate the Ravens.  Thanks!

[ElijahPrice]

Them fighting words stiffler...

Ravens got a ring with Dilfer.  We give him credit for not screwing up, but he didn't win it for us necessarily.  I believe every Raven has a warm spot in his heart for Dilfer, right behind the ring.

[mytocles]

I hate no teams... erm, except for any that have Bill Parcels... Sorry, it's a sexism thing.  I have a hard time forgiving him for "ridiculing" one of his players by calling him "she" during a press conference***.

***(crap, my memory zings me again... Terry someone, someone Glenn, was there a Terry Glenn? I know it wasn't John Glenn, at least  :lol:  - many of you will remember this, I'm sure.  A wide receiver viewed by Bill as being a slacker and not playing thru pain.  I really hate my new memory, I'm an avid Pats fan, I can picture the guy in my mind, just can't set a name to him, and can't even tell if I'm making up the above names!  :evil:  I wouldn't advise you to use me as a resource for stats!

Anyway, I've been a Pats fan since they existed.  Before that I was a Giants fan, because when I was a kid, that was the closest team to Massachusetts. Go Y. A. Tittle!  I was in love with him when I was 8 or 9 years old, lol.  :oops:

[Calvin]

Them fighting words stiffler...

Ravens got a ring with Dilfer.  We give him credit for not screwing up, but he didn't win it for us necessarily.  I believe every Raven has a warm spot in his heart for Dilfer, right behind the ring.

I just want to say one thing as a Maryland resident, but Baltimore/Washington Football hater. You guys, no two ways about it, no justifications possible totally fucked Trent Dilfer over. No explanations necessary-you can't give one. He is the only Super Bowl winning quarterback in history to be released the next year. He led that bunch of criminals and hoodlums to the Super Bowl and directed an offense that was not only capable and mistake-free, but efficient and productive. Since then, the team has gone:
2004: 9-7
2003: 10-7
2002: 7-9
2001: 11-7
2000: 16-4 Super Bowl Champs

Not bad-certainly not as bad as some teams have faltered-but only two playoff trips in the next 4, and one season that could have been much much worse.

This was the stats for 2000:
Baltimore Ravens       333  287  504  3102  6.2  20  19  511  2199  4.3   9

For 2004:
Baltimore Ravens       317  258  466  2559  5.5  13  11  491  2063  4.2  11

5 years later, 4 quarterbacks later, and the offense was only as productive as it was in 2000 one time, in 2003.

Listen, Dilfer is one of the good guys. The Ravens screwed him. If you actually liked him and have a soft place in your heart for him-perhaps the Baltimore fans should remind the "offensive mastermind" that is Brian Billick

[ElijahPrice]

Heh, looking back I may agree that Dilfer would have been better to keep for a year or two.  But honestly, after we won we signed Elvis Grbac who should have been an improvement, and then after that we are looking for a franchise quarterback which Dilfer is not.  But as a human being, I like dilfer and wish we kept him.  Hater....

So bears fans, what you think?  A loss, sure, but good vibes or bad from Orton?  The skins didn't look perfect by any means but the defense put a lot of pressure as evident in the highlight reel on their site, though that santana moss run and catch was cool....yeah fantasy!

[ElijahPrice]

I've always been a Cowboys fan through thick and thin.

I am sorry to hear about that after last night...

I went to bed thinking the game was over only to see the score int he morning.  Crazy wild ending. Thank god for the redskins site highlight clips.  Those bombs to Santana Moss were pretty.  Did the cowboys secondary just get tired?