The NFL Thread

[transformers2]

Not a chance. There's not a lot of urgency to complete the trade in a timely fashion since the Jets know they have the Packers over a barrel since Rodgers publicly announced his intention to join the Jets and Rodgers will probably just retire if the Jets won't accept whatever deal the Packers throw at them. The Jets reported wish to give the Packers picks in next year's draft, not this year's is also likely behind the delay.

On top of that, Jordan Love is in the 2nd to last year of his rookie contract. Now is the time to see what the kid is made of.

[Buscemi2]

Apparently, we're going to finally get a yearly game on Thanksgiving weekend hosted exclusively by an AFC team. The Bengals want to make the Black Friday game, added for this season, a yearly tradition. I guess if Detroit can have a Thanksgiving game every year, giving Cincinnati a yearly game the next day isn't too farfetched.

[Buscemi2]

I joined a pick 'em league that my sister and brother-in-law do after they told me one win would allow me to make back my $25 investment. I just submitted my picks today and there's also an accompanying "last man standing" game where you can win if you manage an 18 game streak.

My picks:
Kansas City
Atlanta
Baltimore (Last Man Standing pick)
Cincinnati
Jacksonville (was almost my Last Man Standing pick but found out the game was in Indianapolis)
Minnesota
New Orleans
San Francisco
Washington
Green Bay
Denver
Chargers
Philadelphia
Seattle
Dallas
Buffalo (Monday night tiebreaker is points from each team and total points, I went with 37-21 for 58 points)

I also entered a contest on NFL.com for a $100 gift card that also involves picking games, albeit only five. If I win, I don't know what I'll do.

[transformers2]

A $25 weekly prize for a $25 buy-in is pretty solid. How many people are in the league?

[Buscemi2]

I saw a chart listing 100 but when I got the group e-mail (which had to be forwarded by my brother-in-law as the original got sent to quarantine and therefore, needs a week to be released), there were around 30 listed e-mails. So it might be some picking via e-mail or text and others doing it in person as it's being sponsored by an area pizza franchisee.

[Buscemi2]

In one hour, a new season begins.



By the way, this is the same guy a few years earlier.

[Buscemi2]

Finished 9-7 this week, beating my sister and brother-in-law by three games. Obviously, I didn't win this week but there's seventeen more weeks and I'm still in Last Man Standing.

My picks.

Philadelphia (was almost my Last Man Standing pick)
Green Bay
Buffalo
Baltimore
Detroit
Houston
Kansas City (I really can't see the Chiefs starting 0-2, even with the game being in Jacksonville)
Tampa Bay
Chargers
Giants
San Francisco
Dallas (Last Man Standing pick)
Denver
Miami
Carolina
Pittsburgh (Monday Night tiebreaker: 28-20 for 48 points)

The game of the week will be whatever game Kevin Harlan's doing for CBS.

[Buscemi2]

I actually have a slim shot of winning this week if I get both Monday night games correct and win both tiebreaker scenarios on my end as another entrant had the exact same number of points. My sister can also win but has to have the Saints and Browns win and win her tiebreaker.

If only the Lions and Chargers had won in overtime and the Packers and Broncos hadn't blown their leads, I'd be cruising with a 13-1 record instead of 9-5 and in a nine-way tie for first. At least the Giants came back to win.

[Buscemi2]

Finished 10-6. The winner went 12-4.

My picks:
San Francisco (Last Man Standing pick)
Cleveland
Detroit
Green Bay
Miami
Minnesota
New England
Buffalo
Jacksonville
Baltimore
Seattle
Kansas City
Dallas
Las Vegas
Philadelphia
Rams (Monday night tiebreaker, 20-13 for 33 points)

I feel a little guilty taking the Thursday night game as my Last Man Standing pick but the 49ers are the 49ers and the Giants, even with their comeback win giving them momentum, don't have Barkley.

[Buscemi2]

The Broncos really have to be questioning hiring Sean Payton now. Their defense can't stop anything.

Meanwhile, this game continues my belief that something amazing happens when Kevin Harlan does the play-by-play.