The American Football Thread

[FRED HALE SR.]

Originally Posted by mojopinuk

I am English therefore I know absolutely fuck all about American football although I do enjoy it. I've previously only caught the Superbowl and maybe a couple of games a season but I've been watching a lot of this year. Basically I enjoy it but I wouldn't come in here because I wouldn't really know what I was talking about.

Anyway, what I wanted to ask for was perspective. The profile of the NFL in the UK has been building for years and is rather healthy right now. Sky Sports still carry a lot of it and the coverage on free to air TV here this season is better than it has ever been, with Channel 4 getting the rights back to a weekly show and live game and even the BBC picking it up for a live game a week. Also, for the first time, a second game played at Wembley stadium has been added in 2013 meaning we have two in that year instead of one.

I've noticed in the media coverage, interviews with NFL reporters and so on that they are talking this up and even going as far as to say that the fans ( I think he was talking about Jacksonville at the time) are all really excited and happy to see their team come here and impress and boost their support etc. Basically I cant and don't believe that. It is great for us and the profile of the sport in this country but I find it very hard to believe that Americans, and especially fans of the teams who are sacrificing a home advantage to come and play here, would speak so positively of the decision to play regular games in London?

Jacksonville has very little support at their home field. They might be looking at it as a chance to add to the fanbase in a sense. Most of the time they speak about it in terms of throwing their game off for awhile due to the travel restraints. I know when The Anaheim Ducks went there to play and also Finland it really threw their game off. I can't see any real positives besides adding to the fanbase, but at what cost if it throws your game off for weeks. The Ducks started out horrible both times they went as a few of the football teams have. Growing the sport is what they call it, but thats more typically done by adding the tv revenue as you said. I always thought it was something they should do in preseason only but the NHL usually does what they want and couldn't give two ****s about the fans.

[debaserr]

Jacksonville desperately needs the business, they are on the brink of being sold to someone in LA (the Chargers is the other team that's talked about for that I think, I'm pretty sure they are building a stadium downtown).

NY to London is about the same as NY to LA, so I don't think it's a massive deal. The tricky part is when they have to go play out West.

[FRED HALE SR.]

Originally Posted by eric generic

Jacksonville desperately needs the business, they are on the brink of being sold to someone in LA (the Chargers is the other team that's talked about for that I think, I'm pretty sure they are building a stadium downtown).

NY to London is about the same as NY to LA, so I don't think it's a massive deal. The tricky part is when they have to go play out West.

Jacksonville, The Chargers, and Minnesota Vikings have been linked to the Los Angeles stadium. That is gonna be one messed up scenario, having the convention center, staples center and a football stadium all within walking distance of each other. The Chargers still have not inked the deal for the supposed new stadium, they very possibly could be in LA. A darkhorse could be the Raiders, the black hole is quite possibly the worst football stadium currently running.

[Mojo]

I had factored in the travel inbetween states as opposed to travelling to London and the potential lack of real difference there and so that makes sense. I hadn't really factored the current state of Jacksonville and that it could potentially give them a much needed boost, especially given that they have signed to play here in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, I believe. That could give UK fans as close to a "home" team as they are gonna get and could sway some fans allegiance, especially if they don't really have one due to not feeling any ties to a particular city, state or team.

[debaserr]

A full time move to the UK could actually do wonders for a team like the Jags. With all that new money flowing in, they would be willing to spend more on their players, and perhaps be a more attractive FA destination (personnel / front office / coaching) for people wanting to see more of the world.

EDIT: As an "outsider", who are your favorite players / teams to watch?

[Mojo]

Well I wouldn't consider that I have a team. I'll adopt one if it ever feels right but I don't just go for success, I don't just pick an underdog, I would need to feel a tie or a connection to a team, for whatever reason. I'm not really sure if that would ever happen or if it does, what that reason would be.

Having something that even resembled a "home" team would certainly be something to consider.

[debaserr]

I just mean like, who has made you say "wow" from the limited time you have seen them, not based on allegiance or anything.

A few for me:

QB: Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, RG3
RB: Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, Arian Foster
WR: Percy Harvin, Calvin Johnson, AJ Green, Victor Cruz
TE: Gronkowski

Defense: JJ Watt, Von Miller, Haloti Ngata, Darrelle Revis, Demarcus Ware, Patrick Willis

[Bloozcrooz]

God, the Bears are dominating this game so far. Stafford has no pocket presence what so ever. How can you not go to your hot route when 3 dif people on the d side of the ball are showing blitz? One drops back and two still bring it and he's frozen like a deer in headlights.

[debaserr]

I thought the hype on Stafford was always a bit overplayed. Now that defenses are geared up to defend Calvin it has really hurt him.

[Mojo]

Originally Posted by eric generic

EDIT: As an "outsider", who are your favorite players / teams to watch?

As I say, theres only so much I've picked up on in the time I've been watching it but a few stand-outs have been the likes of Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Jared Allen, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger.

And at some point in recent weeks I've been impressed by Vontaze Burfict, Clay Matthews, Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson.

There are still plenty of names I dont know or players I've only seen play once (or only remember once) and as for teams, I wouldn't have a clue really if any teams are standing out but I've enjoyed watching The Packers and The Texans.