The NFL Thread - Chargers @ Saints play at Wembley on Sunday

Last edited by Jango on Thu Oct 23, 2008 1:42 pm, edited 4 times in total.

Now I realise that this may not be the most popular topic on GRcade. However, I know that there are a few regulars on ye old GamesRadar who liked their NFL, Wujibo, Cropolite, Raxiorci, Mockmaster?, Phatman and I'm sure more. So this is the thread for you guys to talk about the the NFL season, the latest roster changes from the off-season, how the top rookies play this year, predictions and so on. But also, this can be a thread for newbies wanting to get into the game. If you've just started watching the sport and need some help understanding something in the sport or someone brand new, come in and join us! We can help you chose your new team as well! And their are plenty of opportunities for you to follow your team. With live triple headers on Sky on Sundays, there are plenty of matches to watch. And if you don't have Sky, don't worry! The quite frankly brilliant NFL site will cover all your need! :arrow:

Official NFL site Not only do have a feature called Gamecentre, where you can see live updates on the game with a little picture of the ground showing exactly what happens. They also happen to have 5 minute video highlights on Monday, which is great. Like this, from example, from last years SuperBowl - Highlights of the SuperBowl

Now, many people may question why they should watch this. After, it's just Rugby with pads, right? Well, that's just plain wrong. Firstly, some of the worlds top athletes are in the NFL, some of the quickest, strongest people in the world. Quick feet, knee breaking cuts, ankle shattering jukes, that's all part of the NFL. Secondly and most importantly, the fact that anybody can win any Sunday. It might be a cliche but it's true. The parity in the NFL is unrivaled in professional sports and is one of the reasons why so many people continue to watch it year after year. Their is no Chelsea, no Abramovich splashing the cash on players every year, instead there is complete parity. The teams share revenue from ticket sales and merchandise, a salary cap is in place to t ensure teams simply can't buy anyone they want, a draft of all the top collegite players is made every year, with the team with the worst record from last year getting the first pick of the top talent coming out of college. There really is nothing like it in the world of sports and it is one of the greatest reasons to watch the sport.

So, moving onto the season itself. It all starts tomorrow nights, live on Sky Sports, with the Washington Redskins playing the defending World Champions, (yes, I realise that it's quite odd to be crowned 'World Champions' in a sport where only one country plays the sport professionally') the New York Giants. If anyone remembers the SuperBowl, it was quite a fantastic match. The underdog Giants came into the match against the unbeaten New England Patriots, with an offense unmatched in NFL History. Yet the Giants managed to pull of an Giant Upset, (sorry) and beat the Patriots. Now they begin their defence of their title, without their two star defensive players, Micheal Strahan retired and Osi Umenyiora out for the season. Can they repeat their feat? Or will their be another contender to the crown?

But that's not the only news in the NFL this year! Oh no, there was plenty more. Brett Farve, the Packers QuaterBack for God knows how many years, retired at the age of 38. He had been a servant for the team for so long and the face of the franchise. His retirement was seen as a fitting conclusion for a great footballer. But then Farve got the itch and wanted to play again. However, the Packers had moved on from Farve and had already named backup Aaron Rodgers as starter. So Farvrewas then traded to the New York Jets and will play for the first time for a team not in Green Bay.

Combine that with the usual movement of players between teams, rookies from college coming into the professional game with HUGE expectations on their young shoulders coupled with millions of dollars in their pockets. Young teams on the rise, aging teams in decline, players waiting in the wings finally getting their chance in the big time. It's so exciting!

So come on, get involved and join in debate on one of the greatest sports in the world!

Great first post, I for one can't wait for the season to start even if I'm a Rams fan :mrgreen:

This is THE SEASON where I'm not going to fail miseraly in my yearly promise to really get into the sport.

I bought Madden 08 on eBay this week for a tennner - obviously I know the new one is out now, but the series has been getting great review scores for years now, so not having the latest version with the most up to date rosters isn't that important for me just yet - if I get on with it I'll pick up the new one at some point no doubt.

Where can I watch this?

Can't wait. I'm excited for the Chargers this season even if Merriman won't be playing. I have a ticket for the London game between the Chargers and the Saints also. I went to the Dolphins vs Giants games in London last year and it was great fun, even if the game wasn't the greatest ever.

Hexx wrote:Where can I watch this?

you can either watch it live on Sky, at 6pm every Sunday until 4 am. Alternitively, you can watch the game highlights on the NFL site, which has highlights of all the games, as well as the Top 10 hits, or Top 10 passes and so on.

Adam: Don't worry, I'm not going to let you fail. And although Madden 08 is very good, the new one is actually amazing and after you familiarize yourself with the game and the rules, get the new one.

Phatman; I heard Merriman is going to play on through the pain and not take surgery. Or has something changed since then? And I've got the tickets as well and went there last year as well, which was an amazing experience, despite the pretty poor standard of play. I'm so excited!

Adam Pollard wrote:This is THE SEASON where I'm not going to fail miseraly in my yearly promise to really get into the sport.

Snap, never really watched a game before I caught some of the playoff games last season and it was pretty entertaining.

Jango wrote:Phatman; I heard Merriman is going to play on through the pain and not take surgery. Or has something changed since then? And I've got the tickets as well and went there last year as well, which was an amazing experience, despite the pretty poor standard of play. I'm so excited!

I heard that too, but I'll believe it when I see it. To be honest, I'd rather he sat out this season if it means he can play for many years to come. I don't think it's been entirely decided what he's doing anyway, or I don't think it's been officially announced. If it has, I'm surprised I've missed it.

Phatman wrote:
Jango wrote:Phatman; I heard Merriman is going to play on through the pain and not take surgery. Or has something changed since then? And I've got the tickets as well and went there last year as well, which was an amazing experience, despite the pretty poor standard of play. I'm so excited!

I heard that too, but I'll believe it when I see it. To be honest, I'd rather he sat out this season if it means he can play for many years to come. I don't think it's been entirely decided what he's doing anyway, or I don't think it's been officially announced. If it has, I'm surprised I've missed it.

I'd like it if he manages to play for the London game, he is such an awesome player and it would be amazing to watch him play live.

I picked up the basics last year and enjoyed the hell out of the Superbowl, so I'm looking forward to getting into it from the beginning this year.

My team is the Houston Texans, which I picked at random last year. Hence I've got no idea whether they're actually any good or not.

Last edited by St Nick on Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Denver Broncos are my team for this year.

I've been to Mile High stadium a couple of times to look round ( got into one of the posh boxes last time), and I actually have a ticket to watch them against the Dolphins at the start of November...I just need to be able to afford the flight now.

EDIT: If the season starts tomorrow, are their any games on sky?

Hmm, bit of an effort to learn all the rules, is it? I've only just worked out the statistics to the NHL.

Last edited by sw26 on Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Nova wrote:Hmm, bit of an effort to learn all the rules, is it? I've only just worked out the statistics to the NHL.

Not really. Like most sports there are some intricacies, but the basics are actually very simple.

EDIT - Speaking of Madden, why in the blue hell is the new one out of stock everywhere (PS3 version at least)? Didn't it only come out a couple of weeks ago?

EDIT2 - Well not everywhere, just GAME where I want to buy it from as I can get money off.

I picked up all the rules through playing madden over the years 8-)

The Texans are my team too! I picked them because they were the newest team to the NFL and came into existence the same time I got into the NFL as well, so it just made sense for me to support them. They've been pretty rubbish but are very young and last year some of their young players really stepped up. They finished with their best ever record last year and only got better. They play in a really tough division so getting to the playoffs may be tough but they should definitely keep improving.

and St Nick, yes, the games are on Sky. They start tomorrow, showing the Redskins @ Giants and then start the weekly triple header on Sunday, starting at 6pm with an additional game available via the red button.

Something Fishy

I'm a Pats fan. Last season was a great until the end.

I'm not sure this is going to be the same for them.

Im a Buccs fan. A pretty decent year last time round but im a bit more concerned about the prospects for this season. The D is getting on a bit as is Galloway, Garcia and the returning Dunn. Wasnt overly impressed with their work in the draft either.

Im also going to the Saints Chargers game, really cannot wait for that. Will be supporting the Saints purely as they are my team usually on Madden. Hoping the weather holds out a bit better than it did last time round. With both teams offence it should hopefully be very high scoring.

Also, C5 do brilliant coverage. Mike Carlson is an absolute hero. Another classic quote last night on the preview show 'Michael Vick is in the Dog House so to speak'.

Anyone watching?

That tosser Manning has already got a touchdown.

Come on Bengals! I will start wearing the shirt again religiously tomorrow, one can dream, one can dream!

Well I was watching the Giants - Redskins game on internet stream and the thing cut-off. So I'm a bit pissed

The NFL Thread - Chargers @ Saints play at Wembley on Sunday

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