12/21/24
July 26, 2011
NFL Back in Business: The deal reached Monday between the NFL players and management starts the most frenzied preseason in league history. Rookies can sign contracts today, training camps open for 10 teams Wednesday, other free agents can sign Friday and the first preseason games kick off Aug. 11. "Depending on which side you're on, then, it's either ironic or terrifying that this year's group of free agents is pretty bad," writes Grantland's Bill Barnwell in a free agency primer. He calls Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha the only "can't-miss" among them and "arguably the best player at any position in football over the past four seasons." At a news conference yesterday, Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday hugged New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft, whose wife, Myra, died last week of cancer. "A special thanks to Myra Kraft, who even in her weakest moment allowed Mr. Kraft to come and fight this out," Saturday said. "Without him, this deal does not get done. ... He's a man who helped us save football."
posted by Joey Michaels at 05:15 PM on July 26, 2011
Saw an article (don't remember if print or online) about who winner is in these contract negotiations. Theory was that both owners and players for different reasons. Not in article, but it appears clear that the loser is the fan. Less training camp; less training at camp and during season; probability of ragged play due to this as well as uncertainty of team positions due to free agency delay. But I bet they get all those full-priced pre-season games in.
posted by graymatters at 05:25 PM on July 26, 2011
The Dallas Cowboys have cut Roy Williams, Marion Barber and Leonard Davis. They're way over the cap and also must renegogiate other contracts.
I liked Barber -- the only Dallas Cowboys player ever from Irving, Texas, the home of Texas Stadium -- but he drove me nuts in recent years with all of his high-energy running after the play was over. Nobody could sprint 10 yards downfield after being tackled with more energy than Barber.
posted by rcade at 05:50 PM on July 26, 2011
appears clear that the loser is the fan
Meh, you mean I missed out on 3 months of Brett Favre speculation and paying $20 to park to watch training camp? Who do I sue?
posted by yerfatma at 06:23 PM on July 26, 2011
Nobody could sprint 10 yards downfield after being tackled with more energy than Barber.
I always marveled at Barber's ability to burst out of the back field with so much energy and then strut and dance after the tackle like he had just busted out for a touchdown. Then, I would see the yard marker and realize he had just busted out for a one and a half yard gain. I am not sure that he ever realized that the game is played before the tackle, not after.
posted by graymatters at 07:13 PM on July 26, 2011
Didn't miss a single game. Who really gives a damn. And as for the fan being the loser, they are always the loser. Prices will continue to climb for everything football-related. The only recourse is to stop buying tickets.
posted by dyams at 07:16 PM on July 26, 2011
Didn't miss a single game.
Except for the Hall of Fame game Aug. 7, which was cancelled.
posted by rcade at 08:41 PM on July 26, 2011
Pre-season games are a sham, and teams (and the league) hold many season ticket holders hostage by making them have to purchase tickets for those (horrible) games.
posted by dyams at 09:36 PM on July 26, 2011
Except for the Hall of Fame game Aug. 7, which was cancelled.
Didn't miss a single game.
posted by yerfatma at 10:07 PM on July 26, 2011
I'd love to see Barber in the black-n-gold. As a Cowboy hater, he's the one player I really respected.
posted by bdaddy at 11:02 PM on July 26, 2011
Meh, you mean I missed out on 3 months of Brett Favre speculation
Eagles Interested in Brett Favre as a Backup? Commence Freakouts
posted by kirkaracha at 11:33 AM on July 27, 2011
Is there an NFL blog equivalent of Truehoop?