Wowww the boards are boring lately

Last week I got lucky and guessed correct on all 4 Wild Card winners.  This week however is a little more complicated.  But I'm gonna go with Broncos.....49ers.....Seahawks (Not Picking ATL).....and I'm probably wrong but I'm going with Houston in the upset cause I think their too good to get beat twice by the same team........  What are some of y'all predictions ???

I was going with Denver and GB today and that's whom I wanted to see in the sb. It's not working out and unless Houston makes it the sb is going to suck for me. Why don't you start an offseason thread and we can discuss what we think/ hope will happen with the salary cap, fa etc.

The boards are boring because CBS has done nothing to promote them.  Remember the "rumor mill" on the NFL home page? That's what got a lot of people here, but since then, there have been so few new members it's pathetic.

Look at the "since" date under our names. Basically 2006-2009 is when most came, then the format changed and done.

We're a dying group. Someday something will pop, I hope.  Until then, guys like Muddville Stomper, Deuce Reggie, BigHeavyD and so on are a thing of the past...

Hell, we don't even get the haters & hecklers/trolls anymore.  What's the world coming to?

I was on here when it used to be me, mudd, kb, kordon, bygkev and a few others chomping at the bit to argue, spit some knowledge, or bitch and complain.


Now it feels so long ago :(  

I'm here.. just busy at work these days.  I know this much if we don't fix our defensive problems then we are in big trouble.  We should clean house on the defensive side of the ball and sign OSI plus use our first round pick to get a DT. 

Normally I would say signing Osi is a terrible idea cause he hasn't really been that productive and is aging, but I'm all for it at this juncture cause he probably needs a change of scenery and we need a change in personnel. I really don't know what are problem is when it comes to DT cause we can't find anybody dominant. 

When you look at it, most people don't have anyone dominant. There are only a few dominant defensive linemen throughout the league.


J.J. Watt-20 sacks from the 3-4 DE? Incredible.
Geno Atkins-Because he's on the Bengals, he's largely unheralded. If he were a Cowboy or a Steeler, he'd be front page news.
Justin Smith-just a terror. Take him out of the equation and Aldon Smith is nothing more than a nifty OLB in a 3-4.
Vince Wilfork-run stuffa and sometimes QB Killa
Ndamokung Suh-stats don't show, but he's a terror in the middle.  
Julius Peppers- Like Suh, stats don't show it, but he still commands a lot of attention in the protection scheme 
Jared Allen- down this year, but he's capable of rattling off 15-20 sacks any give year.
Haloti Ngata-as he goes, so goes the Ravens D. Doesn't have the name recognition of Suggs, Lewis, or Reed, but his output is way more valuable than either of those three or any two of them combined.  

There are some other ones that are pretty good, not necessarily dominant.  

Jay Ratliff-missing him in the middle is a big loss to the Cowboys.
Kyle Williams-is pretty good, and actually plays harder than Mario Williams, who costs exhorbitantly more.
B.J. Raji-brings it sometimes, but is too inconsistent.
Brett Keisel-has dropped off, but still has the capacity when healthy to seal an edge on his side.
Kroy Biermann-has played much better this year and made Ray Edwards expendable.
Jason Babin-despite being cut, he still has some get off the ball quickness and angles that can net him 10 sacks in a season.  
Chris Long- I just don't thin that on any given day he has enough strenght or size to beat elite tackles, he's not quite the man his dad was, but his effort is admirable
Calais Campbell-considering his draft position, he's probably not as elite as he should be, but he occupies the attention of the offensive line and commands respect because of his freakish height
Jason Pierre-Paul-last year he'd probably be in the elite group, but he tailed off this year and I'm curious as to why? Easily the most athletic D lineman in the league


Now you look at this list, I've got 15 or 16 total, 8 of them elite. Half the league doesn't have anything better than an average defensive lineman on their team. These men are hard to find, and "dominant" as mass-saint wished for are closer to impossible to find.


You could argue for a name or two to be included, removed from, or swapped between these lists, but the point remains, finding these types of players is difficult, and cannot be expected.           
              

See and to your point 82, I wouldn't mind one bit having guys like Chris Long or Jay Ratliff or Geno Atkins.  Those were the guys that jumped out at me the most from your list.  I really like the way that post was broken down also.  I actually wonder how much input Sean Payton is gonna allow Spags when it comes to FA.  Especially being that our D was piss poor pathetic.

See and to your point 82, I wouldn't mind one bit having guys like Chris Long or Jay Ratliff or Geno Atkins.  Those were the guys that jumped out at me the most from your list.  I really like the way that post was broken down also.  I actually wonder how much input Sean Payton is gonna allow Spags when it comes to FA.  Especially being that our D was piss poor pathetic.


Thanks mass, I actually should credit you for putting the bee in the bonnet to generate that post. I thought about every team for a few minutes and when it came down to it, there are only 15-20 guys on any defensive line throughout the league that I covet.


I almost thought of adding Cam Jordan to the second tier because he stepped up his game this year, but he's not quite there yet. I actually think he would make a better 3-4 DE at his size, but he could turn out to be something special.


Once upon a time Will Smith was at least a 2nd tier guy, but he just doesn't get there anymore.


As far as Payton's input, since dick face Goodell is clearly not going to allow him to come back early (probably in his last desperate attempt to save face), Vitt and Loomis may have to go ahead on their own and make personnel decisions because by the time Payton is back any idea of changing out Spags for someone more flexible will be a moot point. And there will be such a small window to evaluate between the day after the Super Bowl and the draft and FA that a lot of the leg work will have to have been done by then.


On an interesting side note, last week on First Take, DeMaurice Smith said that he saw the evidence and he feels that Saints fans and Sean Payton were the real losers here and absolutely got cheated.  Funny thing is, Cari Champion cut him off right after he said that because he was still continuing a thought and she segued to a commercial break! I swear it's like they didn't want him saying that on the TV. I have a suspicious mind anyway, but I swear it seems like ESPN is just one more outlet that is in bed with the front office and doesn't want to lose the favor they've gained by having a dissenting opinion on the bounty investigation aired on one of their prime shows.               

Well kudos to DeMaurice Smith.  And I'll tell ya, I completely understand what your saying too.  Everytime I talk to somebody about the whole "Bountygate" thing people for the most part don't have a clue as to what transpired.  Pretty much all of them use the $10,000 Vilma/Favre bounty to back up their argument.  I love the fact that Vilma fought tooth and nail with dick face Goodell (Great Nickname by the Way).  And these people put so much stock into that pregame speech by GW before the 49ers game.  And that my friend leads me to further believe that the casual NFL fan doesn't know crap about the sport cause those speeches happen in every locker room.  In case these baffoons havn't heard, its an American Ammendment called " Freedom of Speech".  Most people also swear like I should be ashamed of being a Saints fan, laughable !!!  BLACK AND GOLD TILL I PASS AWAY.......

Well kudos to DeMaurice Smith.  And I'll tell ya, I completely understand what your saying too.  Everytime I talk to somebody about the whole "Bountygate" thing people for the most part don't have a clue as to what transpired.  Pretty much all of them use the $10,000 Vilma/Favre bounty to back up their argument.  I love the fact that Vilma fought tooth and nail with dick face Goodell (Great Nickname by the Way).  And these people put so much stock into that pregame speech by GW before the 49ers game.  And that my friend leads me to further believe that the casual NFL fan doesn't know crap about the sport cause those speeches happen in every locker room.  In case these baffoons havn't heard, its an American Ammendment called " Freedom of Speech".  Most people also swear like I should be ashamed of being a Saints fan, laughable !!!  BLACK AND GOLD TILL I PASS AWAY.......


Agreed.


Their minds were made up the minute the story broke and the main feeds like ESPN took whatever the league front office fed them, and ran. It's regrettable that no one bothered to scrutinize the evidence except Smith and the players.  I have a real feeling that in 5 or 10 years some investigative reporter will write a comprehensive tell-all type of book and we will learn than an entire season was stolen from a franchise, its coach, and its fans. And dick face will never apologize. He's hubris is that great.      

AMEN!!!!!!!  And to think, if we had SP all year, we could be hosting a SB in a few weeks........ Thats why I really, really, really, hope ATL doesn't win.  I'm actually rooting for Baltimore vs San Fran with the Ravens winning it all.......

AMEN!!!!!!!  And to think, if we had SP all year, we could be hosting a SB in a few weeks........ Thats why I really, really, really, hope ATL doesn't win.  I'm actually rooting for Baltimore vs San Fran with the Ravens winning it all.......


That's exactly the scenario I'm hoping for. I don't even want the Falcons near the Dome in 3 weeks and I certainly don't want the 49ers to win it all. I've hated them for far too long going back to Montana's days.

I don't have anything against Brady and the Pats, but three rings and five Super Bowls in 12 years is enough.


When these playoffs kicked off, the Ravens were the only team I found acceptable to win it all.


As far as us being in a SB if Payton was here? No. I don't think so, mass. That's a little far fetched. 


Last year it took the best offense in league history to get us to 13 wins, and because of our defense we still got the 3 seed. And since this team that I love so much turns to a collection of inept bastards on the road in the playoffs, they ultimately got bounced.  This year they have the league's worst defense, and I don't think have SP would have made more than a few games difference facing that kind of hurdle. That being said, I think it would have meant playoffs, and possibly even a win, but the team would have had to go to either Green Bay or Washington so a one-and-done was a very likely scenario, especially being on the road the whole way.  Even if they'd won the first game, I'm almost certain they'd have lost at some point, at least by the NFCCG. SB was never in the cards this year, Payton or no.


In fact, I'm growing more certain with time that the Saints window to win the SB is closed. Drew Brees had his best season ever last year. We saw a slight decline from him this year. He's always been a little turn over prone, and it's probably only going to get worse as he continues to compensate for a defense he has no faith in. Payton returning won't fix the personnel woes we will likely face next season because of cap issues and the make up of the franchise will look very differently.  To be sure, there will be some more playoff runs, and some exciting times. But I don't see a team in the future that has enough postseason juice to rattle off 3 or 4 wins in a single postseason, which is what they'll need to get to the mountain top again. I'd be tickled pink if they could just win one damn road game in the postseason.                   

Wowww the boards are boring lately

It was about this time last year (well maybe a couple weeks later on,
when Williams was gone and Spagnuolo was brought in) that I was
complsining that there was no news going on with the Saints.  Nothing 
more about coaches, the players....nothing.  Boy, did I ever complain
too soon!     

I'm looking for this year to be much brighter.


Who Dat!     

Well I certainly will be cheering for Atlanta to get to the Super Bowl.  I don't hate on them as much as most Saints fans.  I absolutely can't stand the 9ers (dating back to when I started watching football) & would be disgusted if they get back to the SB on New Orleans turf.  Plus I live in the North Bay Area (60 mi north of SF). I hate being surrounded by the enemy!  I'll certainly be cheering for the AFC this year in the Super Bowl.

GO Ravens !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm glad the Falcons didn't make it, and here's why;

Maddy Ice, The Mattural etc... win a game that matters, then he can have a nickname like that. Until then, he's just Matt Ryan.

Roddy White, all his cockyness, all his bashing of NEW ORLEANS, not just the Saints. Especially his last quote prior to their game with us when he said “I don’t like nothing about the Saints,” White said. “The colors. The city. Nothing. But they’ve got some good food, though. Other than the food, nothing.”

Well, if he "don't like nothing about the City" then he don't get to come here to play the biggest game in the World. He can watch it on his big screen with both his friends.

Other than that, I don't really hate on them, but one crack filled apple whacks the whole damn bunch.

Other Roddy Tweets for you, let the hating begin.

"The grace of god gave them tht championship so tht city wouldn fall apart now and now they think they hot shit**** in"

"The saints win one championship and want to go crazy well yall ass aint winning this year we gone make sure tht doesn't happen"

"The first time we played them their coach gone say after we won the game thts a good win for yall like the saints are the Colts"

"The aints fans are so rude we shall see monday night."

"No chance in hell the Aints come into the dome and win once trent dilfer"

Totally agree Mid Iowa.  There was nothing more fun than to watch those sad faces in the Georgia Dome yesterday after the 49'ers took it to them in their own house, VINTAGE!!  Listening to them rant & rave about how good they were all season, getting homefield advantage and squandering it AGAIN on the national stage for all to see.  Division champions are forgotten a few weeks after the Super Bowl.  Lombardi Trophies are the standard bearer of greatness, and until your team achieves that, you're just another NFL team.  Win all the games you want too in regular season, but you gotta win the big one.  Going into the playoffs for three seasons, two of which you have homefield advantage, and never advance past the NFC Championship, I suggest there are structural issues.  Smoke and mirrors are good during regular season, not in the playoffs. 


Carnival barkers like Roddy White deserves the heartache his franchise is experiencing, because winning games in regular season heightens fan expectations.  With those expectations, fans want results, not trash talk from arrogant empty headed players.  I'm no fan of the 49'ers, but I rooted for them yesterday.  From this point on, and I will at the Super Bowl game, Geaux Ravens!!!  For the Super Bowl game only.

Well I'll definitely be cheering for "Killa" Ray Ray & the Ravens on Super Bowl Sunday in NOLA.  It's his last stand & maybe will provide a huge catalyst for the Ravens to take down my most hated team in the 40whiners.  The Bay Area is going crazy over these guys right now.  It's sickening! Who Dat!

Ya the Falcons are paper champions.  The only one I feel a tad bit for is Tony G.  I mean after all, he didn't sign with ATL when he initially got there, he was traded.  I will always root against ATL.  If your a true Saints fan it should be a law that you have to HATE the Falcons.  As far as the SB, I know the 49ers look really tough to beat right now, but the Ravens aren't losing this game.  No way !!!