The 2023 NFL Season Thread

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

I also find it "interesting" that Cleveland insisted Desean Watson's shoulder was game ready before he felt so, (remember how every critic said Watson's leadership had been compromised cause he chose to sit out?) and now it needs season ending surgery. This week hasn't been good advertising for Ohio's sports injury practices.

But hey, maybe the NFL does put the health of their players @ the forefront. Seems like I remember on this forum arguing whether they do last year after Tua gave out gang signs one Thursday night.

Remind me again why every injury needs to be listed. Who cares if they didn't say his wrist was injured? But I'm sure there's a good reason why someone should.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by thehef

That's a pretty good summary. The only team I'd add - and I can't believe I'm typing this! - is that I'd put the Lions right there with the Cowboys as having an outside shot.

I'm a (long-suffering) Dolphins fan and I'm wondering just how good this team really is... They don't yet have a signature win. Their six wins have come against mostly bottom-feeders: New England 2x, Denver (early in the season when they were horrible, as opposed to the mediocre team that they are now), NY Giants, and Carolina. Closest thing to a sig win would be in week one, when they rallied to beat the Chargers on the road.

They've played quality teams three times and lost each game. They got pounded in Buffalo in Week 4, which was before the Bills started looking shaky; and they routinely lose in Buffalo, so it wasn't a shocker... The got beat in Philly but were competitive, and losing in Philadelphia is no shame, as the Eagles are undefeated this year at home and 11-3 since the beginning of last season... And they lost a neutral-site game to the Chiefs, holding Mahomes & Co. to 14 points in losing by a touchdown in a game where the margin was a fumble returned for a TD, and where the Fins had the ball in Chiefs territory on their final possession; so I'd call that a quality loss.

Still, there's no win against a really good team. We'll see if they are for real, though, as we get to the home stretch. They host the Raiders this week, then road games at Jets & Commies, then home vs Titans & Jets. If the 'fins are for real then we should see them going 5-0, 4-1 at worst. Then comes a Murderer's Row stretch of 3 games to close the season: home vs Cowboys, at Ravens, home vs Bills (who just might be fighting for a playoff spot)... I'm thinking that going at least 7-2 the rest of the way would be a good sign, whereas anything less means a loss or two to mediocre teams, and/or getting beat by all the good teams left on their schedule. The latter would portend a one-and-done in the playoffs... Time will tell...

I'll be honest, I probably think higher of the Cowboys because I am a long time fan. It's harder to give an objective opinion. The Lions are good, but I give them 0 chance at getting to the SB even if they were the #1 seed. The Cowboys may be in that category as well.

Don't worry about the Dolphins. Win or lose during the regular season prepares you for the playoffs. With Cinci now out of the picture, and Buffalo in a tail spin, it's a 3 team race to the top.

[pilight]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

Remind me again why every injury needs to be listed. Who cares if they didn't say his wrist was injured? But I'm sure there's a good reason why someone should.

It would be a betting advantage for people who knew about the injury if it wasn't reported

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

Remind me again why every injury needs to be listed. Who cares if they didn't say his wrist was injured? But I'm sure there's a good reason why someone should.

It's all about gambling.

I don't think it is a moral issue. As a medical professional, I'm very much aware of the need to keep a person's medical history private. So I wonder if the NFL's policy is even legal.

But since it hasn't been challenged & it is in the rule book, teams should be expected to follow it. If it isn't going to be enforced & backed up with discipline, then don't have it in the books.

But I have an auxiliary concern that not being up front about injuries could cause organizations & coaches to force players on the field when they aren't ready. Which is what I think might have happened w/the 2 pro Ohio QB's.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Bills are imploding. I don't get why Dorsey is the scapegoat. And I certainly don't get why they think Joe Brady is the answer.

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

It's all about gambling.

I don't think it is a moral issue. As a medical professional, I'm very much aware of the need to keep a person's medical history private. So I wonder if the NFL's policy is even legal.

But since it hasn't been challenged & it is in the rule book, teams should be expected to follow it. If it isn't going to be enforced & backed up with discipline, then don't have it in the books.

But I have an auxiliary concern that not being up front about injuries could cause organizations & coaches to force players on the field when they aren't ready. Which is what I think might have happened w/the 2 pro Ohio QB's.

Ok, gambling makes sense.

You can get around the legal hurdle as seen during the pandemic. No one is forcing anyone to do anything. But that doesn't mean you get to keep your job.

[BaseballMan]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

I'll be honest, I probably think higher of the Cowboys because I am a long time fan. It's harder to give an objective opinion. The Lions are good, but I give them 0 chance at getting to the SB even if they were the #1 seed. The Cowboys may be in that category as well.

Don't worry about the Dolphins. Win or lose during the regular season prepares you for the playoffs. With Cinci now out of the picture, and Buffalo in a tail spin, it's a 3 team race to the top.

Are you saying the Dolphins are like the Cowboys in blowing out average to bad teams and not being able to beat the best teams?

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

You can get around the legal hurdle as seen during the pandemic. No one is forcing anyone to do anything. But that doesn't mean you get to keep your job.

This isn't like the vaccine thing. The rest of the NFL doesn't need to be protected from Burrow's hurt wrist. There is a diff in medical knowledge that protects the public & medical knowledge that protects my parlay.

I'm sure there are medical & legal professionals that have already thought about this. And I'm sure there is an industry standard that everyone has just accepted it as normal. But I'm not so sure that there hasn't been the right player who would object just on the matter of principle.

[BaseballMan]

Sometimes I wish teams could keep their injuries to themselves.
You don't tell an enemy when your hurt.
But I know it's the rules.
As for the gambling I could care less if gamblers get the injury information.
It's called gambling for a reason.
Smart bets, bad bets, it's all gambling.
Heck I say don't even tell them the weather and starters. Make it interesting and let's guess.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by BaseballMan

Sometimes I wish teams could keep their injuries to themselves.
You don't tell an enemy when your hurt.
But I know it's the rules.
As for the gambling I could care less if gamblers get the injury information.
It's called gambling for a reason.
Smart bets, bad bets, it's all gambling.
Heck I say don't even tell them the weather and starters. Make it interesting and let's guess.

That's what I thought as well. Until a few people brought up gambling. There are organizations that pay a lot of money to encourage gambling, not discourage it. What kind of line would you put on the Bengals next week if they didn't update people on Burrow's injury? Who would bet that game? Maybe just people that know?

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

This isn't like the vaccine thing. The rest of the NFL doesn't need to be protected from Burrow's hurt wrist. There is a diff in medical knowledge that protects the public & medical knowledge that protects my parlay.

I'm sure there are medical & legal professionals that have already thought about this. And I'm sure there is an industry standard that everyone has just accepted it as normal. But I'm not so sure that there hasn't been the right player who would object just on the matter of principle.

But the law doesn't make that exception, does it? I actually had and continue to have an issue with my job. We had to either show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test every week. I told them I was vaccinated, and when I got vaccinated. I just wasn't showing them proof.

The results, I got about 2 months of unpaid leave until I finally showed them proof of a negative test. Did that for about a year straight. Truth be told, I wanted the summer off. Why did I keep getting tested instead of showing proof of vaccination? Because it paid 2 hours OT every week.

After about a year I finally showed them proof. I'm working on getting my two months off paid based on exactly what you're talking about. Right now it looks like I'm going to get it.

[BaseballMan]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

That's what I thought as well. Until a few people brought up gambling. There are organizations that pay a lot of money to encourage gambling, not discourage it. What kind of line would you put on the Bengals next week if they didn't update people on Burrow's injury? Who would bet that game? Maybe just people that know?

Nah people would bet anyway.
Just like they play the lottery or the casinos.
People just seem to like taking risks.
Though i do wonder how much the information helps.
I've seen games where one team has massive injuries and star players out.
Yet they still win.
I guess the line makes it more of a challenge and fun by taking home field, weather and injuries into consideration.

I do find it funny when fans will bring up gambling and big city troubles with the Raiders.
When you can gamble practically anywhere and Oakland wasn't exactly known as a peaceful little town.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

But the law doesn't make that exception, does it? I actually had and continue to have an issue with my job. We had to either show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test every week. I told them I was vaccinated, and when I got vaccinated. I just wasn't showing them proof.

The results, I got about 2 months of unpaid leave until I finally showed them proof of a negative test. Did that for about a year straight. Truth be told, I wanted the summer off. Why did I keep getting tested instead of showing proof of vaccination? Because it paid 2 hours OT every week.

After about a year I finally showed them proof. I'm working on getting my two months off paid based on exactly what you're talking about. Right now it looks like I'm going to get it.

It doesn't make an exception for asking. But I haven't heard an exception for revealing. Your employer can ask you to take a drug screen as part of your employment. If you refuse, it can make that the condition of your firing. But if you do consent, the employer can't take that info and share it with anyone else that is not on a need to know basis. And they are commanded by law to make sure that info is protected from anyone who isn't on a need-to-know basis.

That is the area I'm not certain about w/the NFL's injury policy. They can demand a physical from every player the day before he steps on the field if they want. But can they reveal the results of that physical to the public? Can they make it mandatory for the teams to make that knowledge public? Again, I'm guessing lawyer & physicians have figured that out. Maybe there are exceptions allowed in the CBA. But I am curious.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by BaseballMan

Nah people would bet anyway.
Just like they play the lottery or the casinos.
People just seem to like taking risks.
Though i do wonder how much the information helps.
I've seen games where one team has massive injuries and star players out.
Yet they still win.
I guess the line makes it more of a challenge and fun by taking home field, weather and injuries into consideration.

I do find it funny when fans will bring up gambling and big city troubles with the Raiders.
When you can gamble practically anywhere and Oakland wasn't exactly known as a peaceful little town.

I wasn't clear enough. I didn't mean that they wouldn't gamble at all. Just that many wouldn't gamble on that game.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

It doesn't make an exception for asking. But I haven't heard an exception for revealing. Your employer can ask you to take a drug screen as part of your employment. If you refuse, it can make that the condition of your firing. But if you do consent, the employer can't take that info and share it with anyone else that is not on a need to know basis. And they are commanded by law to make sure that info is protected from anyone who isn't on a need-to-know basis.

I see. But even in your example, everyone is going to know one way or the other. If you're at work the next day, you passed. If you're not, the only mystery is the drug.

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

I
That is the area I'm not certain about w/the NFL's injury policy. They can demand a physical from every player the day before he steps on the field if they want. But can they reveal the results of that physical to the public? Can they make it mandatory for the teams to make that knowledge public? Again, I'm guessing lawyer & physicians have figured that out. Maybe there are exceptions allowed in the CBA. But I am curious.

Ok, but can you consent to allowing them to go public with your information, right?

[BaseballMan]

They don't keep player salaries a secret either.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by BaseballMan

Are you saying the Dolphins are like the Cowboys in blowing out average to bad teams and not being able to beat the best teams?

That appears to be the case. Dallas and Miami are 0-5 against good teams. But also keep in mind that every one of those games were away games.

Dallas forgot about the Cardinals. I don't think Carolina is going to play dead either.

The Cowboys 3 losses all came on grass fields.

[rudel.dietrich]

I am not an NFL expert. But Young simply does not have it, you can talk about O-Line and weapons.
But I do not see it


Texas is not a good football team, but Stroud has arm talent and for the most part makes good decisions.

Amazing with all of the NFL draft analysis that we have, that drafting a good QB is still like a coin flip or even a 40/60 dice roll

[pilight]

I never thought Young looked like an NFL starter. But then a lot of players, especially QBs, are hyped to the top of the draft for unclear reasons.

[knightdreamer2k]

I am gonna vent my frustration at the Jets on here.

I can handle my team not being good, but what I cannot fathom is them not making adjustments. Why is Zack Wilson still starting? What was the point of getting Trevor Siemian? The offense is horrible, so why not make changes? It is like they want to lose. A good defense is a waste when your offense is this bad.

Make adjustments and stop running the same failed system out there. I don't even think these decisions come from the head coach because of some of the interviews he has given.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

I see. But even in your example, everyone is going to know one way or the other. If you're at work the next day, you passed. If you're not, the only mystery is the drug.

Yes, some assumptions can be made. I assume the teacher at my son's school passed a background check for pedophilia. I assume the officer in my neighborhood has been psychologically checked. There are a lot of assumptions that can go on. That is why there was such a big fuss over Aaron Rodgers last year cause the protocols he was going thru said he had been vaccinated. No law can protect against assumptions & using common sense.

Ok, but can you consent to allowing them to go public with your information, right?

Of course you can. You can do what you want w/your business & your medical history is your business & yours alone. That is why I wonder if part of the CBA releasing of an injury report is part of the bargaining process. CBA's allows a lot of things that aren't part of normal business practices. Like non guaranteed contracts.