2022 NFL Discussion Thread

[homer]

Hue Jackson is making similar claims, that he and others were being paid to tank.

 

These are stunning charges. Who would want to play fantasy football, or bet on a game, or buy a ticket, or buy team merchandise or even watch a game if coaches or players were invested in losing?

 

 

I think most people know when teams are tanking. It happens in the NBA all the time. The Jets were obviously tanking last year.

[MrTPlush]

I really don't find the whole intentionally losing thing very shocking. NBA teams pretty much do it openly.

 

I guess I would be more interested to see how exactly one goes about intentionally losing in the NFL.

[jerichoholicninja]

Jackson made a throwaway tweet in a joking manner. Not saying there's not truth there but that alone has zero credibility to me.

[homer]

I really don't find the whole intentionally losing thing very shocking. NBA teams pretty much do it openly.

 

I guess I would be more interested to see how exactly one goes about intentionally losing in the NFL.

 

[tmwiese55]

Yes it's new in terms of the reputation and tough guy nature of NFL and acting like it could never happen there. But in reality it's common across all sports so it makes sense it at least has some place in NFL too. I suppose there could be a delineation among a difference between paying a coach to lose the game in the moment as opposed to constructing a team knowing it will lose. To lay it out clearer, I can see a difference between fielding a crap team, doing a cap reset year so you know you have less talent, resting players with minor injuries etc to help lose vs intentionally losing the game while playing it (intentionally missing a kick, calling terrible plays on purpose like qb sneaks on 3rd and 9, etc).

[OldHeidelberg]

They could rename the Packers the Cows and I would get over it pretty quick and look forward to the new uni's. At least those stupid cheese hats would make more sense.

[CheeseheadInQC]

Yes it's new in terms of the reputation and tough guy nature of NFL and acting like it could never happen there. But in reality it's common across all sports so it makes sent it at least has some place in NFL too. I suppose there could be a delineation among a difference between paying a coach to lose the game in the moment as opposed to constructing a team knowing it will lose. To lay it out clearer, I can see a difference between fielding a crap team, doing a cap reset year so you know you have less talent, resting players with minor injuries etc to help lose vs intentionally losing the game while playing it (intentionally missing a kick, calling terrible plays on purpose like qb sneaks on 3rd and 9, etc).

 

Yah, there is a difference between not doing everything to win (playing young players over veterans to get them experience, roster construction, etc.) and playing to lose.

[patrickgpe]

They could rename the Packers the Cows and I would get over it pretty quick and look forward to the new uni's. At least those stupid cheese hats would make more sense.

Tell that to those still upset that the brewers don’t play in Miller park still.

[JimH5]

Yes it's new in terms of the reputation and tough guy nature of NFL and acting like it could never happen there. But in reality it's common across all sports so it makes sense it at least has some place in NFL too. I suppose there could be a delineation among a difference between paying a coach to lose the game in the moment as opposed to constructing a team knowing it will lose. To lay it out clearer, I can see a difference between fielding a crap team, doing a cap reset year so you know you have less talent, resting players with minor injuries etc to help lose vs intentionally losing the game while playing it (intentionally missing a kick, calling terrible plays on purpose like qb sneaks on 3rd and 9, etc).

 

Indeed. If the Packers had a coach or assistant or player who was paid by ownership to lose on purpose, I imagine it might be a big deal around here.

[stalton]

Looking at the professional sports teams that have changed their name, most have been move related. Otherwise, the Anaheim Ducks and Rays altered their name in the 00's. The Titans and Wizards changed from the Oilers and Bullets. Past that, you've got the rotating location names for the Angels and that's about it for a while if my Google fu/wiki is correct.

[patrickgpe]

Looking at the professional sports teams that have changed their name, most have been move related. Otherwise, the Anaheim Ducks and Rays altered their name in the 00's. The Titans and Wizards changed from the Oilers and Bullets. Past that, you've got the rotating location names for the Angels and that's about it for a while if my Google fu/wiki is correct.

This is an interesting read: https://paullukas.bulletin.com/grading-teams-that-moved-and-changed-their-names

[homer]

If any team needs to change its name based on fit with the local culture it's the Utah Jazz.

[sveumrules]

If any team needs to change its name based on fit with the local culture it's the Utah Jazz.

 

Los Angeles Silver Lakers.

[tmwiese55]

3 way trade in the NBA. Jazz name moves back to New Orleans. Lakers go to Utah. LAL needs to come up with a new one, maybe "Oceaners"--obviously joking on that

[homer]

If any team needs to change its name based on fit with the local culture it's the Utah Jazz.

 

Los Angeles Silver Lakers.

 

I'd go with Echo Park Lakers

[wallus]

I am surprised that teams offered to pay coaches to lose. If I were an owner and I wanted my team to lose, I would tell the head coach to play the young guys and lose "naturally". If they refused, I would fire them after the season.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

Indeed. If the Packers had a coach or assistant or player who was paid by ownership to lose on purpose, I imagine it might be a big deal around here.

 

Not sure who you think your audience is with this outrage, but when a team is spinning its wheels, many fans openly root for a tank. When a team with championship capabilities starts throwing games, then you'd have a unified basis for your angst.

 

It's not hard to put 2+2 together and realize that Miami wanted to be at the top of the draft for a QB in 2019. They were trading useful players left and right that year in an effort not to win. They also had a really good rookie head coach. Coaches know that no matter how much ownership wants to maybe lose for one year, you can't just flip a switch when it's time to win. Flores also knew that a tank season still counts on your career coaching record and that could and would likely be used against him someday. When Flores began outperforming the team's hopes in the 2nd half of that season, that's probably when he was offered money to lose. Yes that's a problem, but fans weren't going to care how being bad was achieved, they were on board. The smart way for Miami to tank would have been to hire a stooge for a head coach that year. Then hire a Brian Flores after that top pick had been realized. Who knows, maybe Miami thought Flores was a stooge. They were wrong, he's a damn good coach.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

Oh and btw, Miami was tanking for a top pick for a QB that turned out to be Joe Burrow. When they had a late season run taking them out of the running for the top pick, they offered Cincinnati three 1st round picks, including 5th overall, for the chance to draft Burrow. Who here thinks Miami fans wouldn't have preferred to suck more that year so they could have achieved the top pick everyone knew they trying to get when they were trading away veterans that entire year?

 

If anything Dolphins fans are probably pissed Flores didn't take the 100K per loss.

[JimH5]

In a league that is in partnership with sports betting companies, it matters quite a bit if a coach (or player or game official) is given secret payments to effect outcomes of games.

 

The whole enterprise is built on competition. That's why point shaving is a scandal. That's why the Black Sox were a scandal.

 

If a team wants to play young guys for development or be more cautious with holding back stars from the injured list, that's a strategy that might lead to fewer wins-- but that stuff is out in the open for everyone to see.

 

This is much different.

[Joseph Zarr]

If anything, at this point, I'm just grateful (and this entirely my own selfish reason) the Flores/Miami/NY Giants/NFL scandal is front and center so I don't have to hear continued speculation ad nauseum on the future of Aaron Rodgers. One offseason was more than enough for my bag of bones. At least, with Flores, the controversy is an actually meaningful topic that deserves scrutiny and open discourse. I fully expect the NFL, Ross, and Elway to vehemently deny these claims and defamations of character. This will drag out the entire off-season. And, apparently, Flores is still a Final 3 candidate in Houston. Would be quite something to see the Texans hire Flores amidst this madness.

[tmwiese55]

Yea Houston would be a team I could see NFL pressuring to hire him to ty and help them manage this fall out. They just fired a minority coach after 1 year in which he had no QB and a terrible roster after years of mismanagement before him. I know they only won 4 games but I seem to remember them staying close in several games they shouldn't have had a chance. Of course I have no idea on the locker room, behind the scenes, etc but from the outside it seems that coach was not really given a fair chance. Unless Watson is allowed to play though I'm not sure I'd want this job if I was him in his current situation.

 

Something else a NE fan friend threw out today would be BB hiring Flores back as an assistant. BB helps keep him out of the ridiculous media frenzy this could all lead to. Then in a year or two when things settle down he gets a HC job or gets that job when BB retires since McDaniels is gone now.

[jerichoholicninja]

DeShaun Watson reportedly wanted to be traded to Miami to play for Flores. Watson has said he will never play for the Texans. The Texans owner has also said Watson will never play for the Texans again. Flores reportedly supported keeping Tua over trading for Watson. Lots of soap opera drama in Houston if Flores is hired.

[OldHeidelberg]

Vikes hire Kevin O’Connell as head coach. Harbough decided to stay at Michigan but reportedly did not have offer from Vikes, not sure which came first.

[Joseph Zarr]

Yea Houston would be a team I could see NFL pressuring to hire him to ty and help them manage this fall out. They just fired a minority coach after 1 year in which he had no QB and a terrible roster after years of mismanagement before him. I know they only won 4 games but I seem to remember them staying close in several games they shouldn't have had a chance. Of course I have no idea on the locker room, behind the scenes, etc but from the outside it seems that coach was not really given a fair chance. Unless Watson is allowed to play though I'm not sure I'd want this job if I was him in his current situation.

 

Something else a NE fan friend threw out today would be BB hiring Flores back as an assistant. BB helps keep him out of the ridiculous media frenzy this could all lead to. Then in a year or two when things settle down he gets a HC job or gets that job when BB retires since McDaniels is gone now.

 

Certainly an interesting angle from NE side of things. Naturally, I guess that would depend on how BB felt about his text being leaked. Did Flores consult with him to let him know? Does BB even care? What a wild way to end an NFL season. Sheesh.

[JimH5]

Hue Jackson is making similar claims, that he and others were being paid to tank.

 

These are stunning charges. Who would want to play fantasy football, or bet on a game, or buy a ticket, or buy team merchandise or even watch a game if coaches or players were invested in losing?

 

 

Now Hue Jackson is walking back his claim about direct payments for losses. This type of false "me, too" stuff doesn't help Flores.

 

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/05/sport/hue-jackson-nfl-cleveland-browns-not-paid-spt/index.html