NFL 2025-2026

[Funky Ghost]

What's not to like about the Patriots now? I can't remember a quicker rebuild after moving on from one of the greatest coaches and QB's ever.
I wouldn't identify as a Patriots fan, but that turnaround is impressive nowadays.

-Mike

I agree with you Mike. I'm also a Vrabes fan. I like that he got another chance and proved his coaching is difference making. He owns the locker room and he understands what it takes to succeed in the NFL. Not only that he is effective in teaching that understanding to his players. It was the same when he was the Titans HC. He took a limited roster and made them competitive. You see what he can do when the owners actually endorse him.

 

[climber]

The quick rebuild is what I hate about them. I was hoping for at least a couple seasons my Dolphins might have a chance at the division. But noooooo!!!!

Monday Night Football
At the half Pats 30, Giants 7

I lived in Florida for 15 years (Gainesville and Miami) and was a Dolphin fan for a long time. But the Pats are a whole nother thing.

 

[Rich Fiscus]

You're right.
The problem is though that they have replaced players, coaches and front office people. The only one who hasn't been replaced is the guy at top. I don't think Steeler fans can expect meaningful change until that guy is replaced. As mentioned before by my buddy @gln1955 the situation is the same with the baseball team.

-Mike

It can happen, but it’s rare. The McCaskeys stepped back from actually running the Bears when they hired Ryan Poles a few years ago. They didn’t hire Poles’ boss for several months, but George McCaskey was completely hands off once Poles came in.

The bad news is that he didn’t have some great epiphany that led him to firing himself. The reality is they were preparing for the possibility the team would have to be sold after Virginia McCaskey died. Separating football operations from the family made obvious business sense to maximize the team’s value for any prospective buyers.

The sad truth is, if a bad owner had the self awareness to know his limitations, he probably wouldn’t be a bad owner in the first place.

 

[MJ5150]

It can happen, but it’s rare. The McCaskeys stepped back from actually running the Bears when they hired Ryan Poles a few years ago. They didn’t hire Poles’ boss for several months, but George McCaskey was completely hands off once Poles came in.

The bad news is that he didn’t have some great epiphany that led him to firing himself. The reality is they were preparing for the possibility the team would have to be sold after Virginia McCaskey died. Separating football operations from the family made obvious business sense to maximize the team’s value for any prospective buyers.

The sad truth is, if a bad owner had the self awareness to know his limitations, he probably wouldn’t be a bad owner in the first place.

Great points buddy.
As much as the Mike Leach comment is true about coaching it or allowing it, the same is true about the owner. Not so much coaching, but allowing it.
The spending spree they went on last off season has produced zero results.
TJ Watt? Some will say his numbers are down because the other team is focusing on him more. Well, they were double teaming him before he got his giant payday, more than Myles Garrett even, and he's done next to nothing this season. Maybe he's hurt and won't tell anyone, maybe he's satisfied with his giant payday. Either way he's not the same player anymore. He's done.
Jalen Ramsay? Moving him to safety proves Tomlin knows he isn't the player they hoped he would be, so hide him farther in the backfield where it's less obvious he can't cover anyone.
Aaron Rodgers? He's 41, why in the world would the Steelers expect him to return to his form 10 years ago? They thought the same about Russell Wilson last year and that lasted about as long as it did for Rodgers. He's been mentally done since before he agreed to come to Pittsburgh and his physical skills have declined to where he shouldn't even be playing anymore. He's no good, he's playing injured, he doesn't throw the ball down the field. Then again, he has no one to throw down field to.
It's a big giant mess in Pittsburgh, created and managed by Tomlin. He's under contract until 2027, so he ain't going anywhere until then.
Tell you what though, if we all wake up in 2015 tomorrow, this Steelers team may be a lock to win the Super Bowl.

-Mike

 

[mrpackerguy]

Packers/Bears at Lambeau should be a good one featuring the Bears' 6th ranked offense vs the Packers 4th ranked defense. Our premier run stuffer (Wyatt) is done for the season with a broken ankle and the Pack have not been great at stopping the run this year. Swift is having a good but not stellar year as is Josh Jacobs. We might be getting Reed and/or Golden back this week which could make a difference through the air. Could come down to the last possession of the game. Weather just looks to be cold but no precip - 3:30pm game so temps are going to likely be in the single digits which will affect the passing and kicking games.

 

[joeLowB]

Packers/Bears at Lambeau should be a good one featuring the Bears' 6th ranked offense vs the Packers 4th ranked defense. Our premier run stuffer (Wyatt) is done for the season with a broken ankle and the Pack have not been great at stopping the run this year. Swift is having a good but not stellar year as is Josh Jacobs. We might be getting Reed and/or Golden back this week which could make a difference through the air. Could come down to the last possession of the game. Weather just looks to be cold but no precip - 3:30pm game so temps are going to likely be in the single digits which will affect the passing and kicking games.

That will be a great watch on Sunday, especially for long-time fans of the "Norris Division".

We got a 3 hour tour of Lambeau field in October 2024...what a fascinating behind the scenes look at that marvelous field. But, no longer the "frozen Tundra" as the tour guides were keen to make us all aware...55F circulating water underneath the entire playing surface to keep it soft and fresh. Alas, no such warming pipes in the stands...those seats are still cold...

 

[Gaolee]

That will be a great watch on Sunday, especially for long-time fans of the "Norris Division".

We got a 3 hour tour of Lambeau field in October 2024...what a fascinating behind the scenes look at that marvelous field. But, no longer the "frozen Tundra" as the tour guides were keen to make us all aware...55F circulating water underneath the entire playing surface to keep it soft and fresh. Alas, no such warming pipes in the field...those seats are still cold...

Half the charm of Lambeau was the apocalyptic nature of the cold, frozen field. If you can see the yard stripes, and if the field isn't solid frozen mud, and if the players are identifiable through the mud on their uniforms at a distance beyond about three feet, it's just not real football anyway.

I cannot find a video of the Vikings scoring on a fumble recovery and then a lateral with none of the players identifiable because of the mud. Football as it should be.

 

[Funky Ghost]

Half the charm of Lambeau was the apocalyptic nature of the cold, frozen field. If you can see the yard stripes, and if the field isn't solid frozen mud, and if the players are identifiable through the mud on their uniforms at a distance beyond about three feet, it's just not real football anyway.

I cannot find a video of the Vikings scoring on a fumble recovery and then a lateral with none of the players identifiable because of the mud. Football as it should be.

I would argue the 100+ degree, tackle in the dirt portion of the BASEBALL diamond at Candlestick was as football as Winter Lambo. Mud? Try getting clotheslined into solid packed earth. Trying not to trip over the transition from dirt to grass. I've never been a niners fan, but candlestick was iconic too imo.

 

[WG Plum]

I would argue the 100+ degree, tackle in the dirt portion of the BASEBALL diamond at Candlestick was as football as Winter Lambo. Mud? Try getting clotheslined into solid packed earth. Trying not to trip over the transition from dirt to grass. I've never been a niners fan, but candlestick was iconic too imo.

It’s a Midwest thing.

 

[Funky Ghost]

It’s a Midwest thing.

Being closed to other ideas?

 

[WG Plum]

Being closed to other ideas?

Other ideas? What are those?

 

[MJ5150]

Steelers claim veteran WR Adam Thielen, waive CB Darius Slay

The Steelers claimed wide receiver Adam Thielen off waivers Tuesday and waived veteran cornerback Darius Slay.

www.espn.com

There goes Tomlin, shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. Come on really Tomlin?

-Mike

 

[gln1955]

Steelers claim veteran WR Adam Thielen, waive CB Darius Slay

The Steelers claimed wide receiver Adam Thielen off waivers Tuesday and waived veteran cornerback Darius Slay.

www.espn.com

There goes Tomlin, shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. Come on really Tomlin?

-Mike

A 35-year-old cast off receiver. This will assure a non-losing season for sure.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

And didn’t they spend $10 million on Darius “Big Pay Slay” for this season, only to bench him and let him go? Yikes.

 

[Funky Ghost]

Yo Tomlin, I hear T.O. still thinks he has some juice.

 

[Rich Fiscus]

There’s really some irony to the whole thing. Thielen apparently asked for his release so he could hopefully spend the last few games of his career competing for something. Then along comes Pittsburgh and says not so fast. You’re playing for us instead.

But the real punchline is how the press continues to handle his status as most not-quite-losing coach in the league as some sign of genius. The worst they’ll say is that maybe Tomlin’s needs a change of scenery.

I really do feel bad for Steelers fans. You went from decades of excellence to a nonstop parade of mediocrity and ambivalence.

 

[darev]

\

I really do feel bad for Steelers fans. You went from decades of excellence to a nonstop parade of mediocrity and ambivalence.

Raiders fans: Hold our beers

 

[gln1955]

But the real punchline is how the press continues to handle his status as most not-quite-losing coach in the league as some sign of genius. The worst they’ll say is that maybe Tomlin’s needs a change of scenery.

The press is facing reality lately, both nationally and from what I hear, brutally in Pittsburgh.

I posted this in the NCAA football thread. Two of the Steeler greats are speaking out.

Amid Tomlin angst, Big Ben floats Penn State job

 

[MJ5150]

There’s really some irony to the whole thing. Thielen apparently asked for his release so he could hopefully spend the last few games of his career competing for something. Then along comes Pittsburgh and says not so fast. You’re playing for us instead.

But the real punchline is how the press continues to handle his status as most not-quite-losing coach in the league as some sign of genius. The worst they’ll say is that maybe Tomlin’s needs a change of scenery.

I really do feel bad for Steelers fans. You went from decades of excellence to a nonstop parade of mediocrity and ambivalence.

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My uncle back home in Altoona, he's the type of guy who would fist fight you if you bad mouthed the Steelers. Up until yesterday, he was 110% with the Steelers and Tomlin, defending him every single time I said anything. He sent me this picture yesterday and told me it's over in Pittsburgh along with 'the standard is NOT the standard'.
Me, I don't hardly care anymore, but it makes me sad to see my uncle so sad. He's an old guy, not a whole lot left in his life at 78. He took me to games as a kid. Games when they were great and games when they weren't as great. He lived the Steelers, and now Mike Tomlin has taken away from him the one thing he loved most in life, the Steelers as a winner. If Tomlin was standing next to me right now, I'd punch him in the face for that reason.

-Mike

 

[WG Plum]

Man, that sucks, and absolutely no offense intended, but I can’t imagine feeling that strongly about any sort of sports team.