Sports

[gardenman]

Bits and pieces of the new schedule are leaking out. The Eagles home opener is week two (September 19th), a Monday night game against the Vikings. There will be two Monday night games that week.  A 7:15 game between the Titans/Bills on ESPN, and then the 8:30 PM game on ABC between the Eagles and Vikings. Kind of interesting that the Eagles are considered a prime-time team again and get the national network in ABC instead of ESPN. I'm not sure how two games in prime time going head-to-head will work out in terms of ratings, but it's interesting.

[gardenman]

I hope we don't play the Giants in week one. I'm planning to root for them to win that first game (assuming they don't play us) so they don't have that five years without ever being over five hundred thing hanging over them. I don't care if they go 1-16, but let them win game one to erase that legacy.

[Spurt]

@teganslaw @gardenman 

ITA Nick Shook was a victim of shaken baby syndrome and if journalist had "walk up music"  his must be Elvis's "All Shook UP"......

Now really----Broncos vs Seahawks---I get it Russell Wilson's old team vs new one---but come on what does Seattle have left?!?!?!?!--complete rebuild team which should amount too a one sided game ...but no mention of Wentz against his new team and both teams should be pretty decent! 🙄..

And yes everyone is jumping on the Jets bandwagon---they did have a good draft but who knows if it will pan out or whether the chemistry will even come together ...I guess the NFL gave the media orders to "talk up the Jets ---big TV ratings market....." 🙄  I dont think they are ready for the Super Bowl..... that's how much attention they're getting! 

The Cowboy homers think that Cowboy/Bucs game should qualify for a top spot in the NFL schedule---I guess they think its an equal match up but The G.O.A.T versus Dak....SMH!  And sorry but the Cowboys need more than Dak and Micah Parsons to be considered a contender 🙄..JMHO Now all those AFC West match ups thats what I wanna see!!!   

[gardenman]

As expected, the Giants have cut loose James Bradberry and he's out there now for the highest bidder. They reportedly had a trade in place with the Texans, but the Texans wanted Bradberry to sign an extension (he'd be a free agent in 2023) and the Texans and Bradberry couldn't come to an agreement on a new deal for him. Bradberry was due to make $13+ million in 2022 and with top cornerback salaries now in the $17-$20 million a year range, he was likely looking for a big raise in any new deal. 

We'll find out now what the league thinks Bradberry is worth. He'll be looking for something in the $20 million a year range and most of the league is probably more looking at the $10-$13 million a year range. Just the Panthers, Browns, and Dolphins could sign him in that $20 million a year range. And the Browns would have issues next year when Watson's contract goes up to full value. They're already projected to be $20+ million over the effective cap in 2023 and they only have 30 players signed through 2022. That's going to be something of an issue for them in 2023. They'll need to find money and cheap players in 2023. Indulging in a Bradberry on a multi-year deal just won't work for them.

The Panthers are $23+ million over the effective cap in 2023 with 37 players under contract. And the Dolphins are just about breaking even in 2023 with 37 guys now under contract into 2023. While they have the cap space this year and could sign him to a one-year "prove it" type deal, a long-term deal seems out of the question with those teams.

The Bears are in the best cap space for next year with $96+ million and 31 guys signed in 2023. They also have $13+ million free this year. They could make him an offer in the $13+ million range without a hiccup this year or next. 

Eagles' fans want us to sign him and unless he's willing to take a "stick it to the Giants" deal it's unlikely he'll land here. We've got $6+ million in cap space this year and $4+ million with 52 guys under contract next year, squeezing in Bradberry's salary could prove awkward. We'll more likely trot out one of the kids at CB2.

We'll have to see what happens with him, but it's kind of tough on the kid when the Giants cut him loose now after the free agency frenzy and much of the cap space for teams is gone. Had they released him in February/March, he'd have been in a much better position. They knew they had to get him off their books and doing it sooner rather than later would have been better for Bradberry.

[gardenman]

Interesting. Tom Brady has a deal with Fox to be their top analyst once he retires. They already have Kevin Burkhardt assigned to work with him. They'll be the top announcing duo for the NFL on Fox.

Since they've already assigned him a broadcast partner, I'm assuming they have a feeling/commitment that he'll retire after the 2022 season. Could he re-retire before or during training camp? Possibly, but unlikely. We'll have to see how it all plays out. 

[teganslaw]

The Colts are among several teams interested in James Bradberry. They have 13.5 million in cap space, so maybe with restructuring a deal can happen. The Colts don't need him as much, but Bradberry would be a nice addition to the defense. 

Colts Director of Scouting, Morocco Brown, will interview for a high level position in the Eagles organization. The exact position hasn't been revealed, but he would be a good signing for the Eagles. Brown was involved in drafting Quenton Nelson, Darius Leonard, Jonathon Taylor and Michael Pittman. Brown knows talent when he sees it. 

As far Brady already lined up as an analyst for FOX: the network might have to wait a long time. Also, how can they be certain that Brady won't change his mind about retiring? The network probably thinks that Brady will bring high ratings. 

[Spurt]

@gardenman @teganslaw @Txblond 

Here's a novel idea......Some are thinking about expansion for the NFL....and one idea being floated around by the league and others is a second team in the Dallas area sharing Jerry's Stadium

Models are already in existance in New Jersey (Giants/Jets) and LA (Rams/Chargers)......Jones owns the stadium so he'd make a lot of money having a second team as a tenant....But since the Cowboys havent won a Super Bowl since the 90's would the Dallas Metroplex area fans abandonded "the Star" and switch allegiance just to get away from Jones and his failing program ?!?!?!?!?🤔  Jones didn't want my city, San Antonio, horning in on his market that is more than 6 hours away, so I dont think his ego would want a team in the neighborhood taking away from his beloved team.......  Some have suggested that an I-35 team between Austin (with all of their rich new Corporate Headquarter residents ) and San Antonio and its die hard football fans would make much more sense....but sharing a stadium thats already built would save some new owner a huge expense....but would Jerry's ego allow it---I DOUBT IT!!!!  Jerry wants to keep his Cowboys in the spot light and has managed to do so despite not even moving into the second round of the playoffs or being a serious Super Bowl contender....a second team would give him competition that I think is too close to home and something he wouldnt like!!!  ....Thoughts????

[Spurt]

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@gardenman wrote:

Interesting. Tom Brady has a deal with Fox to be their top analyst once he retires. They already have Kevin Burkhardt assigned to work with him. They'll be the top announcing duo for the NFL on Fox.

Since they've already assigned him a broadcast partner, I'm assuming they have a feeling/commitment that he'll retire after the 2022 season. Could he re-retire before or during training camp? Possibly, but unlikely. We'll have to see how it all plays out. 

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@gardenman @teganslaw 

So they are going to leave Greg Olsen out in the cold---THATS A DARN SHAME!!!!!--Greg is a TERRIFIC analyst!!!!--they think Tom will be that big of a draw and that good??????🤔 Who knows when and IF Brady will retire????? And if he doesnt work out ....what then!!!  With Amazon and others wanting to get a cut of the NFL pie it seems Fox is feeling the heat with competition for the sports broadcasting analysts and they may be falling behind in talent....interesting whats happening in the broadcasting world and the shuffling thats taking place.....

I think Troy left Fox because he wasnt thrilled about doing both Thursday and Sunday games for Fox....so he got his money and a way out....

[gardenman]

Dallas having two teams isn't unreasonable. They don't have to worry about sharing a stadium deep into the playoffs as the Cowboys don't go deep into the playoffs. A shared stadium with two playoff teams can get tricky from a scheduling standpoint, especially with a grass field. (Not an issue in Dallas with artificial turf.) Those grass fields typically need a week or so to recover from one game. A shared stadium with a grass field and back-to-back playoff games would handicap the second team playing.

I think the Dallas mayor said he'd want the team inside Dallas and not just using the Dallas name. (Something of a slam on the Cowboys?)  So, that would imply a new stadium as the Cowboys play in Arlington. Building a new stadium these days is insanely expensive ($2+ billion.) It would likely cost more if built inside the city of Dallas. The cost of land inside the city limits would be high unless they built it on an old landfill or similar facility. 

It'll be interesting to see if Brady gets injured this year if Fox does what they did with Greg Olsen and puts him in the broadcast booth right away. When Greg Olsen broke his foot as a player and was on IR, they moved him to the broadcast booth. If Brady gets injured in 2022, they might do the same with him. 

For me, who does the broadcast doesn't really matter. I more watch with my eyes than listen with my ears. Unless the announcer is really annoying (Cris Collinsworth) I largely just tune them out and watch what's happening. Most of the time I couldn't even tell you who the announcers were.

[Spurt]

@gardenman 

Some even suggested a second team in Dallas can use the old and I do mean OLD Cotton Bowl based in Dallas that seats 92,000---have they actually SEEN this facility..the last time it was renovated was back in 2008 and its still a dump.....SMH!!!

And sorry but Im not sold on the LA "experiment" there had to be reasons the Rams moved to St.Louis and the Raiders moved to Oakland with a not very stellar facility....when the Rams/Chargers start falling to the middle of the pack in standings will the LA FICKLE football fans find other things to do than attend NFL games---thats the question---what will the future hold in LA???  Its a big TV market but not very rabid sports fan base....and all the billions that LA stadium cost who cares about unique modern design and fountains...Id be more concerned with the sun shining in my eyes trying to watch a game with tickets that cost a small fortune!!! Id prefer good location, good sight lines, decent food at reasonable prices 🙄  I think NRG stadium in Houston meets all the needs for me as a in person spectator watching the game!