Dec 6, 2017 16:43:33 GMT thereallt said:

Dec 6, 2017 12:55:31 GMT 🤯 said:

So why is it the same penalty for JuJu, Iloka, and Gronk? I'm not the most avid football fan, and certainly no expert, but it's clear as day even to me that there were differences between all three hits. If the consequence is the same for all three, why not just say fuck it and gronk opposing players if it might make strategic sense?

It's because Pittsburgh and Cincy have a history of going at each other like this, dirty plays and all, while this is the first time to my knowledge Gronk has ever blatantly cheap-shotted someone.

That still doesn't make sense though, especially considering the actual hits.

This arbitrariness is almost pro wrestling rules inconsistency bad.

The inconsistency has been a problem for a long, long time now. Why they cannot just come out with a clear outline of what acts = what suspension is beyond me. Of course there are nuances to each incident that can come into play but if the process was more transparent I'm sure everyone would be a lot happier.

I'm absolutely furious that Iloka has had his suspension reduced to a fine. Not only does this add fuel to the Bengals/Steelers fire which is already out of control, but Iloka's hit was immesurably worse than Juju's, and he has a discpline history.

Dec 6, 2017 22:01:23 GMT @admin said:

The inconsistency has been a problem for a long, long time now. Why they cannot just come out with a clear outline of what acts = what suspension is beyond me. Of course there are nuances to each incident that can come into play but if the process was more transparent I'm sure everyone would be a lot happier.

I'm absolutely furious that Iloka has had his suspension reduced to a fine. Not only does this add fuel to the Bengals/Steelers fire which is already out of control, but Iloka's hit was immesurably worse than Juju's, and he has a discpline history.

No one will ever be happy about suspensions, because people have a rooting interest in the other team.  You can not just flat out say X play is a fine, Y play is a 1 game suspension, so on and so forth.  That'll solve nothing and the league would get criticized even more for it.  What baffles me is just in the past decade or so have suspensions really been a thing.  Since CTE and concussions have "all of a sudden" become important to the league, players are now getting fined.  The league has just woken up and decided to do something after years of hits and damage to players.  The days of the big hitter and NFL Films showing them are long over.  No more Ronnie Lotts or Bruce Smiths...they'd more than likely be under heavy scrutiny if they played today.  The NFL should've cared a long time ago.

I work for scumbags like the NFL. These fines are just the NFLs way of getting their lawsuit money back or in check by taking it from the players. It's their shot back at them for joining in on the CTE hype.

They still don't really care though. As far as I can tell Juju's been suspended for taunting rather than the fact that his dangerous blindside block knocked a player out of the game, whereas Iloka's blatant targeting is apparently only worth a fine.

Monday night's game was almost unanimously criticised for being hard to watch and the type of spectacle that will lead to the eventual death of the sport, and instead of taking a proper strong stance against it they've completely botched the aftermath.

Dec 6, 2017 22:50:16 GMT @ck said:

You can not just flat out say X play is a fine, Y play is a 1 game suspension, so on and so forth.  That'll solve nothing and the league would get criticized even more for it..

Why not? There is no way that a clear guideline regarding suspensions would be less accepted than the current dart throw procedure.

Oh please.

Monday's game was the most exciting football I've seen since the Super Bowl. I'm so tired of this liberal bullshit that the NFL is so dangerous. Like come the fuck on now. That's what football fucking is. That's like a firefighter burning his neck in a fire and complaining that going into fires is just inhumane. It's what you signed up for.

And before you criticize me for saying "that's what people like you always say. It's what you signed up for." Let me make two things clear. These dudes make millions of dollars and knew exactly what they signed up for. Second off, they're fucking men with cocks. You know what men with cocks used to do? Be gladiators and warriors and not sit there and complain that life's too hard and too dangerous.

Someone once said, we used to worry about hurting women and children's feelings. Now we have to worry about offending men in dresses. Let men be men and stop pussifying what a man is supposed to be. A fucking warrior.

Dec 6, 2017 22:58:27 GMT @admin said:

They still don't really care though. As far as I can tell Juju's been suspended for taunting rather than the fact that his dangerous blindside block knocked a player out of the game, whereas Iloka's blatant targeting is apparently only worth a fine.

Monday night's game was almost unanimously criticised for being hard to watch and the type of spectacle that will lead to the eventual death of the sport, and instead of taking a proper strong stance against it they've completely botched the aftermath.

Dec 6, 2017 22:50:16 GMT @ck said:

You can not just flat out say X play is a fine, Y play is a 1 game suspension, so on and so forth.  That'll solve nothing and the league would get criticized even more for it..

Why not? There is no way that a clear guideline regarding suspensions would be less accepted than the current dart throw procedure.

Because people...fans...they'll never be happy.  People that watch football now think it's too brutal (not everyone), but people that watched football years ago...didn't...when it was arguably the wild west.  Kinda like the people that think taking fighting out of hockey is a good idea...today.  If that happened, star players become targets more so than they are now, because there'd be no enforcer to pose a threat for a bad action.

Football wants to be something for everyone.  Therefore, the casual fan gets astonished at the violence or the lack of humanity for their opposition.  Everyone is getting this player hyped for each game, each play.  Coaches and parents since they were little say things, not in our house, we're gonna kill'em...etc...until emotions are running wild.  Now, when a bad play happens, first thing everyone says, "Why didn't he think?"  If you're thinking, you're not in the game...you have to react and not think...at least that's what I was told in various sports when I was active.  There's no flat answer...2 games for this, 1 game for that...etc.  Not going to happen.

It really has nothing to do with "casual fans" or anything like that. The players themselves are complaining about the inconsistency of punishments and seemingly arbitrary decisions about who gets suspended and who doesn't.

I agree that we're never going to live in a world where everyone is happy, obviously there is too much bias and subjectivity for that to be the case, but you're still not addressing how clearer guidelines aren't a good thing other than saying that they'll never happen.

Dec 6, 2017 23:27:45 GMT @admin said:

It really has nothing to do with "casual fans" or anything like that. The players themselves are complaining about the inconsistency of punishments and seemingly arbitrary decisions about who gets suspended and who doesn't.

Ben Roethlisberger wants Gronk to have a longer suspension, because the Steelers play the Patriots on the 17th of December.  Let's get real.  Larry Fitzgerald doesn't even think Gronk should've been suspended...so even they differ.  No one agrees 100%...

Dec 6, 2017 23:35:04 GMT @ck said:

Dec 6, 2017 23:27:45 GMT @admin said:

It really has nothing to do with "casual fans" or anything like that. The players themselves are complaining about the inconsistency of punishments and seemingly arbitrary decisions about who gets suspended and who doesn't.

Ben Roethlisberger wants Gronk to have a longer suspension, because the Steelers play the Patriots on the 17th of December.  Let's get real.  Larry Fitzgerald doesn't even think Gronk should've been suspended...so even they differ.  No one agrees 100%...

Which again, is exactly why a clear rule book regarding suspensions makes so much sense. If it was there in black and white that a hit to the head after the play is dead = a one game suspension then at least the arbitrary decision process becomes more transparent. People might still argue about whether it's right or not, but at least everyone would know what to expect.

Dec 6, 2017 23:04:32 GMT KING KID said:

Oh please.

Monday's game was the most exciting football I've seen since the Super Bowl. I'm so tired of this liberal bullshit that the NFL is so dangerous. Like come the fuck on now. That's what football fucking is. That's like a firefighter burning his neck in a fire and complaining that going into fires is just inhumane. It's what you signed up for.

And before you criticize me for saying "that's what people like you always say. It's what you signed up for." Let me make two things clear. These dudes make millions of dollars and knew exactly what they signed up for. Second off, they're fucking men with cocks. You know what men with cocks used to do? Be gladiators and warriors and not sit there and complain that life's too hard and too dangerous.

Someone once said, we used to worry about hurting women and children's feelings. Now we have to worry about offending men in dresses. Let men be men and stop pussifying what a man is supposed to be. A fucking warrior.

People go into fires to save lives and property. People were gladiators and warriors because they had to be to protect themselves, their families, and their communities. It’s stupid to pretend that playing football compares to those things.

I'm sorry, but is playing football paying millions to them to help their families, themselves and for some their communities? It's a mans sport. If you want to play a sport that's non contact, get into darts. Worst case scenario would be carpel tunnel. 

I think it's ridiculous that a slightly too high block (though he turned and led with his shoulder) and taunting gets the same penalty as maybe the dirtiest hit of the year(s), that was outside of play. Literally no one ever has been suspended like Juju just was for taunting after a hit, worse still Iloka, a repeat offender, gets his shot overturned. The people in charge are a joke.

I went to the Saints game Sunday and I've just got the say, the Superdome was rocking like it was 2009 all over again. There was a special feeling in the air before the game even started. Champions Square was packed with Saints fan ready to watch their boys dominate and even pre-game, the "who dat" chants were loud and proud. The game itself was some of the most fun I have ever had at a sporting event. This was a crucial game with division and playoff implications and the Saints passed the test. This felt like a complete game from them.

Brees did what he had to do. Mixed some nice, short passes with some checkdowns to Kamara then unloaded down the field for a big gain. Kamara was his usual astonishing self. Think he cemented Rookie of the Year with his performance. The kid is special. I never heard the Dome as loud as when Mark Ingram broke off that big run and made a Carolina defender look silly. Ken Crawley returned and make an impact by breaking up a couple of big passing attempts. The defense as a hold held it's own as New Orleans built its lead. Even the special teams and especially future Saints QB Taysom Hill produced some big plays that allowed the Saints to get the ball back.

Overall, it was an amazing experience and my love for this team continues to grow. They are so much fun to watch this year and I wouldn't have expected them to be sitting at 9-3 after the first two weeks. Currently, they on one game ahead in the division with two games remaining against the rival Falcons. The division title rests in their hands. Now onto the Falcons this Thursday!

Dec 7, 2017 2:11:35 GMT KING KID said:

I'm sorry, but is playing football paying millions to them to help their families, themselves and for some their communities? It's a mans sport. If you want to play a sport that's non contact, get into darts. Worst case scenario would be carpel tunnel. 

Is darts a sport? I feel like golf would've been a better alternative here. Unless Happy Gilmore or Bob Barker are playing.

I'm with you on not minding the violence of the game. My problem is the soapboxing of the commentators, and inconsistency in officiating and punishments.

I'm with @admin and RagnarokMike. Their posts make total sense to me and make me feel less crazy (or at least less alone) in the wake of all this dumb, inconsistent shit that makes no sense.

Also, I went a JuJu Karma poster. Patron Saint of Fucking Bullies Up.

Dec 7, 2017 2:11:35 GMT KING KID said:

I'm sorry, but is playing football paying millions to them to help their families, themselves and for some their communities? It's a mans sport. If you want to play a sport that's non contact, get into darts. Worst case scenario would be carpel tunnel. 

It’s not a requirement for helping their families, themselves, or their communities. It’s something they do and get paid for to entertain us. There’s no reason for us to encourage them to destroy their brains for it.

Dec 7, 2017 2:49:37 GMT 🤯 said:

My problem is the soapboxing of the commentators

Gruden had a bad night for sure. He was hypocritically over the top regarding Juju considering he is usually the first to laud big hits and complain about ticky-tack penalties (probably because he'd tried to get his bizarre Burfict redemption story over the whole night) and then basically ignored what Iloka did. I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that his reaction played a role in the punishments the two ended up with.

Dec 7, 2017 3:04:40 GMT @admin said:

Dec 7, 2017 2:49:37 GMT 🤯 said:

My problem is the soapboxing of the commentators

Gruden had a bad night for sure. He was hypocritically over the top regarding Juju considering he is usually the first to laud big hits and complain about ticky-tack penalties (probably because he'd tried to get his bizarre Burfict redemption story over the whole night) and then basically ignored what Iloka did. I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that his reaction played a role in the punishments the two ended up with.

This actually raises another question I have about the NFL.

Does the NFL Vince McMahon the commentary to advance certain narratives and agendas, or do the commentators really have their own free reign once the mics go live on game day?

Gruden's significantly different responses to the JuJu and Iloka hits was definitely as off-putting as the punishments doled out.

I've also heard the fact Burfict was carried out on a board whereas AB was able to cerebrate the TD likely factored into the decision. If so, that seems dumb or like it at least encourages over-exaggeration of injuries. In fact, I'm pretty sure Burfict was faking it or at least playing it up. He immediately reached for JuJu after the hit, and word was he jumped up and refused medical attention in the back (granted I haven't followed up to see if he was actually diagnosed with an injury).

I don't think there's any censorship. McDonough went on a pretty length rant earlier the game about the amount of flags being thrown and how fans pay to watch the players and not the referees - and it's not the first time that he's got on his soapbox about that.

I also don't think that Gruden had any real agenda behind what he was saying, just think he missed the mark with his takes.

Dec 7, 2017 3:25:46 GMT @admin said:

I don't think there's any censorship. McDonough went on a pretty length rant earlier the game about the amount of flags being thrown and how fans pay to watch the players and not the referees - and it's not the first time that he's got on his soapbox about that.

I also don't think that Gruden had any real agenda behind what he was saying, just think he missed the mark with his takes.

I did take note of the referee rant, but wondered if that might've just been an NFL-endorsed stab at the refs in response to their strike or whatever the other season. I just assume the NFL can hold a grudge as well as Vince can, lol.

Dec 7, 2017 3:04:40 GMT @admin said:

Dec 7, 2017 2:49:37 GMT 🤯 said:

My problem is the soapboxing of the commentators

Gruden had a bad night for sure. He was hypocritically over the top regarding Juju considering he is usually the first to laud big hits and complain about ticky-tack penalties (probably because he'd tried to get his bizarre Burfict redemption story over the whole night) and then basically ignored what Iloka did. I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that his reaction played a role in the punishments the two ended up with.

Yeah, Gruden seemed incredibly bias against the Steelers the whole game, like how he went on about that "horrible" holding call that he positively could not see, even looking at the replay with this angle:

imgur.com/a/rG9q5