Ray Rice gets a 2 game suspension.

When Carson Palmer "retired" rather than keep playing for Cincy they kept the rights to him and were able to trade him when they got a deal worked out.

People on my Facebook are losing their shit over this (that it's only two games).

Of course, I am poking fun at them by saying it's because Ray "learned and grew" from the experience.

It's baffling that Rice gets 2 games and Josh Gordon gets 16 for weed.

I get it, multiple offenses etc. But still.

if he hit her with weed his career would be over

the best part of a 2 game suspension is the Ravens play their first two games on Sunday/Thursday so they pretty much get it out of the way in a hurry. Plus with the Thursday night game its not like he would have been 100% anyway. It is 2 division games early but its 2 games they wouldn't have used him much anyway.

:roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll:

it is a big benefit, he'll be able to get back to practicing with the team a couple days earlier than if the 2nd game was on a Sunday.

Yeah Thursday games fucking suck anyway, he lucked out by not having to play that shit

Man. I remember when Flacco signed his contract I thought they way overpaid, but this is ridiculous.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/baltimore-ravens/joe-flacco/

That 2016 cap hit... yikes. They can get rid of him after that and "only" have a cap hit of 15.3M in dead money, or pay him..... $31M.

Like, Christ. I know he had arguably the best playoffs ever in 2012, but that seems a bit absurd to me.

Droford, how do you feel about paying Flacco $28.5M in two years. That's gotta be worse than Stafford's or Bradford's contracts.

Insane considering some of that could have helped other positions. Unless Flacco would have heeled it up and demanded the raise and stuff. Doesn't "seem" like he'd do that, though.

Semi-related, I miss Boldin :(

It seems like teams are to desperate to hold on to a decent/good quarterback they will pay the guy an absurd amount of money every time. Can't wait to see how much Andy Dalton gets paid after this year.

If Andy Dalton gets a massive contract, I...well I don't know what I'll do but he stinks.

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah Flacco's deal is ridiculous. I feel like he would have agreed to a long-term extension with a really good pay increase, but they still seemed to give him way more than they had to. When 2016 rolls around and Flacco's cap hit goes up big time, they will likely be able to free up room by getting him to restructure via converting some of his base salary into a restructuring bonus for future years, but that means it'll be even more money that he's guaranteed later on when he's already set to make a ridiculous amount.

Restructuring catches up with you though after a while. Eli restructured his deal each year from like 2011-2013 and it's at the point where they just can't do it any more, he gets like $9 million a year just in restructuring bonuses now.</font>

one thing no one mentions is that the salary cap is going up. 2014 went up $10 million over 2013 to $133 million. if the cap is $140+, his salary won't be as much of an albatross as everyone says, and no doubt they'll restructure it to a more manageable figure anyway. Flacco's deal being worse than Stafford and Bradford's is ridiculous since neither of them have won a playoff game, much less a Super Bowl. Same thing will go for Andy Dalton when he gets a huge contract. Befuddles me why teams want to pay big money to QBs who can put stats up all day but either can't win games or they do but choke late season/playoffs.

Also on the Ravens front, Aaron Ross tore his Achilles already and is done for the year. They signed another former Giant Will Hill but he's out 6 games for a drug suspension but should be a solid option to have in the 2nd half.

<font color=goldenrod>In Colts camp, Vick Ballard went down with another injury, torn Achilles. Now would be a good time for Trent Richardson to try and revive his career.

And now Kendall Hunter tore his ACL. Guess this is why the 49ers draft RBs by the bushel.</font>

I'm calling this shit right here. Right now. The Colts are winning the Superbowl this year. Andrew Luck wIll be MVP and Trent Richardson will rush for 1300 yards and 13 td's.

<font color=goldenrod>I've done some "preliminary" predictions but I keep winding up with the same championship games as last year. I really don't want to see Peyton/Brady part 5 million but I'd be willing to bet at least one of them does get their team to the AFC Title game if not both. And a Seattle/San Fran NFC title game rematch is going to be predicted by pretty much everybody.

Gotta wait til at least the 3rd week of preseason to see how many game-changing players go down with major injuries before I make my "official" predictions.</font>

Richie Incognito hurts a guys feelings and essentially loses his career. Ray Rice goes Mortal Combat on a woman and gets two games.

It's totally ridiculous and makes no sense, but I am going to play devils advocate... Kind of

I would say because there wasn't proof that he hit her. I feel like he could argue something like she passed out and he caught her? I don't think that tape would hold up in a court of law. I don't think you could get a conviction with that footage.


On the flip side... Roger Goodell has suspended people for far less crimes with even less proof.

So yeah again it's really dumb and stupid that Ray Rice only got 2 games.

I'm pretty surprised the video of what happened inside the elevator hasn't managed to have been leaked by now. Part of me thinks its because whatever did happen wasn't damning enough one way or another.

<font color=goldenrod>Don't look now but the New York Football Giants are on pace for 24-0! :eek: :shifty:

Anyway, onto the game itself. The running game seemed to be an improvement from last year straight away. I liked what I saw out of Jennings and especially Andre Williams in the first quarter when the starters were in. Williams is that much more important this year with David Wilson's NFL future extremely questionable. I had read only like 30% of the Ben McAdoo playbook had been installed, mostly runs, and it showed. Not much at all to talk about in the passing game as they stuck to routine dump offs an such, but I do see that they're focusing on implementing a quick release passing game. Between that and a having a better O-line I think Eli won't be getting swarmed on nearly every pass play.

First string D seemed pretty crisp for this early in the preseason. Again not much to go off of but I did love the moves they made in the offseason and it's nice to finally have some depth in the secondary, so here's hoping they can get through preseason healthy.

Oh and I was pumped that the one big pass play from the Giants was a bomb of a TD to Corey Washington. I tried taking a guess at the 53-man roster on the Giants message board and was one of the few to pick him for the team. The Giants WRs are undersized and while that isn't everything, if the big 6'4" kid can have a big preseason he'd be a guy to mix in, plus I'm not sure he'd clear waivers for the practice squad.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>And there it is. Bengals sign Andy Dalton to a 6-year, $115 million extension.

Nice investment in mediocrity there, Cincy.</font> :y:

Dalton is so fucking bad

Management must have Dalton in fantasy.

Giants RB David Wilson shut down for the season, maybe career.

<font color=goldenrod>I feel so bad for Wilson, but it's for the best. Can't really mess around with neck injuries.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Giants are placing Wilson on injured reserve rather than him formally retiring so that he can still be paid for this season. Nice.</font>

Lol. Amazing. They even paid him a year early.

WHATEVER GUYS

Andy's gonna prove you all wrong and win 800 Super Bowls and you'll be all like "I was so wrong and Supreme Olajuwon was so right" and your friends will be like "Who the f is Supreme Olajuwon?" and you'll be all like "Oh just this guy at the wrestling message board I post at" and they'll be all like "You post at a wrestling message board? That's pretty gay" and you'll be all like "Nah it's a pretty chill place" and they'll be all like "why would you post about football on a message board for wrestling" and you'll be all like "Well it's a wrestling message board in the sense that it's run by a wrestling website and most people there are wrestling fans, but we talk about other stuff too" and they'll be all like "Oh word? Are there any other interesting features about it" and you'll be all like "Yeah sometimes we give each other colored dots depending on how much we like or dislike a post" and they'll be all like "Dude we can't hang out anymore" and then you'll be all like "Damn I have no friends. None of this woulda happened if I just respected Andy Dalton's game."


Just wait. You'll see.

I hope he does well because I like the team they are building. It is just crazy how much certain organizations pay to keep their average/better than average quarterback.

Joe Flacco at least won a Super Bowl, and he could win another one.

NFL betting starts in Delaware tomorrow, definitely going to put a few bucks on the Ravens to win the "pro football championship" since they're around 40-1 right now.

might drop $5 or $10 on the Cardinals at 55-1, but they do have the problem of the Super Bowl being in Arizona..

Has the "host team" made the superbowl ever? What is the protocol there?

The 49ers played SB 19 at Stanford and the LA Rams played SB 14 at the Rose Bowl, those are the closest but no team has played the SB in its home stadium.

the bigger "curse" is the fact that the last team to host the SB and even make the playoffs was the 2000 Buccaneers.

I think the issue of being in a really good division is going to be more of a problem for Arizona than any coincidental nonsense like that.

ugh hate saying "really good division" when talking about NFC West

I was hoping ARI would "sneak in" and grab a playoff spot last year.

Still hope that happens. The further Kaepernick is from the Superbowl the better. Can't stand him.

I haven't quite fully gotten into football mode yet. Don't even know what's going on right now. Haven't looked at betting odds for teams. Have to lay some CHEDDA down once season gets close to starting.

<font color=goldenrod>I just have a hard time seeing a 3rd team coming out of the NFC West. They'll be beating the crap out of each other all year. Seattle and SF are the far safer bets to get to January, though.

I think 2 teams are coming out of the North. Packers and Bears both look like they should have really good offenses and the Lions seem to be a bit of an enigma that could go either way.</font>

Someone can tell me the Lions will go 5-11 or 10-6 and I won't think they're crazy. I have no gauge on them.

Yep, that's the Lions. They're a textbook "good-bad" team. They're not quite on the level of your Clevelands or Jacksonvilles, but nowhere near competent enough to be considered an actual threat to do anything. They could just as easily fluke themselves into a playoff spot but they don't have a solid enough core/foundation to really do anything with it.

Maybe things will be different with the new coaching staff but I'm not holding my breath.


And don't get me wrong, being mediocre and in limbo is certainly a much better place to be than constant cellar-dwellers, so even though the next few years will ultimately be fruitless, at least it's not pure misery to watch.

first parlay of the season

Ravens -1.5 vs 49ers
Redskins -1.5 vs Patriots
Colts +3.5 @ Jets
Seahawks -1.5 @ Broncos

only wagered $25 cause I'm not completely a degenerate gambler.

Also, how about that Jerry Jones?

lol betting on preseason

I've won a couple preseason bets, its not that hard.

I think betting on pre-season is the definition of a degenerate gambler.

Lol

4real

STD is the worst

I mean, I have a buddy that would bet on WNBA games, so I've seen the depths of depravity.

I just don't think I could muster up the willpower to watch more than 10 minutes of a preseason game that even involved my Lions

If you're betting on the preseason, there's a group for that Droford

<font color=goldenrod>Could never imagine betting on the preseason. That's ridiculous.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>I do usually watch the entierty of Giants preseason games, though. It's not a top priority like it is with a regular season game, but if I'm home I'll definitely watch to see how the new guys perform and see what unknowns can end up impressing enough to make the roster. It's especially interesting this year as the new offense should (theoretically) come together more as the preseason moves on.

I can't help but have a nice chuckle though when there's an undrafted rookie who will have a monster preseason and the fans will then clamor for them to make the team only for them to get upset when the player ends up being inactive nearly every week (Victor Cruz in 2010, Adewale Ojomo in 2012, etc.) Corey Washington might be that guy this year. They impress enough to make the team but if they can't contribute on special teams they are really just on the 53 to develop them for the next year or two when there might actually be an opening on the depth chart.</font>

I like watching the preseason because the guys on the bubble are usually busting their asses to make the team

<font color=goldenrod>The NFC East should be a tight battle again as per usual. 9 or 10 wins should get it done. Most everybody is picking the Eagles to steamroll through it but with how tight the divisional games tend to be I really think any of the 4 teams have a shot. Nothing would surprise me.</font>

I feel the same way. I don't think the Eagles will surprise anyone this year. Could easily see any of the 4 teams taking that division.

that's because they usually play the browns at least once
Its the Cowboys year..if they can't win the division this year, it won't happen with Garrett and Romo.

I only bet $25, which is nothing. 10x that would be degenerate

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah. I totally get why everybody thinks the Eagles will have the best offense in the division after last year, but it's not a sure thing. The thought of McCoy and Sproles both coming out of the backfield is pretty terrifying, but I'm not ready to christen Foles as the next big thing just yet. I'd need to see what he does with a full season after people have had a year to study him and the Chip Kelly offense.

Will probably just pick the Giants once I get around to posting predictions. If it's this close of a race I'd feel like a bit of a dick picking against my team.</font> :o

I just think that once teams figure out how to stop their screen/bubble pass game, the rest of their offense will fall apart. Especially without Desean there to take the top off the defense. Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin shouldn't put too much fear into peoples' eyes.

And yes @Droford I agree, re: Cowboys' window this season. I don't think there's a true runaway in the division. If they aren't going to do it this year then I don't think they ever will.

Ravens offense looking good. Defense not so much but they held in the red zone.

Jets punter sucks. Forget the qb battle, they need one for the punter

lol jets had the ball at the colts 19 and ended up 3rd and 41 after penalties and a botched snap

currently rooting for that last game to be canceled so I can cash out on the 3 team parlay. $100 less but I'll take it

mike flacco sighting in SD

Guys there is going to be a QB controversy in Philadelphia at some point in the near future.

I'm telling you it's going to happen.

Only if Foles gets hurt. He had an amazing season last year. One bad pre-season game can't negate a full season of kicking ass.

Sigh. Nice to see McAdoo left the 3rd and 15 shotgun draw play in the playbook.

And there it is again on 3rd and 19. I guess they still haven't installed any passing plays.

Line play is better, seeing some good holes

Ref crew is a joke. Fumble successfully challenged but they can't tell who recovered the ball even though a Brown is in a video of having full possession.

Most teams do that. Just trying to get a few extra yards for field positioning on the punt instead of trying to get it all back and getting nothing.

Johnny Football's NFL debut after the break.

Yeah, I'd expect it in a regular season game. The shotgun draw play is just a Gilbride staple and should be eliminated forever.

Yeah I like what I've seen from the line. Opening up good holes in the run game.

Since the next 2 games figure to be the last time the starters get significant time I hope they finally get some pass plays installed by next week, both for the receivers to get their routes sorted and for the line to get some serious time pass blocking.

CAN YOU FEEL THE ELECTRICITY??

IT'S JOHNNY FOOTBALL TIME!!!!!

<font color=goldenrod>The amount of defensive penalties being called already seems to be a bit ludicrous. I know "it's preseason for the refs too" and everything but damn. It seems receivers can't be touched at all now without getting flagged for illegal contact. I bet coaches will instruct their receivers to draw contact as much as possible.

Pretty much gonna mean every pass ends up being a pure jump ball.</font>

As a team with defensive backs who can't get to receivers anyway, I feel this levels the playing field for the Lions.

THAT A BOY JERRY! THATABOY!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Cowboys CB Orlando Scandrick suspended 4 games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. <a href="http://t.co/oTjtte1svL">pic.twitter.com/oTjtte1svL</a></p>&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/statuses/499041165854134272">August 12, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Making rice's 2 games look even better.

He said a girl put mdma in a drink without him knowing

Lol

But did Scandrick learn and grow from his incident????

The NFL is turning into a fucking joke.

4 game suspension for Steele for slander

NFL considering tougher penalties for future domestic violence cases, including possible one-year ban

The NFL is considering toughening its penalties for players who commit acts of domestic violence, including a potential one-year ban for a second offense, according to multiple people familiar with the league’s recent deliberations.

The prospective new policy, if it is implemented, could establish guidelines for a suspension of four to six games without pay for a first offense and potentially a season-long suspension for a second incident, according to those with knowledge of the matter. They spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic and because no final decision has been made by the league on implementing the policy.

The contemplated changes, if they are made by the NFL, would come after the league and Commissioner Roger Goodell have been criticized heavily for the two-game suspension imposed on Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for allegedly striking Janay Palmer, the woman who is now his wife. Many media members and other observers have called Rice’s suspension insufficient and said it sends the wrong message about the league’s attitude toward domestic violence.

It was not clear if the potential new policy faces any significant obstacles to being put into effect.

“We need to have stricter penalties,” said one person with knowledge of the league’s deliberations on the matter. “I think you will see that. I believe the commissioner and others would like to see stricter penalties. We need to be more vigilant.”

That person said Goodell and the league “tried to stick with precedent” from previous NFL disciplinary measures when deciding on the length of Rice’s suspension.

“A lot of us were disturbed by what we saw” in the Rice case, the person said. “I think you will see something in probably the next few weeks. A first offense could be four to six games, definitely more than two. A second offense might be a year.”

A second person who had been briefed on the matter confirmed that the increased penalties are under consideration. That person said he did not know if it is definite that the new policy will be enacted nor when the new policy, if implemented, might go into effect.

The NFL declined to comment through a spokesman.

Two people with close ties to the NFL Players Association said the union was not involved in the deliberations.

Rice’s suspension resulted from an incident in February in which he allegedly struck Palmer, then his fiancée, in a hotel elevator in Atlantic City. Video became public showing Rice pulling an apparently unconscious Palmer from the elevator. The couple later married. Rice pleaded not guilty to a third-degree aggravated assault charge and avoided trial when he was accepted into a pretrial intervention program.

Rice was suspended from the Ravens’ first two games of the upcoming season without pay and was fined an additional game check based on last season’s salary. He will lose about $529,000 from the NFL’s penalty.

Goodell has defended the length of the suspension. When he spoke to reporters while in Canton, Ohio, for the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, he said that the punishment “has to be consistent with other cases, and it was in this matter.”

not using the stupid WWJD editting tools.. story from Washington Post

It is a little silly that Ray Rice gets a two games suspension for beating the shit out of his significant other and Josh Gordon is out an entire season for marijuana. I get that he has several offenses, but the severity of the crime should be taken into account. Smoking weed does nothing and beating a woman is a ridiculously severe crime.

I really hate beating a dead horse but I hope there's enough dissent as a result of this that they look at their punishment system for domestic violence and make changes to it. Even Scandrick, first-time offender, gets 4 games for MDMA and Rice only gets 2... incredible.

The Ravens have 14 points with 6 min to go in the 1st quarter and the offense hasn't even had 1 play. Fumble for a TD and a 108 yard kick return. lol Cowpokes

Eli Manning: 1 for 7, 6 yards.

christ

oh yeah, preseason is happening

Tennessee made it a game against the Saints but lost.... the penalties were ridiculous for both teams... I think if a player sneezes this season we'll be seeing yellow all over the field every game.

<font color=goldenrod>Giants were losing 26-0 heading into the 4th quarter and then won 27-26. lol what.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Corey Washington has to be a lock at this point. 3 TDs in 3 weeks and the only tall WR on the roster. Manningham unfortunately seems like his knee is hampering him so there's definitely a spot there for the taking.</font>

Ravens have still never lost to Dallas.