Heavy Kevi

Yup. But you will be shouted down. They have to make it seem like the players are the reasonable ones. Funny how the people who so strongly support players protesting will quickly smash people protesting on their own time. At least these folks are protesting the thing they are upset about, which is more than you can say for the players protesting. Others smash them for the attention grab, but isn't that what protestimg is for? Isn't that what the players are doing too? Couldn't they donate money to their respective causes, or would that not be enough "look at me". @promo... so people don't love their country unless fox news tells them to? I would argue that the liberal side of media clearly has more push because they are successfully running a narrative that the general population does not agree with for the most part. And it's gaining traction. People have lomg since been offended by flag disrespect, and your suggestion that they only believe what they are told to is another in a long list of liberals telling people who disagree that they are dumb. Next up they are racist, right?

Don't judge Orton compared to Fitzy... Judge him compared to the other folks on the wall. You will find there is no comparison. Taylor has 2 seasons over 3000 yards with the Bills, him too? Fact is, 3000 yards is not an impressive stat. As I stated on page 2, it wasn't even top 20 that year. Just because we have had garbage for decades doesn't mean we should reward less smelly garbage as fame-worthy.

I have never really understood the use of total yards as the ranking of defense. Points are clearly much more important.

I get what you are saying. I would guess alot will come back. But you don't know that. That's my point.

Come on Fergy. That 3000 yard season put him 22nd among QBs that year, 20th in touchdowns, 27th in QBR and he quit on us. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/passing.htm Nobody with those stats belongs on any wall of fame. Maybe if it was wall of flash in the pan, or wall of mediocre-but-better-than-what-we-have-had.

Yeah, I don't really understand outrage to that point. I have my opinions about the protest but will not be controlled by it. But what is overlooked, I think, is that some people do take it very seriously, and many of these folks actually may never come back. You can dismiss them as dumb rednecks like I have seen a number of times, but the fact is they are paying customers, too. Apparently they take America very seriously, so I don't think you can say, with any certainty at all that "they will be back next week", or ever. They see it as a direct shot to their core belief set, and often times that is much, much stronger that a sports allegiance.

Haha. This can't be serious. Look at the other guys on that wall, and some guys not even on the wall, and see how a QB with one year of ok football that then quit on us makes it. Come on now nobody actually believes he belongs up there, right?

Educated politically, not collegiately. They have nothing to offer as a party besides Hillary's failed "I'm not Trump" campaign and "resist", and it's easier to scare people into submission, just like religion since the beginning of human existence. It is obvious that the Democratic party is no longer for blue collar everymans. They are now the party for the elites and special interest groups, subsequently ignoring working class voters. They switched to GOP because they realized they were being left behind in favor of techies and hollywood/athletes who have more disposible income to donate, free time and influence to recruit, and an almost religiously devoted approach to politics. They needed to compete with the older generation who value hard work over entitlement, and will vote GOP down the line in every election until they kick the bucket.

Well, given the article is largely factual and number based as opposed to opinion based, I don't think you can argue with it. Average Americans realize that since we are a "melting pot", which values diversity (yes it's true despite what MM says), the flag and patriotism is one of the only things we have universally in common. That is why it is so important. We don't have 1000 years of heritage to fall back on, we have to relish the fact that we created this American experiment, and have done our best to continually improve it. It goes without saying that there are still many problems, but taking away the one universal common ground divides America even further, and is counterproductive to the goal they are trying to achieve. I agree with the reasons they are protesting, and would support them if they were actually protesting those institutions, but don't support this form of grandstanding.

Typical character smearing with an attempt to delegitimize. Sound familiar? More like, "they are entitled to their beliefs, but those beliefs are not for me, so I will remove myself" But, you know, propogandize at will.

So if it wasn't enough that you can't watch sports without an injection of politics, it is now spreading to cable TV broadcasts. I don't have as much of a problem really with this most recent incarnation given the fact that these folks are not on the clock, though I'm sick of it being ubiquitous, and find it categorically misguided. I am baffled as to why they protest the anthem when they apparently are upset by something else (probably Trumps comments on the NFL- tho not sure how it applies to these folks), but I digress. On to the point of the thread... This evening's live finale of Ink Master showcased a truly amazing electric guitar version of the anthem by guitarist/show host Dave Navarro, and several eliminated tattooers sat or took a knee for it (front row on stage, in the left and right flank of center) Anybody who hasn't heard Navarro's version, it's a real treat. He has done it for NASCAR and Bellator MMA as well, and it is freakin' awesome everytime. If you love America the way I do, it might even make the hairs on your arm stand up. Sorry the pic isn't great, but that's what you get for taking a pic of the tv....

Pretty obvious. That's all they have. They hate monger and fear monger themselves, but portray a false narrative that conservative ideals are inherantly evil and racist. They don't want an educated electorate, they want sheep that only hit the party line because they are afraid that conservatives are going to destroy they're life. That's why they insert racism into everything that happens, regardless if it applies or not. The race cards in that deck are going to start getting ragged from overuse.

I did not see Skip/Shannin, can't stand skip. But you/he seems to have identified the problem. First it was crooked cops, then just "things need to change", and now it's solely **** Trump. Problem with that is that the flag is not the symbol of any of those things, they are merely a part of it. It is increasingly clear none of this is about unity. They are sewing seeds of division on their own, all the while telling Trump his 1st amendment doesn't count, and that somehow he is the only catalyst of division. Trump knows, though he, as usual, was incendiary and ham-handed, that the general public sympathizes with his sentiment, and this is one he can come out of clean. Though you would never know of it watching MM, and as I stated before, over 70% of Americans are against taking out non-related grievances on our country's most sacred symbol of unity. I have several flags tattooed on me, and quite frankly I don't give a dried up pile of donkey **** for the NFL in comparison with my love of America and the American spirit. And I find it a bit ironic that some of the people who have benefitted most from America are smashing it's institution as if it were some wholly rotten republic. There is no doubt the US is flawed, but it is overall a great place and the vast majority of people are truly good folks that don't care who you pray to, where you came from, what color you are, or who you want to have sex with. This is definitely his tactic. Straight out of his book "Art of the Deal", he shoots for the stars, so when you settle on giving up the moon it doesn't seem as bad. That's what he does on literally everything. Dreamers will never be deported, there will never be a wall on the entire border, they will never fully repeal our socialist healthcare disaster, but Trump gets his opposition all in a tizzy, and they will give more in negotiations. Obviously he is being obstructed by the undercover demagogues and the Washington establishment, and that's why it has failed to work so far. As I have often quoted, "If pro is the opposite of con, what is the opposite of progress?" I do understand your statement.... But if you showed up to work and spent on clock hours protesting something that offended 70% of their customers, they would fire you. Without question. Secondly, it is "you're right" to insult elderly people, swear around children, and walk around in your underwear. That doesn't make them appropriate in public discourse. Perhaps these folks should actually protest what they want to protest. They say they "love the flag", and they are not protesting America or the anthem, but then why are they protesting it, instead of the crooked cops, white supremacists, or whatever else they are upset about? If I'm mad a Chuck Schumer, should I then protest McDonald's becausd I saw him eat there one time?

Behavior is "better" because of the mass increase of security and regulations over the past few years. I don't think it's better, but that's another conversation.

Well, honestly, as a 30 year employee he was probably going to retire soon anyway. But leaving this way serves his belief set. Just my opinion on the situation.

Haha... Aside from the talking heads payed to hype up the fans, anyone who knew anything knows Cutler is not a good QB anymore, and has not been in a long time. As a matter of fact, he has only been good when he's had Marshall, because Cutler trusts his arm WAY TOO MUCH, but Marshall in his hayday could come down with anything.

Saw that on the news last night. Shows you how offended some people are. I would never give up my career for some nonsense like this, but hey, he can do whatever he thinks is best for him.

Happens all the time. Chip Kelly, Eric Mangini, BA, Rex, etc, etc, etc...

That's true. But my sentiment is that we ought not put stock in these things. They are more of a "whos hot" meter rather than an actual ranking of how good a team is.

From 26 to 15 in one week. That means a loss in ATL could drop us right back down with these ever-changing power ranking.

True story. Many people would support the protest against crooked cops, kkk, and WN if they didn't hijack something that is dear to their hearts in the process. WaPo was right, this is bad for everyone involved. Is just plain, unfettered attention really helping their cause? I would argue no since it has been so diluted now people don't even know what they are protesting.

I don't think the protest will have a "long term effect" by themselves, but my point is it is another on a long list of things the NFL has done to alienate fans. Some fans will never come back, and many people aren't driven by the media. The NFL is a deteriorating brand, that is the truth. You can attibute it to many things, but the protest is one of those factors.

Adam Gase should have thought about that before he signed Smokin' Jay Turnover.

It's over 70% of Americans. Thats why protesters are being heavily booed. And Villanueva has the highest selling jersey right now. Just sayin' Well put. If anything, the protests are many viewers "last straw". I didn't get as much publicity, but Trump also complained about what many others complain about.... flags, refs, taking hitting out of the game, etc.... Let's also recognize NFLs "selective" free speech. No to breast cancer awareness, no to 9/11 remembrance, no to supporting slain police, but this is ok. If they were consistent this would not be as big an issue either.

Might help him get his head right if he realizes that he is not irreplaceable. Watching the defense succeed without him might knock him down a peg. Wish I could see him try, or give a damn at all about his job, fans that pay him, or even just his contractual obligations. He is a rich man because he said he would follow the rules and play. He lied.