<p>Gruden just brought up the discipline issue</p>
<p>they call mike for blitzing purposes and also to help identify with protection packages. If the “Mike” is lined up a different spot, or in those cases where the other team switches who is designated as the mike, they can adjust their protection accordingly. It should be obvious to the QB and Center, but in blitzing situations its different.</p>
<p>I have to make myself not watch this game, otherwise I will not finish my homework.</p>
<p>Here’s one aspect of this that I find disturbing. The NFL could have given Rice a lifetime ban. Pro cycling did that to the biggest star they’ve ever had, because they took the infraction that seriously. Why did the NFL merely suspend Rice? </p>
<p>Game #2: Can both teams lose? I guess I want the Chargers to lose most since “we” play them next weekend.</p>
<p>Lions are tied for first! Let me enjoy this moment which will not happen again for a good long time. </p>
<p>:o3 << that is you enjoying the moment :D/ </p>
<p>I think that’s a better representation of me next week (on my screen, the dog goes from really happy to terrified)</p>
<p>But yes, I’m quite happy especially after this weekend of football. :D</p>
<p>My understanding is that Rice was suspended so that no other team could pick him up. Of course, I could be wrong.</p>
<p>The CFL is honoring the NFL’s suspension so he’ll have no luck in Canada.</p>
<p>It looked like an excited bark followed by a smile to me . . . anyway . . . that’s how I meant it</p>
<p>OH! Maybe that is what it is. </p>
<p>I think I’m tired and my eyes are playing tricks on me. I’ve been staring at screens all day… my eyes are starting to quit on me. </p>
<p>Razor, no, I think you have it right. They don’t want him to play anywhere this year. But a suspension can be lifted, say, next year when all the fuss has died down. The minute it is, someone will pick him up, guaranteed.</p>
<p>Lance Armstrong will never again be associated with pro cycling, not as a rider, not as a coach, not as an owner. That’s an organization that takes the transgression seriously, and wants to send a message to every other rider and to the world. They consider doping to be unacceptable.</p>
<p>IMO the NFL has sent the message that they consider wife-beating to be sort of unacceptable, for a while, but only after public outcry and embarrassing videos cause a PR problem. Not quite the same thing.</p>
<p>It seems he was suspended not because of beating his wife, but because the video became available. </p>
<p>Exactly @LasMa and @greenwitch . He beat his wife - but no video was released- and received not even a wrist slap. Then the video come out and he becomes indefinitely suspended. But that in itself is not a closing. Remember Gregg Williams who headed BountyGate with the Saints? He was indefinately suspened in March of 2012. Then a year later he was reinstated by the NFL. Now he’s with the Rams and has been way under the radar. Outcry was great back then, when it was learned that they were deliberatly placing bounties on players heads. Now he’s the coordinator in St. Louis and everyone has forgotten about BountyGate. I know that something like domestic violence can never be forgotten, but Ray Rice will be lost in the shuffle of the season and without anyone realizing it he will be reinstated by the NFL, and a team banking on his past body of work will take a chance on him. They always do.</p>
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<p>That is the complete truth.</p>
<p>I’m glad that many active players are starting to speak out. I think that is a big part of trying to create a cultural shift. With the feel good public service stuff I see the NFL aiming for low hanging fruit. Yes, we all hate breast cancer and think that elementary schoolers need more exercise. The sticky wicket is when those elementary schoolers get old enough to attract college recruiters and those collegiate stars make NFL scouts’ eyes get all wide. (see Jameis Winston and Jerramy Stevens). They need to stop hiding behind plea bargains and “letting the system work”.</p>
<p>OK I am loving this late game! The next best thing to both teams losing. 3-3 heading into half time</p>
<p>Ha! interception and field goal but now there’s a flag . . . 6-3 Cardinals</p>
<p>Omigosh. DH and I playing against each other in FF and we both have a player on the stumbling Chargers; we’re almost tied, and we just have to see who limps across the finish line. Very anticlimactic after yesterday’s fun games. </p>
<p>Well the Seahawks have tomorrow off so they can be staying up to watch this game and just salivating. I’m sad that I will miss it next week. (fun vacation of course)</p>