LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!

[Greg Ambrosius]

Wow, tonight is the start of NFL Pre-Season games and for some reason I'm JUST PUMPED to watch some football!! I know we'll see the starters for a series or two tonight at most, but it's still fun to see some LIVE ACTION!! Let's do this!!

Here's the schedule for tonight, which includes six games:

Thursday, August 08th
7:30 PM ET, Ravens at Buccaneers
8:00 PM ET, Redskins at Titans
8:00 PM ET, Rams at Browns
8:00 PM ET, Bengals at Falcons
9:00 PM ET, Broncos at 49ers
10:00 PM ET, Seahawks at Chargers

I'm going to Lambeau Field on Friday night to see the Packers and Cardinals. I'm looking forward to some real action at the Frozen Tundra, which thankfully for all of us up here in Wisconsin isn't frozen just yet!!

Let's use this thread to post what we're seeing in this weekend's pre-season action. Should be fun...and informative. Enjoy all, the real games aren't far behind!!

[COZ]

As I begin to overdose on NFL shows and paraylze myself with over-analysis, my first observation of the pre-season is this, and more so a media observation:

Anyone ever seen Jeff Saturday and Shaun O'Hara in the same room? Just saying.... Guess ya just can't have enough fully-bearded, retired centers doing NFL anaylsis.

COZ

[mattjb]

Who is this guy wearing the Shon Greene shirt cos I know it isn't Shon Greene

[BillyWaz]

CJ2K......welcome to the EARLY-MID 2nd round!

[BillyWaz]

CJ2K......welcome to the EARLY-MID 2nd round!

[Greg Ambrosius]

I actually saw Ryan Mathews carry the ball three times last night and he didn't get hurt once!! That's a huge upgrade from last year when he broke his clavicle on the first carry of the pre-season!! Heck, I even saw him jump over the pile on a fourth and one and when he landed he didn't break either clavicle. Impressive.

Actually, we saw some solid plays last night by the likes of Chris Johnson, Kirk Cousins and others. It's good to see football again. Now let's get through Week 1 without any major injuries. That's the key this week.

[Tom Kessenich]

Some things that jumped out at me by team:

Rams
I've been pimping Chris Givens on Twitter for a long time now. Looked great last night.

I LOVE all the weapons Bradford now has in the passing game.

RB job sure looks like it's Richardson's to lose now.

Bengals
I like Giovani Bernard but I'll continue to say that I don't think Law Firm's going away this season.

Browns
Brandon Weeden as an upside QB2? Hmmm ...

Broncos
Peyton in the Pistol. That was a neat look, John Fox.

Titans
Was that really Shonn Greene? Looked real good.

Chris Johnson in the open field is still a thing of beauty to watch.

Redskins
Hey look, it's Fred Davis. Remember him?

[Greg Ambrosius]

I know I whine about this every year, but it's almost criminal that the NFL MAKES season ticket holders buy pre-season games at the same price as regular season games. Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind sitting in Lambeau Field in early August with one of my kids enjoying the weather, the beautiful environment and the sight of football. But c'mon, things like what we saw tonight is a disgrace.

With the largest crowd in Lambeau Field history, the Packers played Aaron Rodgers and the first team offense ONE SERIES. Graham Harrell came in for Rodgers with almost 7 minutes to go in the first quarter. I know we don't want to get anyone hurt, but $75 a ticket to see Graham Harrell?? There's no way the NFL needs four pre-season games to get ready for the regular season when Michigan can open up against Notre Dame without any problems and play solid football. Give me a break. It's money-grubbing at its worst and nobody touches the NFL because they are a monopoly and can do whatever they want. What are we as season ticket holders to do, give up our seats? No way. So we pay for this crap like I saw tonight.

I trust some good came out of this game. Carson Palmer looked very good and he will make Fitzie and Michael Floyd very fantasy worthy. I have no doubt about that. The Cards can also run the ball a little and their offensive line manhandled the Packers' D-line, I thought. They would have scored 30+ against our first team defense. But I loved that hurry up offense that Rodgers showed on his only series and they just moved the ball right down the field. He made one of the prettiest passes to James Jones I've seen, but then he made two errant throws at the goal-line. To be fair, Palmer made one of the nicest TD passes I've ever seen as well, against the wind in the south end zone. He is really going to upgrade this offense.

All good fun...but it's still a racket by the NFL. Play your four stupid pre-season game to collect another billion dollars or so from us, but let's get to the regular season already. And God forbid Roger, don't EVER think about an 18-game regular season. That would be worse than these early pre-season games I have to sit through.

Maybe I'm just bitter tonight because I got pulled over twice by cops for having a headlight out. Nothing like sitting alongside the side of a road with flashers on -- twice, mind you -- while all you want to do is get home and get your kids to bed. Now I've got to get that headlight fixed in the morning!!

[dabird777]

Ah, Greg, but we can't complain about the long preseason when it gives us time to draft more fantasy teams, eh?

I sympathize on the headlight deal. I personally think cops get off on harassing law-abiding citizens over the tiniest details just to remind us who the Power is.

It does seem 3 preseason games would be about right. 4 is ridiculous.

[Sandman62]

Browns
Brandon Weeden as an upside QB2? Hmmm ...

Damn straight! Browns to the Super Bowl for the first time ever?!

In all seriousness, the new coaching staff and GM will do wonders for improving this team, as will not having both their QB and RB as rookies. .500 is certainly feasible this year. Knocking on the door of the playoffs would be sweet. At least I'll get to see my Browns this year, as they come to NE in December. Last time they played (in CLE) a few years ago, the Browns handed the Pats one of their two losses.