RedRamage

Would it have even been possible to house three Campbells on the same team??

Bummer, but can't say as I'm surprised. I know we batted around the idea of increasing the yardage on this penalty to slightly off set losing the auto-1st down. Does anyone know if the Lions proposal had that? I don't think it did but didn't know for 100% sure. If it didn't, I wonder if including that would have had more people in favor of it?

It was a nice opening game for the Panthers. The defense showed up and limited the opposition to just one TD and a couple of FGs. The offense wasn't always stellar, but two TDs, two FGs were enough to win, even without the defense pick six. I'd say that QB Bryce Perkins, late of the LA Rams, was the star of the game. 16 for 19, 163 yards, one TD in the passing game, and then 14 yards on 6 attempt on the ground, including an Barry Sanders-eque run on 4th down, evading tacklers to dive into the endzone. On defense Frank Ginda (2023 USFL defensive player of the year) had 11 tackles and half a sack, and of course Kia Nacua (brother of Samson Nacua, Michigan Panthers; and Puka Nacua, LA Rams) had the late pick six to really seal the game. A new other notes: Michigan has historically alternated QBs each quarter or half. They intended to do that again this game but QB Danny Etling only saw a few snaps after taking a big hit to the chest. The hit would have been legal (ie, it wasn't roughing the QB or a late hit or a hit to the head) except the defender lowered his helmet and speared Etling in the chest. Etling didn't appear to have major injuries, but also didn't return to the game. I thought Perkins was the better QB in the game anyway, so I wasn't too upset over that. During the broadcast they continuously hammered how much access the viewer was given as they interviewed players, HCs, OCs, DCs, and of course head rules bigshot Dean Blandino. I'd say on maybe about 4 or 5 occasions I thought it was informative and helpful to the viewer. The rest of the time it was very distracting for me. It was hard to follow the game when the announcers were asking questions and I was trying to figure out who was answering and what he was saying. It was too much access imho. Fan turn out was... HORRIBLE. It looked like a COVID game. Seriously, it was BAD. I hope Michigan fans turn out better for next weeks game but Memphis fans? I think there were more players in that stadium than fans.

Has anyone else complained that is stinks that the first series of the year is super late at night? Just wanted to get that off my chest because I'm sure no one else has complained yet.

Playoffs are for division winners. Win your division and you're in the playoffs. Wild card berths are just consolation prizes for the teams that weren't quite good enough to win their division but still had a pretty decent year. If you want to just take the best 7 teams, then get rid of divisions as divisional standing are meaningless and playing your divisional team mates twice can end up being a good or bad thing depending on the rest of the division. I mean who knows if Chicago might not have had a better record if they didn't have to face Detroit, GB, and Minny twice.

I disagree personally. The (relatively speaking) short season and limited opponents face makes division winners important. The goal is to win the division. The wild card slots are just extra slots for teams that are really good, but not good enough to win their divisions. Yes, you'll absolutely have situations where a really good team like the Vikings has to go on the road vs. a team with a worse record, but those are rare. And it's even more rare when there's such a clear case that you could argue that the team with that record also faced some of the stiffest competition (in division).

Ah man... here I was getting pumped to see MASCOTS.

ESPN has started coverage.

Youtube is now saying 2:30.

It's showing in my Youtube TV in the schedule so I think so. I won't be shocked if some silly MLB rule ends up blacking it out, but hopefully not.

I don't think it needs to be as complicated as a smart watch... just needs to be a buzzer tied to the play clock. But I do like the idea. As you said the ref doesn't need to watch the play clock then, s/he can focus on the ball. Feel the buzz while seeing the ball still on the ground? Throw the flag. See the ball move before the buzz? Then you can ignore the buzz.

I get that reporters can only report on what they hear, but this is the season of lies. Anything that comes out of any NFL teams mouths needs to be strictly considered to be in a Schrodinger's Cat situation. It's both truthful and a lie until after the draft when it collapses upon observation to one state or the other.

I'm in the same boat. Don't hold us in suspense anymore @BoomGaspar. Who is it?

Can't say as I blame Bregman for taking the Boston deal at all. Seems like the best move for him personally. I don't like that he's not coming here, but I do like that the Tigers (ie, Ilitch) was willing to offer a big deal for a FA. Obviously this doesn't mean that Harris has full permission to spend a lot whenever/however he wants, but the fact that they apparently were willing to spend here seems encounraging.

Don't forget the right to refer to the offspring of Mike Ilitch as "Ilitch's Kids."