NFL (since 2016)

[crystal falace]

"Free agency started last night and was pretty crazy some huge money being spent. Osweiler getting £18m a year for the Texans, leaving the Broncos without a QB, Giants have spent a fortune on good but not great players, Oliver Vernon has more guaranteed money than JJ Watt. lots more deals but cant be bothered to list them all."

[Takashi Miike]

"maybe it was gase's demeanour in that opening press conference that distracted me away from johnson before, but I'm a good judge of characters and situations & he's the biggest problem for jets fans. we had two decades of similar crap before rivera arrived and was allowed to run things, rather than put in a baby walker & spoon fed by morons"

[southbankbornnbred]

"I thought the Saleh press conference was interesting from the point of view of the media. Those hacks who don't really know much about the Jets just fell for the same old jibber and bile from Johnson etc. Whereas the guy Vaccaro from the New York Post, who has been in place for a while and knows his American Football, immediately asked why the Jets had such a 'reputation for dysfunction' within the league! That's a proper journalist asking a question which cuts through all the celebratory puff and hot air, which we've seen during ten or so previous HC and GM appointments. The Post might be a tabloid, but it does at least ask some questions of the Jets that are actually about the reality of Gotham."

[Takashi Miike]

"I'm not bothered about the politics angle, but he came across in the press conference as a control freak. he should have introduced saleh and then fucked off. im not sure why douglas was there either, as johnson wouldn't let him get a word in. as I said, the coach is great but those owners need to stay out of his way"

[southbankbornnbred]

Mike Tannenbaum and Mike MacCagnan. Fecking auto-correct!

[southbankbornnbred]

"The bright spots are that Joe Douglas does seem very sensible as the new (ish) GM and Saleh does seem to have a sense of direction and purpose, as well as a 21st Century playbook. If you think of any NFL franchise as having three key components - owners/execs, GM and HC - then we at least have two decent-looking pieces of that jigsaw in place. Which has been rare for us. But both of those pieces, Douglas and Saleh, are unproven."

[southbankbornnbred]

"TM - yeah, you have immediately hit upon THE problem at the Jets for the past 20 years. The executive you're referring to was Christopher Johnson, the co-owner of the New York Jets. He is is the junior partner in the ownership to Woody Johnson. Woody is currently the Trump-appointed US ambassador to the UK, so is probably going to be returning to 'lead' the Jets again soon. I say 'lead'. They are fucking useless. Snyder-level useless! The Johnson family don't have a clue what they are doing. They barely have an interest in American Football. They just wanted to own a high-profile sports team and one that makes a lot of money due to its loyal fans. In that sense, they are very much like West Ham's owners - they are adept at milking the franchise for its prestige, passion and the fans' cash. The Johnson's bought the Jets in 2000 and have since proved their inability. The Jets have lost 57 games in the last five years. All they have done is develop a losing culture. We have been consistently poor because they simply don't know what they are doing - and, with all due respect to Saleh (who has impressed so far), our fans have heard all of the pumped-up passion and empty promises of the ownership etc before now. We heard it when the owners took over, we heard it when they appointed Mangina, Rex Ryan, Todd Bowles and Adam Gase. We heard it when they appointed GMs like Tenanbaum, McClagenhan etc. We've heard a LOT of talk during the 20 years of Johnson ownership - and not seen very much action of delivery. The exceptions were Herm Edwards and Rex Ryan (briefly) as coaches, and possibly Joe Douglas the new GM (who seems sensible and it relatively new, so we're giving him some time). But the Johnson's have basically overseen failure. They seem won over by talk, not action. They fall for every snake oil salesman on the planet, like Gase. Possibly because that's what they are like themselves (although it is baby oil that they sell!). They have not developed a winning culture at the franchise - far from it. They don't know what a successful franchise looks like - and we think it's high time they sold up and shipped out. Hence we haven't yet gone all-in on Saleh as a group of fans. He does strike me as potentially very good, but we have seen and heard all of this MANY times before. You're right to wonder how somebody can be successful in that culture/atmosphere. Herm Edwards and Rex Ryan almost did through sheer force of personality, but were hindered by poor execs and GMs (as well as Ryan's awful offenses). But the rest of the last 20 years (and more) has been utter garbage on every level - execs. GMs. rosters, starters, scouting, training and development."

[Takashi Miike]

"SB, I watched Saleh's press conference and I think he'll do a great job if allowed but one I took from it was the executive (no idea who he was?) had far too much to say, and couldn't resist saying over and over again who has the final say. I worry about any head coach succeeding there, but I hope I'm wrong"

[southbankbornnbred]

"Looks like the two best sides will face off against each other for the title. As predicted, very disappointed in Green Bay's defence. Bet they part company with Pettine now. His defenses have never really done it. Too easy for Brady all day - nowhere near enough pressure on him. LaFleur's field goal call around the two minute mark will haunt him for a while, too. Mahomes looked ominously good for a man who was concussed just a few days ago."

[Grumpster]

"If the chiefs hold on, definitely the best SB match up a neutral could have hoped for. Proper shoot out between 2 offensive teams."

[Takashi Miike]

"the Bills will struggle getting back in this, Mahomes is in a great rhythm"

[IsaacHock]

"I dont have a horse in this race, but Green Bay fans must be seething coming away from this one."

[El Scorchio]

That's a really shitty call by the officials considering all the stuff they've let slide all game. Couple of just as blatant ones on Adams not called earlier. No idea why Rodgers didn't try and run it in just then though. They've blown this.

[Lee Trundle]

Officials have decided to wake up on this drive. Not working out well for Green Bay.

[crystal falace]

What the hell is the coach thinking kicking a field goal on 4th and goal with 2 minutes left!?

[zebthecat]

What the hell do I know - enjoying this.

[Lee Trundle]

Officials have been pretty generous to the Bucs.

[zebthecat]

He is certainly looking good enough and he has more receiving weapons (especially a deep threat) right now than he ever had with the Patriots. This game is over.

[Takashi Miike]

"making their secondary look stupid, this is over"

[crystal falace]

Brady might play til he's 50 at this rate

[zebthecat]

Good goal line stand by the Bucs

[Takashi Miike]

"brady throwing great, too many dropped catches but that was a good run by leonard"

[Takashi Miike]

"yes, I don't see them having anyone big enough to cover evans or gronk in the red zone, could be a long day for rodgers"

[crystal falace]

That looked very very easy for Brady on the opening drive

[Takashi Miike]

"SB, it may a symptom of having Snyder involved for two decades but there's always a disaster round the corner with him in charge. the latest GM fiasco proves that, with one minute Rivera's old mate Hurney from Carolina (fired twice in Carolina) being named the main man, then the next day them changing their mind and making ex skins CB Martin Mayhew the GM. all the while, 34 year old Kyle Smith who was loved by the fans and great at spotting talent is rumoured to be leaving. none of it makes sense, especially after such a good season & draft. the icing on the cake will be them bringing in Cam Newton, who I don't hate but he clearly struggles throwing the ball with any consistency is one big tackle away from another bad injury"

[southbankbornnbred]

"Ominously, there's talk of Belichick being in for Matt Stafford. That's a good fit for both parties (I say a little reluctantly). He's a slightly lesser version of Brady and would fit in up in Boston. TM - could you have a word and get the no-names to step up and grab him first?!"