American Sports Thread

[TabClear]

Not talking about it to the media or at least playing it down would have been a start.

There's no doubt he limped in the first half and didn't in the second. If, as suggested, he got a big blast of painkillers at half time I'd ask - why did he not get it before the game started?

Maybe he didn't realise it was as bad as it was until the game. I know I have trained on injuries and thought I was fine for matches. When the game starts its a different intensity,  no matter how good your training is.

They obviously wouldn't have wanted to give an injection if avoidable as it increases the risk of aggravating the injury

[Club Rossa]

I would say Seattle is the last place an injured QB would want to go to.

[cadhlancian]

Looks like Cardale Jones is heading to the NFL draft. Very interesting decision, and would be a serious gamble for anyone to take given the body of work that exists. Could be anything.

[cadhlancian]

Curveball . Heading back to school!

[gallsman]

Matt Cassell has made himself a fair bit of money having never started in college.

[AZOffaly]

Curveball . Heading back to school!

I was thinking that would be nuts alright. If he came out, he'd be a 3rd or 4th rounder at most.

[cadhlancian]

He was drafted in the 7th round, somehow I don't think Jones would have been a 7th rounder, possibly a first rounder , more than likely would have gone in the second. Irrelevant now.

[AZOffaly]

On 3 games? No way first or even second round in my opinion. Way too big of a risk. He'd be a project.

[AZOffaly]

I just check to see what the NFL draft guys were saying. This is from McShay.

Heading into Monday night's title game, I would have said that Jones was somewhere in the seventh-round or undrafted free-agent range, but after seeing the way he performed in the championship game win, including the fact he was able to go through his progressions and display outstanding poise, I think he's more in the fourth- or fifth-round range. I texted three NFL scouts Tuesday morning, and all three pegged Jones as a Day 3 prospect. However, they admitted they would have much more work to do studying him if he declares.

Any NFL team that drafted him would be gambling on his raw tools, and they would need to have a quarterback coach on staff who is: A) willing to invest the necessary time to develop him; and B) capable of translating Jones' physical abilities to the NFL level.

Bottom line: This is a highly unusual situation. It'd be extremely rare for a quarterback to be drafted after just three games, even one with Jones' raw abilities. But rarely, if ever, do we see a QB have a three-game debut like the one Jones just put together.

[cadhlancian]

He was asked in his interview about the possibility of missing out on being a first round pick. Mel Kiper said the second round.

[Syferus]

He was drafted in the 7th round, somehow I don't think Jones would have been a 7th rounder, possibly a first rounder , more than likely would have gone in the second. Irrelevant now.

No franchise with sense would spend a second-rounder on a lad with three starts to his name and third on a college team's depth chart. When everything was even both Miller and Barrett were seen as better QBs than Jones in the eyes of one of the best college coaches of the modern era.

Jones showed well; if he can hold the starting job next season or take it the year after (he's a redshirt Sophomore) he'll be properly draftable. A few years ago the last Duck to get Oregon to the title game, Darron Thomas, made the mental decision to declare after his junior season. Everyone thought it was madness and he wasn't drafted and he disappeared off the face of the Earth, never even making an NFL practice squad. And he started for two full seasons and half of another. It should be a lesson for anyone in Jones' position.

And Mel Kiper is more hair than sense.

[Muck Savage]

It helps a lot when you have a strong running game. Everyone spends time trying to stop the Arab and it opens up big holes up field to throw to.
He has a big Arm and I think if he puts up a solid year next year (if 1st choice) then he would be a round 1-2 pick. Right now he'd be a 7th round gamble that someone like the Raiders would go for, remember JaMarcus Russel!

[stew]

Come crunch time Brady again comes up trumps, Strange they didn't waste time with 2 runs on the last set of plays. still think Manning better than him, well Seattle a team i love to hate up next, don't think they have much trouble the nit though, i leave that to green bay cream them

Brady is a crunch time pressure player!!
Running game or lack of will stop their chances IMO

Rodgers needs to up his game in second half v Dallas !

Injury clearly hindering him

Made a miraculous recovery in the second half, even forgot to limp.

So he's faking it in your opinion? Do NFL players actually do this and what's the logic behind it?

All I'll say is it's very rare to see an injury improve as a game goes on. Looking at Rodgers it appeared he could barely walk off the field at half time. Never limped at all after that from what I saw. I have my opinion as to why he did this. I'm sure the officials would have handled low, late hits to Rodgers (like the two Romo received) differently.

What a load of bollocks, think on this! Rodgers get stomped by Suh, a three hundy pounder deliberately, that is going to smart a wee bit, he was clearly not himself in this game but is among the greatest ever and got the job done!

The man is simply miraculous and the reason the Pack are in the NFC Championship game, rule the Packers out at your peril!


By the way, Go Pats go!!!!

[AZOffaly]

He was asked in his interview about the possibility of missing out on being a first round pick. Mel Kiper said the second round.

I saw Kiper's interview alright. I think he rated him as a 3rd or 4th rounder, but said some team might take a gamble in the second round. I suppose they might have, but I just can't see it. Draft picks are golddust in a salary capped NFL, so to risk a second round on someone like that would have been madness. Having said that, the Raiders and Bengals have done some crazy stuff in their time, but I can't see it.

[magpie seanie]

Come crunch time Brady again comes up trumps, Strange they didn't waste time with 2 runs on the last set of plays. still think Manning better than him, well Seattle a team i love to hate up next, don't think they have much trouble the nit though, i leave that to green bay cream them

Brady is a crunch time pressure player!!
Running game or lack of will stop their chances IMO

Rodgers needs to up his game in second half v Dallas !

Injury clearly hindering him

Made a miraculous recovery in the second half, even forgot to limp.

So he's faking it in your opinion? Do NFL players actually do this and what's the logic behind it?

All I'll say is it's very rare to see an injury improve as a game goes on. Looking at Rodgers it appeared he could barely walk off the field at half time. Never limped at all after that from what I saw. I have my opinion as to why he did this. I'm sure the officials would have handled low, late hits to Rodgers (like the two Romo received) differently.

What a load of bollocks, think on this! Rodgers get stomped by Suh, a three hundy pounder deliberately, that is going to smart a wee bit, he was clearly not himself in this game but is among the greatest ever and got the job done!

The man is simply miraculous and the reason the Pack are in the NFC Championship game, rule the Packers out at your peril!


By the way, Go Pats go!!!!

If that's all that's wrong with him he's an even bigger pussy than I had him down for.