The NFL Football topic

[GreenMonkeys#1]

When you're in a division with a team that is so consistently dominant, like the Patriots, it makes it extra difficult to make the playoffs.

That is also true. In the last 13 years, the Patriots made it to the playoffs 11 times. The only times were 2002 (Jets) & 2008 (Brady out, Dolphins). Buffalo has been a lost cause since, Miami hasn't done much either, and New York is probably the better of New England's rivals because of a few Wild Card appearances.

[AimYourBrent]

I would agree with that.

Once Brady and Bill B retire I'm sure that division will be pretty wide open.

[The Red Jaguars]

The Patriots were a team that never really had a hurdle to get to the playoffs. Aside from the Jets getting a wildcard spot for a couple of years, the Patriots have always had an easy road to the playoffs. I mean they sweep their division every other year. The Colts were the same way with Peyton Manning where the other 3 teams never gave them a run for the division except maybe once or twice. At least other dominant teams like Packers and Steelers/Ravens had competition in their division.

I can't wait to see how successful New England is once Brady is gone. I don't expect them to fall too far though. They have a brilliant front office and organization. They will be like the Colts where they will be back on their feet in a year or two.

[GreenMonkeys#1]

Well since the divisions switched to where they are today, 28 teams have won their respectful division (Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, & Dumbassville never won their respectful, although the last three had wild card appearances). We had made it every year except for 2005, 2006, & 2008. I think 2002, 2003, 2007, & 2013 had us alone. The rest had our rivals in the playoffs. Minnesota was in 2004, 2009, & 2012; Detroit was 2011, and Da Bears was in 2010. We played a rival in 3 of these playoffs (Minnesota 04 (L), 12 (W) both WC, Chicago 2010 NFC Championship.)

[AimYourBrent]

And the Raiders just barely snuck in there, they've been awful since they lost the Super Bowl.

[GreenMonkeys#1]

The Raiders have fallen to earth the last 10 years. They got carved by one of the greatest defenses of all time in the 2002 Buccaneers, their old coach was Tampa's coach, and they were severely exposed. After that, they have lived in the AFC West cellar for most of these years. Hell, I even remember in 2010 they swept the entire division and ended up with an 8-8 record and missed the playoffs.

[AimYourBrent]

I remember that as well! That was historic.

I hope that my Lions can return to the post season this year. We have Jim Caldwell coaching us now so we should be in good shape. Calvin goes for 2500 yards lol.

[GreenMonkeys#1]

I saw this statement on team names saying that if the Redskins name is offensive, then why aren't these teams in the big 4 sport leagues have controversy?

Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins: Mocking Native Americans
Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers: Mocks gay men
Chicago White Sox: Why's it gotta be white?
Chicago Bears, Boston Bruins: Mocks hairy gay men
San Diego Chargers: Promotes abuse of credit cards
Brooklyn Nets: Offensive to sea animals
Colorado Avalanche: Offensive to skiers
Los Angeles Lakers: Offensive to people who can't swim
Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings: Promotes rape and stealing
Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals, New Orleans Saints: Promotes Catholicism
New York Giants, San Francisco Giants, Tennessee Titans: Offensive to midgets
Dallas Cowboys: Offensive to winning & Native Americans
Cleveland Browns: RACIST!
Pittsburgh Penguins: Offensive to nuns
Cincinnati Reds: Communists
Miami Dolphins: Offensive to Peta
Kansas City Royals, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Kings: Mocks the aristocracy
Philadelphia Flyers, New York Jets, Winnipeg Jets: Offensive to Muslims
Montreal Canadians: Offensive to Americans
Minnesota Twins: Mocks Mary Kate & Ashley
Milwaukee Brewers: Promotes alcoholism
New York Yankees: Offensive to Southerners & chronic masturbaters
New York Islanders: Taunting to the Mainland
New Jersey Devils: Offensive to religious people

SAFE: Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, PittsburghSteelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers Miami Marlins, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks

That is using all NFL, MLB, NBA, & NHL teams in an offended category. Opinions?

[The Red Jaguars]

Well, most of those teams have historical roots in their geographical locations which is why a lot of old teams use different groups like races and groups to promote their team. If you've notice, most of the new teams nowadays are named after animals or inanimate objects. People today are too sensitive to use a different human group to represent their team. For example, the Boston Celtics were named after the large Irish community in that location. And the 49ers were named because of the Gold Rush of 1849.

I live 30 minutes outside D.C. and I can tell you the Redskins name change is a big deal. As a Ravens fan, I hate this team with a passion. But I strongly oppose their name being change. The name has deep historical roots in the D.C. area and it would be low blow if the team name is changed. The Skins have been around since the 1930's and are a storied franchise with storied rivalries with teams like the Cowboys and Giants. I hate for them to throw all that away due to a name that has been around for almost 80 years. While I understand that it is racial slur for Native Americans, why bring this issue up now? Why not bring it up 20-30 years ago? It would suck for the franchise to lose their historical name.

[GreenMonkeys#1]

The Redskins have had their name for 80 years and now it's a problem? They're going to undo their 3 Super Bowls, their rivalries with Dallas, Philly, & the Giants, and their storied history. This has been a problem since RG3 came. 

Also this just came out

Top 10 players
10. Jimmy Graham, Saints
9. A.J. Green, Bengals
8. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs
7. Richard Sherman, Seahawks
6. Drew Brees, Saints
5. LeSean McCoy, Eagles
4. Adrian Peterson, Vikings
3. Tom Brady, Patriots
2. Calvin Johnson, Lions
1. Peyton Manning, Broncos

[GreenMonkeys#1]

I got a "we've been waiting too long" gift... The past 12 Power Rankings at the end of season (BEFORE PLAYOFF ACTION)

2013:
1. Broncos
2. Seahawks
3. Patriots
4. 49ers
5. Panthers
6. Bengals
7. Chiefs
8. Saints
9. Colts
10. Eagles
11. Cardinals
12. Chargers
13. Packers
14. Bears
15. Cowboys
16. Steelers
17. Ravens
18. Dolphins
19. Jets
20. Lions
21. Titans
22. Rams
23. Giants
24. Bills
25. Vikings
26. Falcons
27. Raiders
28. Browns
29. Buccaneers
30. Jaguars
31. Redskins
32. Texans

2012: 
1. Broncos
2. Falcons
3. Patriots
4. Texans
5. 49ers
6. Packers
7. Seahawks
8. Colts
9. Redskins
10. Ravens
11. Bengals
12. Vikings
13. Bears
14. Giants
15. Cowboys
16. Steelers
17. Rams
18. Saints
19. Buccaneers
20. Panthers
21. Chargers
22. Dolphins
23. Bills
24. Titans
25. Jets
26. Browns
27. Cardinals
28. Lions
29. Raiders
30. Eagles
31. Jaguars
32. Chiefs

2011:
1. Packers
2. Saints
3. Patriots
4. 49ers
5. Ravens
6. Steelers
7. Lions
8. Falcons
9. Texans
10. Giants
11. Bengals
12. Titans
13. Chargers
14. Eagles
15. Jets
16. Cowboys
17. Raiders
18. Bears
19. Cardinals
20. Broncos
21. Seahawks
22. Chiefs
23. Panthers
24. Bills
25. Dolphins
26. Redskins
27. Jaguars
28. Buccaneers
29. Browns
30. Vikings
31. Colts
32. Rams

2010:
1. Patriots
2. Falcons
3. Steelers
4. Ravens
5. Saints
6. Jets
7. Bears
8. Eagles
9. Colts
10. Giants
11. Packers
12. Chiefs
13. Buccaneers
14. Chargers
15. Raiders
16. Jaguars
17. Seahawks
18. Rams
19. Dolphins
20. Cowboys
21. Texans
22. Lions
23. Titans
24. 49ers
25. Redskins
26. Vikings
27. Cardinals
28. Browns
29. Broncos
30. Bengals
31. Bills
32. Panthers

2009:
1. Colts
2. Saints
3. Chargers
4. Vikings
5. Packers
6. Eagles
7. Cowboys
8. Patriots
9. Cardinals
10. Bengals
11. Ravens
12. Texans
13. Steelers
14. Falcons
15. Jets
16. Giants
17. Titans
18. 49ers
19. Broncos
20. Panthers
21. Dolphins
22. Bears
23. Jaguars
24. Bills
25. Seahawks
26. Browns
27. Raiders
28. Chiefs
29. Redskins
30. Buccaneers
31. Lions
32. Rams

2008:
1. Titans
2. Giants
3. Panthers
4. Colts
5. Steelers
6. Patriots
7. Falcons
8. Ravens
9. Dolphins
10. Vikings
11. Eagles
12. Cardinals
13. Jets
14. Bears
15. Cowboys
16. Buccaneers
17. Saints
18. Chargers
19. Broncos
20. Texans
21. Redskins
22. 49ers
23. Bills
24. Packers
25. Jaguars
26. Raiders
27. Bengals
28. Seahawks
29. Browns
30. Chiefs
31. Rams
32. Lions

2007:
1. Patriots
2. Cowboys
3. Colts
4. Packers
5. Chargers
6. Jaguars
7. Browns
8. Steelers
9. Seahawks
10. Giants
11. Titans
12. Buccaneers
13. Redskins
14. Cardinals
15. Texans
16. Vikings
17. Eagles
18. Bengals
19. Saints
20. Lions
21. Bears
22. Broncos
23. Panthers
24. Bills
25. Ravens
26. 49ers
27. Jets
28. Falcons
29. Chiefs
30. Raiders
31. Rams
32. Dolphins

2006:
1. Chargers
2. Bears
3. Ravens
4. Colts
5. Patriots
6. Saints
7. Eagles
8. Jets
9. Cowboys
10. Seahawks
11. Chiefs
12. Broncos
13. Bengals
14. Jaguars
15. Rams
16. Giants
17. Steelers
18. Titans
19. Packers
20. Panthers
21. Bills
22. 49ers
23. Falcons
24. Vikings
25. Texans
26. Dolphins
27. Cardinals
28. Redskins
29. Browns
30. Buccaneers
31. Lions
32. Raiders

2005:
1. Colts
2. Seahawks
3. Broncos
4. Jaguars
5. Giants
6. Bengals
7. Panthers
8. Steelers
9. Buccaneers
10. Bears
11. Chiefs
12. Patriots
13. Redskins
14. Chargers
15. Cowboys
16. Dolphins
17. Vikings
18. Falcons
19. Rams
20. Eagles
21. Ravens
22. Browns
23. Cardinals
24. Bills
25. Lions.
26. Titans
27. Packers
28. Raiders
29. Jets
30. 49ers
31. Saints
32. Texans

2004:
1. Steelers
2. Patriots
3. Eagles
4. Colts
5. Chargers
6. Falcons
7. Packers
8. Broncos
9. Jets
10. Bills
11. Seahawks
12. Ravens
13. Jaguars
14. Vikings
15. Bengals
16. Saints
17. Rams
18. Chiefs
19. Panthers
20. Texans
21. Giants
22. Lions
23. Cowboys
24. Cardinals
25. Redskins
26. Titans
27. Raiders
28. Buccaneers
29. Bears
30. Browns
31. Dolphins
32. 49ers

2003:
1. Patriots
2. Chiefs
3. Rams
4. Colts
5. Titans
6. Eagles
7. Panthers
8. Packers
9. Seahawks
10. Ravens
11. Broncos
12. Dolphins
13. Cowboys
14. Vikings
15. Bengals
16. Saints
17. 49ers
18. Buccaneers
19. Bears
20. Steelers
21. Jets
22. Bills
23. Falcons
24. Redskins
25. Jaguars
26. Lions
27. Texans
28. Browns
29. Chargers
30. Raiders
31. Giants
32. Cardinals

2002:
1. Eagles
2. Packers
3. Buccaneers
4. Raiders
5. Titans
6. Steelers
7. 49ers
8. Colts
9. Giants
10. Falcons
11. Saints
12. Broncos
13. Patriots
14. Dolphins
15. Jets
16. Browns
17. Chiefs
18. Bills
19. Chargers
20. Seahawks
21. Ravens
22. Rams
23. Redskins
24. Panthers
25. Vikings
26. Jaguars
27. Cardinals
28. Cowboys
29. Bears
30. Texans
31. Lions
32. Bengals

[AimYourBrent]

Was that list of "offensive" team names supposed to be serious?? Most of those are so over-reaching that it's baffling and not even worthy of debate.

[GreenMonkeys#1]

Was that list of "offensive" team names supposed to be serious?? Most of those are so over-reaching that it's baffling and not even worthy of debate.

Some but not all, most were jokes. Obviously the Native American category but the rest were from a post I found.

[AimYourBrent]

To elaborate more on the Redskins situation:

This is NOT a new issue, it's only recently gained more traction. There is a group that represents about 1.2 million Native Americans that is calling for the name to be changed, and has been for quite some time.

The name is much more offensive than "Braves" or "Indians" because of its historical use as a slur against Native Americans. Though a case can be made for those as well.

Changing the name would not retroactively take away the franchise's Super Bowls, nor would it take anything away from their rivalry with their fellow NFC East foes. No matter what they're called, they are still DC's NFL team and have a deep, rich history in pro football. Nothing can take that away aside from relocation, which will likely never happen.

[The Red Jaguars]

There is no denying that the name is offensive. I have lived in the DC area my entire life and they have been talking about it for years. I mean even back in the 90's they were talking about changing the team name. I totally understand how this name is offensive. The reason why I don't think it is a big deal or it should be changed because it has historical roots. Back when the name was first introduced, people didn't care about racial issues at all. Now, no one would dare even to use a Native American as a team logo. It shows you how much times have changed. It would still be sad though to see them lose a historical name that has been attached this area for so many years. Especially their rivalry with Dallas is a classic.

But Brent is right, nothing would really change if the Skins name were changed. They would still have 3 Lombardi trophies, still remain in the NFC East, and still have their large fanbase. And the Skins have sucked bad in recent years, so it might not be a big loss anyways.