ILNFL sandbox thread, because you shouldn't pass up a chance to LOL @ the NY Giants

Those are basically the right Bears to pull for in this game.

Warren Sapp @QBKILLA
Challenge for 3yds and u dead Azzzzzz wrong???

sapp once again otm

Challenge for 3yds and u dead Azzzzzz wrong???

btw, this was warren sapp's essay answer in his university of miami application. verbatim.

Clay Matthews feelin u dawg

Man I dunno what it is about Greg Jennings in the offense that adds as much as it does (other than "Guy who is awesome at being a wide receiver") but I'd like him to come back as soon as possible.

JORDY!!!!!!!!

http://gif.mocksession.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AARON-RODGERS-JUKE.gif

He's just havin' fun out there, you guys.

that was a wonderful play.

lol he fell down from surprise

I hate the Packers. Rogers is about the most totally efficient QB this side of Steve Young, as he has enough running ability, you can't even pin him for a sack. Can't argue with him being better than Brees, Manning or Brady as those guys have done it for a long time, but he's as good and is way more mobile than them.

Kahlil Bell looks pretty good for Bears. Forte will be back next year and it looks like this guy would be a nice back to pair up as he is more of a pounder to run between the tackles.

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds -- If I'm the Packers, I sign Favre next week to play QB, running back, wide receiver, linebacker, kicker and whatever else. Rest 'em all.

yep. imagine the snickers on the packers sideline if favre was sent out as the only player for a whole offensive series.

Aaron Rodgers has outscored 7 NFL teams by himself.

I used to say Brett Favre set TD and yardage records only to keep them warm for Peyton Manning. Now I'm wondering if Peyton A. will get there, and B. if he does, is he just keeping the records warm for Rodgers.

Aaron could be more of an injury risk due to his running capability and the fact that he gets sacked way more than Peyton ever did, but if this dude stays healthy his entire career, good freaking lord.

idk sitting on the shelf until he was 24 prob didnt do much for his chances

Sitting on the shelf can only help his longevity (see: Steve Young till all the concussions killed him).

hows steve young rate as far as all time records

Steve Young's not really the best analogy, though, because he began as a starter for the Buccaneers, was considered a 'bust', then was a backup for several seasons in San Fran who still saw a decent amount of playing time, but didn't actually become a full-time starter until very late in his career. He waited a lot longer than Rodgers.

QB is a position that has good longevity, so if Rodgers stays healthy throughout his career, I think he could easily maintain higher averages than Favre did per year, which might make up the lost seasons. However, it is a big *if*, because many QBs who play Rodgers style tend to suffer injuries at some point of their career, whereas the Favres/Mannings play long uninterrupted streaks by staying in the pocket and not taking too many hits. So it remains to be seen.

(Young actually didn't become the starter until he was thirty years old!!!)

Steve Young is #1 in my heart, I don't need no book of records to tell me that.

there's a decent chance that by the end of the year 4 qbs are going to put themselves inside the top ten as far as td passes in a season (brady for the second time.)

yeah this season has been ridiculous for QBs. plus two QBs might break Marino's 1984 single season passing yardage record.

lol, Cris Carter to Steve Young: "No respect to you, Steve, but Drew Brees blah blah blah praise praise..." Did he mean to say "no disrespect" or not?

i hope the Falcons put up a fight and make this game interesting

saints look highly combustible

looooool pierre thomas pulled out a gift bow and stuck it to the ball and gave it to a fan

picture me trollin

matty light lookin sharp tonight

saints r good

Aaron Rogers is like Steve Young in that his completion percentage is totally insanely high, rarely gives up an interception and then is mobile enough to really cut down on the sacks. Young when he retired was the alltime leader in the QB rating, partially as his completion percentage and percentage of interceptions were near the top.

Now the passing game has evolved quite a bit over the past decade and you look those stats up, it's pretty much a who's who of QBs over the past decade as if you are not completing 60% or more of your passes - you are below average. There has also been a big push to get the interception totals way down and there have been some seasons like Rogers, Brady and a few others have put up that are really all time lows for interceptions, especially considering how often they pass.

lol, Jimmy Graham vs. Tiny Grimes

yeah, about that

Looking it up on Football Reference Rogers is now...

#1 in career QB rating (Tony Romo is TIED #2 w/ Steve Young oddly enough).

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/pass_rating_career.htm

#1 in career INT percentage

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/pass_int_perc_career.htm

#4 in completion percentage

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/pass_cmp_perc_career.htm

As stated, these stats are now WAY heavy weighted to the past decade when the passing game entered the flag/Techmo bowl period.

what were the fans chanting there?

Who Dat, and Who Dat Say De Gon Beat Dem Saints.

congrats Drew

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

saints -- packers rematch in playoffs should be epic.

i think the 49ers might have a thing or two to say about that match up as they have the best defense going into the playoffs

as a Packer fan the thought of a Saints rematch totally scares me although I guess they really aren't too great away from home

damn nfc is kinda stacked this year

We were working to arrange our New Orleans trip to avoid big crazy sporting events like the BCS game, and damn if we're not going to be in the middle of it on Jan. 14th & 15th. D'oh!

Balance has def shifted back to the NFC as of late, yes. xp

One thing that seems like it belongs in "Peter King's bizarre factoid nuggets of the moment that may interest only me, maybe" is that the NFC East and the NFC West both have the same combined record (28-32). This is significant considering that the East was projected to have three LEGIT playoff teams while before the season started most people projected that the Rams would take the division at 8-8 (they're currently 2-13). What does it mean? Nothing, perhaps. Maybe.

the Pro-Bowl roster has been announced:

Tom Brady is one of eight Patriots and Patrick Willis one of eight 49ers to make the Pro Bowl, the most on each roster.

Defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay (14-1), led by starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and Baltimore (11-4), led by veteran linebacker Ray Lewis, have seven apiece for the Jan. 29 game in Honolulu, the NFL announced Tuesday.

Brady is one of seven starters from New England (12-3). The others are receiver Wes Welker, tight end Rob Gronkowski, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, defensive end Andre Carter, and guards Brian Waters and Logan Mankins all are starters for the AFC from the Patriots. Special teamer Matthew Slater is the other New England representative.

Linebacker Willis, DE Justin Smith, cornerback Carlos Rogers and tackle Joe Staley will start for the NFC from the 49ers (12-3), who had only Smith and Willis make the Pro Bowl last year.

Green Bay's Rodgers is the starting NFC quarterback, backed by record-setting Drew Brees of New Orleans (12-3)...

Four of the NFL's biggest headline makers this season did not get voted in by players, coaches and fans: Lions DT Ndamukong Suh, Steelers LB James Harrison, Panthers rookie QB Cam Newton, and Denver QB Tim Tebow.

Fifteen first-time Pro Bowlers made the NFC squad, including Rogers, Staley and safety Dashon Goldson of the 49ers. Thirteen AFC players were first-time selections, including Gronkowski, Carter and Slater of New England. Carter is on injured reserve (left quadriceps) and won't play...

Fourteen teams from each conference were represented, with St. Louis (2-13) and Washington (5-10) drawing blanks in the NFC, Buffalo (6-9) and Tennessee (8-7) shut out in the AFC.

Pittsburgh (11-4), New Orleans and Chicago (7-8) each had five representatives.

Three rookies were chosen: Denver linebacker Von Miller, Cincinnati receiver A.J. Green, and Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson, selected as a kick return specialist. He has tied an NFL record with four punt runbacks for TDs this season...

All the kickers are from Bay Area teams.

NFC special teamers included two 49ers: record-setting placekicker David Akers, and punter Andy Lee; Peterson; and Corey Graham of Chicago.

For the AFC, the Raiders' Sebastian Janikowski is the placekicker, Shane Lechler the punter. The kick return specialist is Pittsburgh WR Antonio Brown, and the special-teams player is Slater.

NFC starters will be Rodgers, Eagles RB LeSean McCoy, Packers FB John Kuhn, Graham, Panthers C Ryan Kalil, Saints guards Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks, Eagles tackle Jason Peters and Staley, Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald and Lions WR Calvin Johnson on offense.

On defense, it will be Vikings DE Jared Allen and Eagles DE Jason Babin, Cowboys DT Jay Ratliff and Smith, Packers OLB Clay Matthews and Cowboys OLB DeMarcus Ware, ILB Willis, Packers CB Charles Woodson and Rogers, Seahawks safety Earl Thomas and Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson.

AFC starters will be Brady, Ravens RB Ray Rice and FB Vonta Leach, Gronkowski, Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey, Mankins and Waters at guard, Browns tackles Joe Thomas and Dolphins tackle Jake Long, Welker and Steelers WR Mike Wallace.

On defense, it will be Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil replacing Carter, Colts DE Dwight Freeney, Wilfork and Ravens DT Haloti Ngata, Miller and Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs, Lewis, Jets CB Darrelle Revis and Broncos CB Champ Bailey, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and Ravens safety Ed Reed.

Players who make the Super Bowl will be replaced on the Pro Bowl rosters.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/27/sports/s163241S00.DTL#ixzz1hnJZoriN

i think the 49ers might have a thing or two to say about that match up as they have the best defense going into the playoffs

Hahah keep dreaming, Homer McHomerlot. A halfway decent/healthy QB (e.g. Brees) will shred the secondary, you mark my words.

disagree Leee, it's supposed to be defense win championships and if you look at the statistics the 49ers have the best. they have only allowed one yes 1 rushing touchdown this year

i love offence but the playoffs are a different animal.

that being said Green Bay will probably repeat

btw, i now live in the Los Angeles area but won't let go of my love for two Bay Area teams...

following the atlanta drubbing i'm jumping on the saints bandwagon as TEAM OF DESTINY

"i love offence but the playoffs are a different animal."

Niners have been good, but if they get down two scores (and even one of those can be a field goal), I think they will be toast. They are pretty much same model that the Steelers (pre-Rofflesburger) and Ravens have been dealing for a decade.

I think defense 'used' to be the thing and if you get hot with the sacks or turnovers, sure that's big, but you got to have enough Offense to hold court.

NFC also doesn't have Favre to throw 3 dumb picks and blow a playoff game like the Eagles and others got for 1/2 a decade.

I think the Saints could get beat, as they do have a tendency to at points play down to competition. Packers are pretty damn good and Rogers doesn't throw INTs.

disagree Leee, it's supposed to be defense win championships and if you look at the statistics the 49ers have the best. they have only allowed one yes 1 rushing touchdown this year

just FYI the two WORST defenses in the league are the Patriots and the Packers and that is a very possible Super Bowl matchup

also its interesting that the Packers have actually given up more yards than they've gained on the season. more than defense winning championships I'd say getting turnovers are the key (as well as avoiding them obviously). that was a huge part of the Pack's late season run last year.

I think the Saints could get beat, as they do have a tendency to at points play down to competition.

Agree 100%. This is my biggest fear with them in the playoffs.