NFL (American Football)

[Interista Gallese]

id say those are some hard hits dude...not only do they hit hard but they travel at a much faster pace....

none of this inch by inch crap!

Spot on, though I think some of those tackles were fouls lol. I did say to Jamsie that I'd give American Football a go but I tried watching 10 minutes of the Holiday Bowl a few minutes ago on tv and its terrible. I can see the attraction for those who have never seen rugby but its like a slow, contrived version of our game.

 

[Interista Gallese]

Incidentally, its utter crap that the only way people tackle in rugby is by wrapping their arms around each other as if its some gay love-in, only when a player has gone past you do you tend to only employ your arms at his feet.

 

[jamsieboy86]

id say those are some hard hits dude...not only do they hit hard but they travel at a much faster pace....

none of this inch by inch crap!

Yeah but thats a highlight reel of how many years of rugby, you get these type of hits in the NFL every week, practically every game.

Much faster pace, bull shit, your saying rugby players run quicker than those in the NFL when they're getting tackled, I think not.

I watch lots of NFL and regularly watch Rugby and somewhat AFL, I know enough about each to make a fair comparison. I said nothing harsh about rugby but you try to argue your point by insulting NFL by saying that its entire premise, ie moving the ball down field, is "inch by inch crap".

Come back to the debate when you can behave like an adult, not just my sport is better cos yours is crap, grow up.

 

[jamsieboy86]

Incidentally, its utter crap that the only way people tackle in rugby is by wrapping their arms around each other as if its some gay love-in, only when a player has gone past you do you tend to only employ your arms at his feet.

Yeah but you have to attempt to wrap up, you can't just dive in with your head and shoulder into the guys chest and expect to get away it, I believe its called spearing.

 

[jamsieboy86]

Pffrt, if NFL is a collision sport what is boxing and those guys aint padded up like bummers.

They most certainly wear headgear at the amateur level.

Anyway this Rugby v American Football is clogging up this thread, I would suggest a separate thread, this thread should be about discussing the NFL season and its happenings, not for people to trash the sport. The NBA thread doesn't operate like that, can the mods, if they're bothered move this into a separate thread.

 

[vitomins]

Yeah but thats a highlight reel of how many years of rugby, you get these type of hits in the NFL every week, practically every game.

Much faster pace, bull shit, your saying rugby players run quicker than those in the NFL when they're getting tackled, I think not.

I watch lots of NFL and regularly watch Rugby and somewhat AFL, I know enough about each to make a fair comparison. I said nothing harsh about rugby but you try to argue your point by insulting NFL by saying that its entire premise, ie moving the ball down field, is "inch by inch crap".

Come back to the debate when you can behave like an adult, not just my sport is better cos yours is crap, grow up.

By faster pace, I think he means how incredibly slow NFL games are and I agree. I love watching football, but it is painfully slow. They play 60 minutes, yet the games take 4+ hours to complete...almost as bad as baseball!

 

[jamsieboy86]

By faster pace, I think he means how incredibly slow NFL games are and I agree. I love watching football, but it is painfully slow. They play 60 minutes, yet the games take 4+ hours to complete...almost as bad as baseball!

I see, he doesn't mean the pace when the play is going on. That's a fair assessment, its probably the biggest complaint you get from people who watch it this side of the pond, that it stops after every play.

 

[Interista Gallese]

Yeah but you have to attempt to wrap up, you can't just dive in with your head and shoulder into the guys chest and expect to get away it, I believe its called spearing.

No, you can do that. You're correct you have to use your arms to hold your opponent but there's nothing to stop you using your shoulder and head too. What you can't do is drive your opponent's head into the ground. That was what all the fuss was regarding the O'Driscoll tackle by the All Blacks. A pretty good example of how that type of tackle should be executed is to watch Gavin Henson in 2005 against England. The difference in NFL is you apparently don't have to hold your opponent, which means you let him fall to the ground, but I would be very surprised if you can drive his head into the turf. The difference is not which style is tougher, the rugby protection is that your tackler must land you properly, NFL's that you have pads.

acceptable and applauded for exhibition of upper body strength. Watch how he safely lands his opponent to the ground.

Thuggery and extremely dangerous.

I don't claim rugby is better than NFL, that's stupid, as both have an incredible volume of fans who prefer one over the other. I just don't think rugby is softer, its just different.

I do, however, think proper professional boxing, not the farce of today but the real stuff back in Ali's, Frazier's, Tyson's day is the toughest of all sports and I beg for a return to those days particularly those of Ali, Frazier and Foreman where you had three killers in the ring.

 

[Interista Gallese]

Btw, Henson's tackle wasn't a spear as it was properly executed, just to clear that up.

But to see rugby as it should be you have to look at the New Zealander and South African domestic, super, and tri-nations games. European rugby has gayed up significantly in recent years, look at old videos particularly of Wales v France matches or watch them on ESPN Classic from the seventies to see how rugby in Europe used to be.

I do agree though that this possible shouldn't be under the NFL thread as it is only taking up space to people who follow NFL. My final word is it is up to the opinion of the person in question which is better, to me rugby is, to you NFL and that should be respected. Incidentally, Jamsie, if that type of "spear tackle", i.e. the O'Driscoll one is NOT part of NFL maybe we can meet up and watch a game together so you can explain it to me over a few beers. Sadly, if it is fair game then I will have to avoid NFL as what the All Blacks did to me is not sport. Although O'Driscoll annoyed me in how he went on about it as if he was the only guy it had ever happened to.

 

[La Bling]

I tried watching 10 minutes of the Holiday Bowl a few minutes ago on tv and its terrible.

That was one of the worst games I've ever watched. I suggest you watch the championship on January 10. Oregon plays at an incredibly fast pace.

 

[Interista Gallese]

That was one of the worst games I've ever watched. I suggest you watch the championship on January 10. Oregon plays at an incredibly fast pace.

I'm always willing to give anything a chance. One thing I hate in people is when they say they don't like something without giving it a proper try. A mate of mine says he hates Italian food, never eaten it but hates it, deserves what O'Driscoll got...

Incidentally, if I do take to NFL then it will have to be New York Giants that I follow, after all how could a sophisticated, sexy, appealing man like myself go for a team outside New York?

 

[jamsieboy86]

The difference in NFL is you apparently don't have to hold your opponent, which means you let him fall to the ground, but I would be very surprised if you can drive his head into the turf.

It's perfectly legal to drive an opponent into the ground except the quarter back.

 

[Interista Gallese]

It's perfectly legal to drive an opponent into the ground except the quarter back.

Sorry, but that is thuggery, what purpose does it serve? Your aim is to down your man, like in rugby league, what's the point in excessive use of force? Most people you run into with your head and shoulder will fall fairly quickly particularly where you're wearing a helmet. I prefer my sport with rules like "don't try to kill or paralyse your opponent."

 

[blackmore]

Yeah but thats a highlight reel of how many years of rugby, you get these type of hits in the NFL every week, practically every game.

Much faster pace, bull shit, your saying rugby players run quicker than those in the NFL when they're getting tackled, I think not.

I watch lots of NFL and regularly watch Rugby and somewhat AFL, I know enough about each to make a fair comparison. I said nothing harsh about rugby but you try to argue your point by insulting NFL by saying that its entire premise, ie moving the ball down field, is "inch by inch crap".

Come back to the debate when you can behave like an adult, not just my sport is better cos yours is crap, grow up.

firstly i think vito kinda asserted my point on it being faster paced. it was not a reference to the players, but the overall sport itself. its terribly agonising to watch one game, which stems over 3 hrs.

anyway these hits happen every game in rugby as well, they havent been "collected over the years". if like u said you watched the sport, you would know.

no need for the attitude were all big boys here..

 

[Interista Gallese]

Football tries to keep it quiet that Juventus rules the referees, American Football even puts their lads in biancazzurro!

 

[Interista Gallese]

Jamsie challenged me to watch NFL to see what my opinion was, I actually like it, its very skillful and though I don't find it quite as intense as European sports I still think its exciting and will be following the play-offs.

He also told me I had to pick a team, and though he is a Saints man, he told me the stories of the other franchises and I opted for the Packers, BEFORE the Bears game - you can check with him, on account of the fact they are owned by their fans and that is a little bit like Inter.

I'm delighted with our win, thought our defence was very good and we turned it on for at least the last 25 minutes on offence, Vito sorry we put you out but at least you can follow the other New Jersey team for the rest of the year.

 

[jamsieboy86]

He also told me I had to pick a team, and though he is a Saints man, he told me the stories of the other franchises and I opted for the Packers, BEFORE the Bears game - you can check with him, on account of the fact they are owned by their fans and that is a little bit like Inter.

This is indeed true, he picked the Packers as his team mid-way through the Bucs Saints game.

I liked what I saw from the Packers tonight, think they will be very dangerous in the playoffs.

I think the Packers and Saints are the two most dangerous teams in the NFC. Others are playing better but both have solid D's and the 2 best QB's in the conference. Would not be a bit surprised if the NFC championship was Packers @ Saints.

Don't see anyone in the AFC being able to stop the Pats from reaching the Super Bowl.

Saints to win it all I hope. Geaux Saints!

 

[vitomins]

Jamsie challenged me to watch NFL to see what my opinion was, I actually like it, its very skillful and though I don't find it quite as intense as European sports I still think its exciting and will be following the play-offs.

He also told me I had to pick a team, and though he is a Saints man, he told me the stories of the other franchises and I opted for the Packers, BEFORE the Bears game - you can check with him, on account of the fact they are owned by their fans and that is a little bit like Inter.

I'm delighted with our win, thought our defence was very good and we turned it on for at least the last 25 minutes on offence, Vito sorry we put you out but at least you can follow the other New Jersey team for the rest of the year.

I figured it would end like this. The Bears had absolutely nothing to play for, so why would they even care about winning??

 

[Interista Gallese]

I figured it would end like this. The Bears had absolutely nothing to play for, so why would they even care about winning??

Wasn't quite true. Even a novice like me could see the Bears were trying, why, after all, would you want your bitterest rivals to continue in a competition when you had the chance to finish them? As I said at least you have the other New Jersey team to focus on!

 

[vitomins]

Wasn't quite true. Even a novice like me could see the Bears were trying, why, after all, would you want your bitterest rivals to continue in a competition when you had the chance to finish them? As I said at least you have the other New Jersey team to focus on!

Lol whatever you say bro. The Bears only loss, besides Sunday, in their last 9 games was against the Patriots. They beat the Eagles and the Jets in that streak. They scored 38 and 40 points in their 2 games before Sunday, but if you want to believe they really cared about the game and only managed to put up 3 points, then go ahead. There is no winner in this argument, because we cannot be inside the players mind, but its just common sense to me...