# 2010 NFC North Discussion Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 16, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471 "2010-08-16T23:36:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/201 "2010-10-10T21:32:35Z")
Joshua Cribbs can’t reach my face. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/202 "2010-10-11T00:03:00Z")
Anybody catch who was wearing the Bears’ uniforms in the first quarter today? It surely wasn’t the current squad… ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/203 "2010-10-11T00:04:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Joshua Cribbs can’t reach my face. Josh Cribbs would run, get a step ladder, climb up there, and liquefy your septum with his feets. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/204 "2010-10-11T00:13:34Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Props to the Lions for having a great game, and for being on the right side of a blowout for once. It came with a price. Calvin’s shoulder got hurt. they have not said how badly yet, but it was wrapped up in bandages. The Lions voted to decertify the union today. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/205 "2010-10-11T00:20:39Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Anybody catch who was wearing the Bears’ uniforms in the first quarter today? It surely wasn’t the current squad… Did you watch until the end of the first quarter? Definitely was our Bears. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/206 "2010-10-11T00:36:29Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > > Props to the Lions for having a great game, and for being on the right side of a blowout for once. > > It came with a price. Calvin’s shoulder got hurt. they have not said how badly yet, but it was wrapped up in bandages. > The Lions voted to decertify the union today. Every team will vote to decertify the union. It’s a procedural thing; doesn’t mean they don’t like the union. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/207 "2010-10-11T05:07:20Z")
Several sources are reporting that Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion on Green Bay’s last offensive play (the one where Rodgers threw the pick). With the caution the League is now showing about concussions, that means Matt Flynn is likely to start against the Dolphins. Here’s the really worrisome thing for the Packers (as if that wasn’t bad enough). The Packers currently only have two QB’s on their roster. If Flynn goes down, they don’t have anybody else. Don’t be surprised to see them bring somebody in to practice as an emergency quarterback this week. They also lost (amnong others) Jermichael Finley and Clay Matthews to hammies, though Matthews’ is reportedly minor. Injuries are kicking the shit out of Green Bay right now. Those concussions are unpredictable too. The League is being really careful with them now. Rodgers could miss more than one week. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/208 "2010-10-11T12:08:04Z")
> [@unwashed\_brain](#): > > …we’re going to need Chicago and Green Bay to stumble a bit and lose games they’ve penciled in as wins. The Redskins game counts here, and I’m guessing the loss to the Bears does as well. Congrats to the Lions for the huge victory. Really, the last two weeks have gone very well from a Vikings point of view. We’ve got a really tough test tonight on the road. [tangent] Incidentally, I had a pretty crazy sports weekend. My Dad is a huge Gamecocks fan and every year my wife and I attend one game with my parents. I picked the Alabama game this year and we got to witness the biggest win in that school’s history. Great atmosphere there. Yesterday, my wife and I went to the Braves playoff game. We went from exuberance at the outset of the game to being ground down inning after inning by Jonathan Sanchez, from total elation at Hinske’s homer to devastation as Brooks Conrad simply choked on the simplest of plays. Tonight’s the capper to this weekend and it will definitely tilt the scales one way or the other. [/tangent] Go Vikings! ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/209 "2010-10-12T00:50:45Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I think Marshawn Lynch was the Pack’s last best option. At least, I hope so. They still might be able to get somebody like Brian Westbrook or Marion Barber, though. Hey, I think Najeh Davenpoop is currently available. Maybe they could bring him back. Heh. Maybe Turdell Middleton?? Or Edgar Bennett?? Dorsey Levens is right here in the ATL doing teevee and radio work.. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/210 "2010-10-12T15:13:18Z")
Weekend Wrapup: Packers lose the game, lose thier best offensice weapon and their best defensive weapon, pus the QB gets concussed. At least it wasn’t raining. Lions, massive kudos for their biggest blowout in decades and clear evidence thatt thiis thing is turning around. Bears very ordinary game, IMO, against a bad team. Still a win is a win. Vikings came alive in the second half, but that Favre magic works both ways. Big game next week against the Cowboys, whose season ends next Sunday? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/211 "2010-10-12T15:49:28Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Here’s the really worrisome thing for the Packers (as if that wasn’t bad enough). The Packers currently only have two QB’s on their roster. If Flynn goes down, they don’t have anybody else. Don’t be surprised to see them bring somebody in to practice as an emergency quarterback this week. They actually have former Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell (who looked pretty good in some preseason work) on the practice squad. But, they don’t have anyone experienced on the bench, no. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > They also lost (amnong others) Jermichael Finley and Clay Matthews to hammies, though Matthews’ is reportedly minor. Injuries are kicking the shit out of Green Bay right now. As we learned after **Dio** posted this, Finley’s injury was actually a knee. Both he and Nick Barnett are having surgery this week, with the hope that they’ll be back at some point this season. And, Donald Lee has a chest sprain, and may be out for a couple of weeks. Which means we’re down to a couple of rookies, Crabtree and Quarless, at TE. Agreed that the Pack is getting hammered by injuries (all of this is on top of half of the starting secondary being on the PUP list). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/212 "2010-10-12T15:56:30Z")
> [@Chicagojeff](#): > > Maybe Turdell Middleton?? Or Edgar Bennett?? Dorsey Levens is right here in the ATL doing teevee and radio work.. Eddie Lee Ivery’s still in game shape. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/213 "2010-10-12T16:00:37Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > [@gonzomax](#): > > > > It came with a price. Calvin’s shoulder got hurt. they have not said how badly yet, but it was wrapped up in bandages. > > The Lions voted to decertify the union today. > > Every team will vote to decertify the union. It’s a procedural thing; doesn’t mean they don’t like the union. I know that. It is a response to the “legal monopoly” that football and baseball have. The owners are talking about going to 18 games. That means more injuries .The players will want more money. The owners will not pay more. They will lockout the players to get their way. The owners are rich and can shut the game down until they get their way, and they will. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/214 "2010-10-12T16:24:42Z")
They won’t. Nobody is dumb enough to kill _this_ golden goose. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/215 "2010-10-12T18:30:56Z")
I think 18 games is too many. I hope the players win this one. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/216 "2010-10-12T18:39:34Z")
Simple solution: limit the percentage of snaps that players can be on the field for at each position so that they don’t play any more downs. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/217 "2010-10-12T19:25:28Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Simple solution: limit the percentage of snaps that players can be on the field for at each position so that they don’t play any more downs. Limiting them isn’t going to work. But the argument that “players can’t play more” isn’t much of an argument. The gist of your idea I agree with though, I’ve been arguing this for a while now, but every time I hear a NFLPA rep or a media member talk about the wear and tear on players I roll my eyes. The solution is pretty simple and that’s to expand the rosters and to create a injured reserve list to give coaches more flexibility with their rosters. Coaches will very quickly learn that they need to change the way they do things. You could mandate it like you say but that’s a far too heavy handed approach. A better idea is simply to advise the coaches of the benefits of limiting playing time for players. Coaches who ignore this advice will lose games and lose jobs when they constantly burn out their players. QBs who take every snap for their team are already in peril and will be in more peril in an 18 game schedule. They should be benched in blowouts far more often than they are and teams should use strategies that limit their hits further. If teams can’t field QBs for 18 games then the strategies need to change, not the game and not the schedule. If teams can’t field RBs for 18 games then they should be carrying more than 3 of them on their roster and should be substituting them in and out more often. This has happened recently in the RBBC trend but should happen more. The NFL can go to 18 games and the starters don’t need to play more. Most teams have 15+ backups who never break a sweat each week, that however should change. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/218 "2010-10-12T19:37:31Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > The NFL can go to 18 games and the starters don’t need to play more. Most teams have 15+ backups who never break a sweat each week, that however should change. I agree for the most part, but they need to expand the rosters, give more flexibility with the PUP/IR decisions, and change the practice squad rules. Injuries have a huge impact on teams in the NFL, and while it nice to think that backups should be as good as starters, no NFL team can do that at every position. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/219 "2010-10-12T19:46:39Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > > [@Omniscient](#): > > > > The NFL can go to 18 games and the starters don’t need to play more. Most teams have 15+ backups who never break a sweat each week, that however should change. > > I agree for the most part, but they need to expand the rosters, give more flexibility with the PUP/IR decisions, and change the practice squad rules. > > Injuries have a huge impact on teams in the NFL, and while it nice to think that backups should be as good as starters, no NFL team can do that at every position. Isn’t that exactly what I said? I don’t think team’s backups should be as good as their starters. I just think that teams playing with backups on the field is every bit as valid and entertaining as playing with “better” starters. If a team’s backups are _really_ terrible and they lose then that’s just a lesson to not pay Albert Haynesworth $100M and more importantly to try and teach and cultivate young talent, a lost art these days. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471/220 "2010-10-18T15:34:06Z")
The Packers this year are like Chinese Water torture. Every game is the drip drip dripof penalties, ineffective offense, no running game. Not bad enough, of course, to get blown out, but not good enough to blow anybody out. I suppose most of the NFL is that way these days. On top of that the Vikings get a lucky win. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-nfc-north-discussion-thread/550471.md?page=12)