2017 NFL Preseason Thread: Ki-Jana Carter edition

I know we have an off-season thread, but it's not the offseason anymore.
Camps opened, players have reported and preseason games are only weeks away. None too soon!

What better way to open to thread than with Tom Brady's 40th birthday. Only, what, 5-10 more years until he retires?
Off-the-field Brady : Tom Brady at 40: Stories you've never heard

Is this the year, his skills diminish? Or he gets hurt? Maybe. But probably not enough to let the Steelers, or anyone else in the AFC beat them in the championship game.

In Bengals news: Vontaze Burifict will cheap shot his own teammates.
Low hit by Vontaze Burfict leads to heated fight at Bengals training camp


Falcons and Patriots good bets to return to the Super Bowl?

 

I didn't believe the Colin Kaepernick blackballed stuff... I'm a believer now.
The Ravens coaches want to sign him, with Elite Joe Flacco having back trouble. The Ravens owner isn't sure he wants him.
http://nypost.com/2017/08/02/ravens-are-now-the-face-of-nfls-colin-kaepernick-problem/

 

The Patriots have to be a heavy favorite. They improved over the offseason. I don't know that any of the other AFC contenders improved as much.

I'm not as sure about the Falcons, though they could get there again.

Two other contenders are waiting for the NFL to stop dragging its collective heels on disciplinary matters. The league still hasn't ruled on Ezekiel Elliott and Martavis Bryant is still waiting on full reinstatement.

 

Pats' schedule opens with KC... They host Atlanta, play Oakland in Mexico City and have games in Denver and Pittsburgh.

Brady stays healthy, what the odds they go unbeaten? Worst case scenario: 14-2? No. 1 seed.

I think KC will regress, same with Denver. The Steelers, can't - can NOT - beat New England.
I'm torn on Oakland, I could see them going backwards this season, but I also think they win their division.

 

You misspelled "hours" ...

 

The Steelers could win the regular season meeting with the Patriots in Pittsburgh, but I don't see them pulling it off in the playoffs. The secondary simply isn't good enough to even slow New England down and they didn't do enough to improve it yet again.

The defense should be better if they can stay healthy. Heyward's return should give them the best defensive line they've had in a long time with continued growth from Tuitt and Javon Hargrovve. They also need more consistency from Dupree and some contribution from Watt so they can finally phase out Harrison. The optimist in me wants to believe they could win with the strategy of beating up Brady, but it's tough to expect that given the way he has torn them apart.

Bryant's situation is also huge. Yes, they have other options at receiver, but none of them can make big plays and draw attention away from Brown the way Bryant has showed he can when he manages to stop doing stupid shit long enough to play.

I'm going to be interested to find out what they have in Connor. The last two seasons have proven they need a quality option behind Bell at running back. The latter just can't seem to stay healthy through a full season.

On a related note, can everybody who claims the AFC Championship Game would have turned out differently if Bell had been healthy please shut up. The Steelers couldn't get a stop. They weren't winning that game, not even with Bell at his best.

 

Signing Kaepernick to be a back-up who doesn't play is "unpatriotic." Signing him because your starter went down and he's your best option to win will be viewed as being competitive. Morality and ethics have always been for those people who could afford to have them. How much has journalism, college athletics and even states seeking additional revenue, eased long-held stances just to keep up with the Joneses or pay the bills? Ads on 1A, advertorials, beer commercials, longer seasons, freshman eligibility, lotteries, legalizing weed, etc.

 

Tannehill hurt. Come on down, Jay Cutler!

 

Tom Brady is 40. And plans to play at least another 5-6 years. Son of a BITCH!
He joins a short, but solid list of QBs who started at least one NFL game past the age of 40.
George Blanda (41)
Warren Moon (44)
Steve DeBerg (44)
Vinny Testaverde (44)
Brett Favre
Wade Wilson
Len Dawson
Charlie Connerly
Doug Flutie
Earl Morrall
Mark Brunnell
Vince Evans
Joe Ferguson
Jim Hart
Matt Hasselback
Doug Johnson
Sonny Jurgensen
Dave Krieg
Johnny Unitas
At lot of those guys were good-to-great beyond 40. As long Brady remains upright and gets rid of the ball quickly, is there any reason to think he can't go another 4/5 years as the best QB in the NFL?

FYI: Vinateri is the oldest player in the league. He turns 45 at the end of December. After Brady, the other oldest non-kicker/punter in the league is James Harrison.

 

The last time the Patriots opened against Kansas City, this happened. Just sayin'.

 

Jer-uh must have been going to Mark Davis' barber:

 

Almost seems like three different people. I wonder which one they'll use for the bust. "New Jerry" hasn't won squat.