Such is the state of the NFL right now. The money couldn’t flow any faster around corporate sponsorship, advertising, and profitability among the owners of this elite club. The Super Bowl is still the biggest deal in the televised world, and football ratings and attendance are as record levels.
The only problem is, the product on the field is getting shittier and shittier as this season progresses. As of now there are 11 teams over .500 right now. Week 10! The game tonight won’t change these numbers, so it seems to me we’ve reached a level of parity that is unseen in the history of the NFL. The NFC South is led by a team with a 4-5 record (Indy). The NFC East is led by the 5-5 Giants, who just gave away their game with the Patriots yesterday. Many teams are padding their records by playing shit teams. Something the NFL can control to a certain extent, but really, Green Bay went from undefeated to a team on the slippery slope to shit-town by dropping 3 in a row to Carolina (one of the good NFC teams), Denver (who just benched Peyton Manning after his 5-20, 35 yard, 4 pick performance), and the hapless Lions.
Denver is another team that is suddenly on the skids. Peyton Manning is facing the end of his career as he set the career passing yardage record while slogging through the worst day of his NFL life. They have ridden their defense to a spotless record, only to drop 2 to 4-5 Indy and the 4-5 Chiefs. Atlanta? They have the easiest schedule, but have laid turds against (ahem) the Niners, saints (about to fire Rob Ryan), and the Buccos. Hardly the cream of the NFL. They could very well fall completely out of the playoff race.
Carolina has ridden their 6th easiest schedule to a 9-0 record. Cincy on the other hand has the 2nd toughest schedule, yet they are 8-0 (well 9-0 after they beat Houston). SF (3-6), Seattle (4-5), and AZ (7-2), have had differing levels of success in facing the 3rd, 4th, and 5th toughest schedules respectively. NE is still undefeated and they are bottom-middle with the 11th easiest (or 22nd toughest) schedule.
What does this all mean? Shit, I don’t know. But with the insane amount of injuries, head traumas, and early retirements, there may be a talent void hitting the NFL in the near future. In fact it already appears to be happening. The old guard of QBs (the Mannings, Brady, Rodgers, and Palmer, are heading off into the sunset soon, and the new guard is not looking all that ready to be the icons these guys are. Derek Carr looks like he’s a legit guy, but who else behind him? RW is following Colin Kaepernick’s career path of wilting behind a suspect line, and the Bridgewaters of the league have yet to be proven capable.
Cam Newton IS the outlier in all this. He has proven (this year at least) to be able to overcome a shit line and still make plays. Kaepernick was riding this path until the clusterfuck that this season became. RGIII is riding the bench with another injury.
Funny thing is, Newton was 5-8-1 last year, and folks were writing him off. Now. he’s a bona fide MVP candidate. Which is why I don’t think it would be a good idea to ship Kaepernick off. If anyone out there thinks Gabbert is the answer, the question should be, who is our back up?
They can do whatever they want with CK now. Let him ride the bench. Whatever. My hope is that the entire front office is gutted, a new GM (Scott Pioli?) is hired, and HE assembles a coaching staff built around our quarterback. Not the other way around. Not the cobbling together of a piecemeal staff in random order by the suddenly free-falling GM Trent Baalke, Jed York, and their latest stooge as head coach. Losing Kaepernick at this point would be the ultimate short-term decision with long-term implications.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
What are we getting from Kaep that’s worth his salary Chuck?
That’s the question.
Will he, CAN he, operate from the pocket mentally?
Gabbert is younger, cheaper, and more comfortable in the pocket.
Only way to keep Kaep is to burn his current Contract.
Beyond that, I can’t see him staying very much longer.
Based on Gabbert’s one good game against a middling defense? Right. It was that kind of thinking that led to Tim Rattay. If Gabbert beats Seattle and AZ in the next 3 weeks, well, then maybe this idea may have legs. But at this point, Gabbert is nothing but a one-hit wonder who beat a soft defense.
Kaepernick looked great against Minnesota’s 7-2 defense. If we can block for him, he’ll get his confidence back. Beyond that, as we have for the past 9 years, we need an offensive game plan that isn’t rooted in the 70s. I’d rather revamp the front office and coaching staff rather than go with Gabbert and a rookie. Please.
Folks were screaming for Cam Newton’s head on a stick before this season started. 5-8-1 will get you that. What changed?
Shit, RTF, you wrote my thread on Skeebies blog!
You’re welcome!
It is a weird year, that’s for sure. Luck is hurt and having a shit year. But he’s always thrown a lot of picks, even when healthy. I wouldn’t downplay AZ at this point. They have a tough schedule and are winning. Our defense MAY be coming around, but as always, we will go as far as our offense carries, or doesn’t carry, us. The NFC West has some good defenses, but who knows what this season so far has done to the strength of schedule numbers. But jeez, the Rams give up 37 to the Bears?
I’m thinking Carolina/AZ in the NFC Championship game, and Cincy/NE for the AFC. Actually, shit. AZ has beaten no one of real note in the 1st half. Bears, Rams, Lions, Ravens? Meh. Seattle at home is not as big as it once was. Beyond that, can Cincy finally win a playoff game?
I only read your thread after reading your comment. Sorry. It’s pretty easy to glance at the schedule and see very few superior teams.
Teddy Roosewater may not be the pure QB Carr is, but he’s a heckuva game manager and has the Vikes D and Adrian Peterson playing better than ever. QB playing well, good special teams, D and running game – sound familiar for NFC Champs? Like the last 3 years, maybe?
I expected the Vikes to improve, but I didn’t see this coming. They are as good right now as any team in the league. AP is at the top of his game. AZ has a very difficult schedule remaining; I expect the Vikes to have the #2 seed. How Teddy does in the playoffs is anybody’s guess, but I’d give them a real chance to go all the way. We’ll see – 7 long weeks to go yet before the playoffs even start (and our season ends).
IOW, I wasn’t posting your stuff – just my own take from looking at the standings.
I just checked the Vikings schedule. I may have spoken too soon. They have the Packers twice, the Seahawks, the Falcons and the Giants yet to play. Oooh, and a road game against the Cards. If they win the division and possibly the #2 seed, they’ll surely have earned it.
Funny, even BakkenBullit is posting my stuff. Looks like Skeebs has run out of shit.
The way it’s looking I don’t think Kappy will get to many more chances to show himself to the team and even though his playing has been subpar it’s pissing me off that Baalke will probably get another shot. This is his baby from the O-line on and even though we are better than a few teams out there we are not playing 49er football. We are now a young team but we pile up injuries like it’s nothing and we don’t have backups that can really compete. I don’t blame Baalke for the injuries but for backup depth it’s on him.Like I said in an earlier post I give him a .230 batting average at best for all his drafts. And, I don’t see him upping that even with a higher pick this coming draft. We need a fresh pair of eyes and some alternative knowledge to make this team a contender again.
I’m kidding RTF. No biggie. I don’t care either way. the truth remains it has been a very odd season. no team can really claim to be great. Short of NE. But they even haven’t played all that tough a schedule.
Scary thing is, we put together a win streak WE are in the playoff hunt. Not that it’ll actually happen, but beat Sea on the road and AZ at home . . who knows?
Yeah, if Jed hitches his wagon to Baalke for one more year, I fear we will suck for the next 5.
Foles just got benched for Case Keenum. Case Keenum? Was that trade of injured again Bradford for unbeatable-for-the-Eagles-but-doesn’t-fit-Fisher’s-O Foles worth it for anybody concerned? Oh, and I’m LMAO at the Eagles. I wrote that they could have had Foles-Tebow and Chip Kelly opted for Bradford-Sanchez. Sanchez did it again yesterday, played just well enough to throw the game losing EZ INT. Hahaha, Chip, if you weren’t in the NFC Least you’d be toast.
I figured St L got the better end of that deal, but at this point it’s a wash. Both are 4-5 and floundering. The Iggles have a more realistic playoff shot, them being in the NFC East.
St L, for all their acquired draft picks from the infamous RG III trade, haven’t gotten off the schneid. They still suck.
That being said, the trade made zero sense to me. It only made sense as a bargaining chip to get Mariota. That didn’t happen, so it still makes no sense. I think both would have been better off on their previous teams.
sniff……boo hoo……the best laid plans of the Rams. Perhaps LA next season?
The NFL product is seriously headed for crap town. Games generally suck. The reffing is atrocious, games are inane penalty fests. No wonder half the crowd hits the bars at half time and doesn’t come back. BTW, how do the Pats, the SBowl champs, get the 22nd toughest schedule? If they played in a division that had decent teams, they wouldn’t always get home field. But, this year, is there any division with decent teams top to bottom?…
no.
The Rams record has no bearing on them moving to LA.
If that was true, the Cards would have moved 50 times over the years.
Cindy loses to Hou? JJ Watt calls Dalton a Red Ryder BB gun, and Ginger whines about it? Too funny. Children are listening? Yeah and they are laughing at you, Andy.
Chuck we’ve seen Kaep struggle with the short passing game since the SB.
He’s now extremely high priced and, very uncomfortable in the pocket.
Gabbert is younger. Much cheaper too.
Fact remains with Kaep, he’s a runner.
Doesn’t see the Defense well enough to attack weaknesses.
He’s simply running the plays IMO.
If he stays on, he has to be restructured.
Too expensive to expose to his run-first style of play.
Short touch and accuracy remain as huge issues for what he’s costing.
Houston won that pathetic game? NFL sucks big time.
With Gabbert we are guaranteed mediocrity. Like I said he has 2 games to get his shit together. after that, fuck it. Actually I’d let him hang out to dry for the draft picks.
Kappy can be fixed. Gabbert can’t. Why is Cam Newton doing so much better this year than last? Magic? Put a good line around CK and we will be fine.
Your buddy Bullit-Bakkentom begs to differ. They hate CK. They’re waiting for Bozo the Clown to take over.
Frank Schwab, pithy in his power ranking commentary:
____________________________________
32. San Francisco 49ers (3-6, Last week: 30)
The worst thing for the 49ers is them winning just enough down the stretch that the front office starts thinking things like, “Maybe Blaine Gabbert would be a nice option to start in 2016!”
Bingo. Banking on Gabbert and a rookie is a big risk.
The problem is was and will be the blocking. If we can’t run or pass block, there’s little consistency with the offense.
I’m all for drafting a QB, and I have been for the past 3 years. But Gabbert is a non-starter.
Aldon Smith suspended one year effective immediately.
Ooops.
The Raiders need tons of help at LB and in the secondary. I don’t know how much this will hurt; their defense can’t stop anybody anyway.
Smith certainly wasn’t tearing up the league like he did a couple years ago. 21 tackles 7 assists and 3.5 sacks in 9 games is decent if not unspectacular. A far cry from his firrst 2 years.
I don’t see them getting better without him though.
There’s a lot of speculation that he was allowed to become a great pass rusher because of Justin’s ability to take out two blockers.
The Warriors are wearing Cow Palace 1966-1971 unis tonight. I recognized them instantly; I had to look up the exact dates. Nice look – “The City” with the Golden Gate Bridge logo on the front.
Something clicked – I thought the colors odd, then I saw “The City” on the front and visions of Nate Thurmond leapt to mind. Aha!
Cable Car on the back.
Another squeaker over the Raptors. They gave up an early 18 pt. lead at home. They’re going to have to play a lot better than this with a trip to LA for the Clippers Thurs. and then back home Fri. for the Bulls.
They miss Kerr. 12-0, but it won’t last long at this rate.
It’s early …….a team is bound to lose a game here and there. That’s the NBA.
No matter at least the Warriors can say “we’re not the Niners! What a relief”…….. Niners will suck for years. Ouch!
Yeah, those were the unis I grew up with. Very cool.
New thread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .