NFL Schedule Day? ZZZZZZ!!!

KB24 · 04-17-2008, 09:42 AM

Interesting take from blogger Dan Shanoff:

SportingNews.com - The Sporting Blog - Shanoff's Wake-Up Call: NFL Schedule Day? Zzz

The release of the new NFL schedule is possibly the biggest non-event of the endless football year.

And, make no mistake, the NFL has turned it into a year-round sport: From the preseason to the playoffs to free agency to the draft Combine to owner meetings to the release of each team's opponents to the release of the schedule of those games to the draft itself to minicamp to training camp, it's the league's greatest feat to have stretched a 16-game season into a 52-week pastime.

Because that schedule released yesterday? What does it really mean?

Oh, sure, we can talk about who has the toughest overall schedule (Steelers) or argue what the best single game is (Pats at Colts in Week 9) or wonder if the NFL tips its hand about the rising teams it thinks are ready to break out by their number of national TV appearances (Browns: five times) or how to start balancing bye weeks against the "April 15" version of your fantasy draft cheat sheet, but let's get real: We. Know. Nothing.

Let me remind you: The Patriots sliced through last year's regular season 16-0, then choked the entire thing away in the Super Bowl.

That's not to mock the Pats' season (well, it sort of is); the larger point is to point out the unpredictability of the NFL -- not just from Week 17 to the Super Bowl, but in the canyon stretching from April 15 through Week 17.

I could look at the Pats' schedule this year -- the seemingly easy start, the pair of back-to-back West Coast trips, the Colts game -- and guess: "17-0? Why not!" It doesn't give them any more of an April claim to being a Super Bowl "lock" than any other team.

Basing next season's projections on last season's results is folly; even without considering the inevitability of injuries or performance dropoff (or increase), the NFL's core commitment to parity means teams get better (and worse) in a hurry -- even within the next season.

A tough-looking schedule in April, with the memory of last season still so fresh, will look far different a few weeks into the 2008 season, when you realize your presumptive "toughie" game is suddenly a "gimme," and that "gimme" is suddenly an "uh-oh."

Feel free to scan your favorite team's schedule and begin making wild projections: 13-3! 12-4! 9-7! 1-15! Meanwhile, you can find someone else out there covering every other guess on the spectrum. The consolation: Someone will be right. Probably just not you.

Normally, I'm all for breathless instant history; in this case, unless you're using the schedule to make future travel plans, let's go with a nice calm "wait and see."

djnemo65 · 04-17-2008, 09:46 AM

This guy's an idiot. I have basically yet to hear a discussion of the schedule this year that isn't prefaced with something like, "we don't know how things are going to work out." This guy acts like he's the first person to observe that things will change in the NFL between now and December.

Don't see how this is an interesting take, just seems to me like a guy short on column ideas.

MTK · 04-17-2008, 10:45 AM

I heard Peter King the other day saying how silly the whole schedule release is and how it's overhyped. I agree but at the same time it just goes to show how wildly popular the NFL is. What other sports league generates so much hype over the season schedule?!

It might be useless to disect the schedule in April but it's still fun and something to talk about prior to the draft.

What's worse: the overhyped release of the NFL schedule and all the attention it gets; or someone complaining about the overhyped release of the NFL schedule and all the attention it gets?

saden1 · 04-17-2008, 11:21 AM

We have 3 divisional road games to start the season. Speaking for myself I like to know who we play first especially in light of a new coaching staff. And of course knowing when the Skins come to Seattle is important too (it's November which is better than rainy October and cold December I suppose).

redsk1 · 04-17-2008, 12:46 PM

It is laughable to have so much hype of the release of a schedule. Guess what we play everyone is our division twice, one at home and one on the road. Not really "breaking news."

04-17-2008, 09:42 AM	#1
KB24 Special Teams Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 142	NFL Schedule Day? ZZZZZZ!!! Interesting take from blogger Dan Shanoff: SportingNews.com - The Sporting Blog - Shanoff's Wake-Up Call: NFL Schedule Day? Zzz The release of the new NFL schedule is possibly the biggest non-event of the endless football year. And, make no mistake, the NFL has turned it into a year-round sport: From the preseason to the playoffs to free agency to the draft Combine to owner meetings to the release of each team's opponents to the release of the schedule of those games to the draft itself to minicamp to training camp, it's the league's greatest feat to have stretched a 16-game season into a 52-week pastime. Because that schedule released yesterday? What does it really mean? Oh, sure, we can talk about who has the toughest overall schedule (Steelers) or argue what the best single game is (Pats at Colts in Week 9) or wonder if the NFL tips its hand about the rising teams it thinks are ready to break out by their number of national TV appearances (Browns: five times) or how to start balancing bye weeks against the "April 15" version of your fantasy draft cheat sheet, but let's get real: We. Know. Nothing. Let me remind you: The Patriots sliced through last year's regular season 16-0, then choked the entire thing away in the Super Bowl. That's not to mock the Pats' season (well, it sort of is); the larger point is to point out the unpredictability of the NFL -- not just from Week 17 to the Super Bowl, but in the canyon stretching from April 15 through Week 17. I could look at the Pats' schedule this year -- the seemingly easy start, the pair of back-to-back West Coast trips, the Colts game -- and guess: "17-0? Why not!" It doesn't give them any more of an April claim to being a Super Bowl "lock" than any other team. Basing next season's projections on last season's results is folly; even without considering the inevitability of injuries or performance dropoff (or increase), the NFL's core commitment to parity means teams get better (and worse) in a hurry -- even within the next season. A tough-looking schedule in April, with the memory of last season still so fresh, will look far different a few weeks into the 2008 season, when you realize your presumptive "toughie" game is suddenly a "gimme," and that "gimme" is suddenly an "uh-oh." Feel free to scan your favorite team's schedule and begin making wild projections: 13-3! 12-4! 9-7! 1-15! Meanwhile, you can find someone else out there covering every other guess on the spectrum. The consolation: Someone will be right. Probably just not you. Normally, I'm all for breathless instant history; in this case, unless you're using the schedule to make future travel plans, let's go with a nice calm "wait and see." __________________ "The only real magic. The magic of knowledge." "Sounds like your assets are getting kicked!"

04-17-2008, 09:46 AM	#2
djnemo65 Playmaker Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,836	Re: NFL Schedule Day? ZZZZZZ!!! This guy's an idiot. I have basically yet to hear a discussion of the schedule this year that isn't prefaced with something like, "we don't know how things are going to work out." This guy acts like he's the first person to observe that things will change in the NFL between now and December. Don't see how this is an interesting take, just seems to me like a guy short on column ideas.

04-17-2008, 10:45 AM	#3
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NY Age: 52 Posts: 99,518	Re: NFL Schedule Day? ZZZZZZ!!! I heard Peter King the other day saying how silly the whole schedule release is and how it's overhyped. I agree but at the same time it just goes to show how wildly popular the NFL is. What other sports league generates so much hype over the season schedule?! It might be useless to disect the schedule in April but it's still fun and something to talk about prior to the draft. What's worse: the overhyped release of the NFL schedule and all the attention it gets; or someone complaining about the overhyped release of the NFL schedule and all the attention it gets? __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

04-17-2008, 11:21 AM	#4
saden1 MVP Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Seattle Age: 45 Posts: 10,069	Re: NFL Schedule Day? ZZZZZZ!!! We have 3 divisional road games to start the season. Speaking for myself I like to know who we play first especially in light of a new coaching staff. And of course knowing when the Skins come to Seattle is important too (it's November which is better than rainy October and cold December I suppose). __________________ "The Redskins have always suffered from chronic organizational deformities under Snyder." -Jenkins

04-17-2008, 12:46 PM	#5
redsk1 The Starter Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,351	Re: NFL Schedule Day? ZZZZZZ!!! It is laughable to have so much hype of the release of a schedule. Guess what we play everyone is our division twice, one at home and one on the road. Not really "breaking news."

NFL Schedule Day? ZZZZZZ!!!

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