NFL in London

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Mid June News

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The NFL off season continues to trudge on with the speed of cold molasses, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have some exciting Mid June News for you!
Ok, exciting might be a bit much, but we have news!

NFL Passport Tour

Have you heard about the NFL Passport Tour making its way to Europe next week? Either did we, but some US news organisations are reporting on it.

Here is where we first learned about it.
https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2023/06/13/michael-gallup-player-passport-tour/

Apparently, the NFL will be sending 8 players to the UK and Germany to do a press the flesh session with fans and media in those locations.

Players that have been slated to arrive include: Michael Gallup; Clyde-Edwards Helaire, Kevin Byard, Gabe Davis and a few more, but again, details have been a bit sketchy.

Give that MLB will be in London this week. don’t be surprised if you see them pop into some of the events or the games that are lined up next weekend.

TB12 Me

Tommy is finally an owner, and Vegas fans are clamouring for ‘We Want Tommy’, as TB12 continues to needle at the should of Jimmy G.

While the prospect of Tom Brady suiting up again for the Raiders is very remote, that doesn’t stop fans from wishing, hoping and dreaming that he’ll slide down from the upper decks, onto the field in full uniform and score three times with only 30 seconds to spare.

Keep dreaming.

Wanna Bet

The NFL is starting to crack down on gambling players like Netflix smashes password sharers.

Turns out if you’re sitting in a team facility, you CAN’T actually wager on your team, another team, Spelling Bee’s or the like, as it’s against team policy.

With Detroit getting burned heavily this year for not enforcing the rules, the really big question is ‘Who is the $8 Million Dollar Man’?
You know, the player who admitted to spending over $8mil last season betting on games?

That right there is a real problem, because it’s not like he was dropping change he found on his car seat on a righteous cause.
That’s what we call a ‘gambling problem.’

Expect more players to have the house come crashing down on them as the season continues.

Jacked Jones

Jack Jones might sound like a brand for fresh threads, but it’s also the name of a Patriots player found with a couple of nasty old handguns last week.

Jones placed two loaded guns with extended clip delivery rounds in his bag prior to boarding a flight from Boston to Arizona, sending off all kinds of alarm bells.

Seriously, two loaded firearms on an afternoon flight? You were on Twitter last month chastising Ja Morant for his gun behaviour, and now you do the same thing?

Supplemental Draft

‘The Supplemental Draft’ sounds like a side effect from one of those American weight loss drugs, or one of those Drafts that is held to help the wounded egos of those not previously picked. Sort of.

The idea behind a SD is that it gives players who might have fallen between the college cracks, or had eligibility issues to get a fresh start with a team.
There hasn’t been one held since 2019, and given the increasing amount of injuries each year, you can see why the NFL wants to get as many healthy bodies as possible.

This Draft is set up differently that the traditional one, giving non-playoff teams the chance to access a new host of players. (Remember Josh Gordon?)

The Supplemental Draft will be held in July, which means the regular season is only weeks away!

MLB in London

Ok, so it isn’t the NFL, but Major League Baseball is coming to London this week.

MLB Europe is throwing out all the balls, as they prepare to host a weekend of games at London’s Olympic Park between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs.

To put that into football terms, it would be like if Leicester player Leeds this year. (wait, weren’t they both relegated??)

While the games might not feature two teams in contention, it should be a hoot as the league takes over Trafalgar Square for a few days of baseball fun.

If you’re looking to get that feeling of Americana, bring the family down to experience the batting cages, meeting players, and of course the FOOD!

Here’s more info for you!

https://www.mlb.com/international/events/london-series

That’s it for our Mid June News! Make sure you have a listen to our latest podcast!

June News

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You hear that May? It was a ‘see ya!’, as we move ever closer to the start of the 2023 NFL season, and we hit you with some June News!

You see once June is gone, then it’s July, and then hoo-wee, it’s preseason, and training camp, and time to start thinking of your fantasy options for the new year.

Here are some of the stories that we have been following:

Brady Owns You

So Tom Brady is finally an NFL owner, and everyone starting thinking the same thing ‘he’s going to play again.’

With a tough set of rules that includes needing a positive vote from every NFL team, not to mention the fact that fat-Brady hasn’t been seen doing anything physical, means that Brady will most definitely not be suiting up for the Raiders.

It would be nice if big-wig owner Mark Davis forced TB12 to have to get a haircut similar to his, and they could match outfits and walk around like twins.

For one of those men, this would be a major league dream. Let you guess who that player might be.

Dee-Hopping

Now that the Cardinals have flushed away the big time payday of star WR Deandre Hopkins, now comes the big question as to who could afford him.

With DH wanting at least $15M guaranteed, that is a big-ass bridge too far for many clubs who are struggling to do the maths on their salary caps.

Given that he asking for that much money, it looks like the Cowboys and Giants are out of the discussion, as there is no way they can find that kind of cash in the couch cushions.

Of course one team that does have that kind of money is the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Be a scary thought to put all that action together, but it seems likely.

Bear the Eff Off

It looked like the Bears were going to be shuffling off to Arlington Heights in a few years, as the tattered Soldier Field seems less and less desirable for the Bears org.

Boasting the smallest stadium in the NFL with one of the oldest franchises, many are wondering where the Bears will go to build on the next hundred years.

It seems that Arlington might be off the table, as a recent look at the tax situation means that the Bears might not only NOT get a good deal, it is now WAY more expensive to move north than they originally thought.

Chicago Bears org has now been crying that they will need some sort of tax help to make the move a reality. Really hard to see through those tears in a cost of living crisis.

Ed Bills

The Buffalo Bill finally stretched their tight pants to pull out the wallet, and pay DT Ed Oliver.

Often inconsistent, Oliver was a top 10 pick that has had moments of shine for Buffalo.

The Bills agreed to a four-year, $68 million deal that guarantees Ed at least $45million, and should have him settle in nicely for the Bills.

Going to be a tough D division with a Patriots squad that just seems to keep getting better.

Pools, Pools, Pools

Just an FYI for all you NFL fans in the UK that we are looking to expand on our Weekly Fantasy Pools once again this year.

After expanding on our offerings last season, we are now looking to add a few new leagues for UK fans to play along in.

With a mix of free and pay to play leagues across the NFL app, ESPN and Sleepr, we are hoping to create a big more excitement this season, and develop a bit of a fantasy hub so that you guys can get involved as well.

Please feel free to reach out to us, and we will get you on the list of potential players for this season.

Thanks for reading our June News, and here’s to having a great summer of 2023!

Top 10 NFL Coaches of All Time

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Let’s shake up the Argument Tree by asking who are the ‘Top NFL Coaches of All Time’!
Sure this kind of click bait type of headline is sure to fire up some of our ardent fans, but don’t worry, we let ChatGPT do it.
Not to miss out on the digital-slavery part of history, we sequestered an AI to craft an article on the ‘Top 10 NFL Coaches of All Time.’

So how does it do? Let’s find out and take a look at the list.

The National Football League (NFL) has witnessed countless coaching greats who have left an indelible mark on the game. These strategic masterminds have steered their teams to glory, sculpting dynasties and inspiring generations of players. In this article, we dive into the fascinating world of NFL coaching to bring you the top 10 coaches of all time. Brace yourself for a blend of informative insights, quirky anecdotes, and a dash of humor as we celebrate these legendary figures.

  1. Vince Lombardi – The Perfectionist Maestro:

Kicking off our list is none other than Vince Lombardi, the epitome of coaching excellence. Known for his relentless pursuit of perfection, Lombardi led the Green Bay Packers to five NFL Championships, including the first two Super Bowl victories. His stern demeanor and iconic quotes like, “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing,” still resonate within the football community. Lombardi was a true legend and set the benchmark for greatness.

  1. Bill Belichick – The Hooded Genius:

No top 10 list would be complete without the modern-day coaching genius, Bill Belichick. The mastermind behind the New England Patriots’ dynasty, Belichick’s meticulous attention to detail and ability to adapt are unparalleled. Whether it’s his poker-faced sideline demeanor or his affinity for hoodies, Belichick’s success and his dry wit make him a force to be reckoned with and a man of few words, unless you mention the Jets!

  1. Don Shula – The Winningest Coach:

Don Shula, the iconic coach of the Miami Dolphins, etched his name in the annals of NFL history. With 347 career victories, he holds the record for the most wins by a head coach. Shula’s wit and leadership helped him lead the Dolphins to two Super Bowl victories and an undefeated season in 1972, earning him the nickname “Donnie Football.” He might not have always smiled, but when he did, it was usually followed by a victory.

  1. Bill Walsh – The Architect of a Dynasty:

Bill Walsh’s innovative offensive strategies revolutionized the game. As the architect of the San Francisco 49ers’ dynasty in the 1980s, he introduced the groundbreaking West Coast offense. Known for his attention to detail, Walsh’s humor often came through in his “Walshisms” – pithy one-liners that kept players on their toes. The combination of his wit and strategic genius earned him a place among the greatest coaches of all time.

  1. Tom Landry – The Stetson-Wearing Legend:

Tom Landry, the iconic coach of the Dallas Cowboys, epitomized class and style on the sidelines. Sporting his trademark fedora, Landry led the Cowboys to two Super Bowl victories and appeared in five. His calm and composed demeanor earned him the nickname “The Man in the Hat.” Under that cool exterior, Landry’s dry sense of humor added an extra dimension to his coaching prowess.

  1. Chuck Noll – The Steeler of Success:

Chuck Noll is synonymous with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ success in the 1970s. Noll’s calm and composed approach helped him build a dynasty, guiding the Steelers to four Super Bowl wins. Known for his witty comebacks and playful banter with players, he balanced authority and camaraderie to create an environment of excellence. Noll’s coaching style reminds us that humor and success can go hand in hand.

  1. Joe Gibbs – The Racing Champion Turned Coach:

Joe Gibbs, a former NASCAR racing team owner, transitioned seamlessly into coaching and found remarkable success with the Washington Redskins. Known for his sharp wit and humor, Gibbs led the Redskins to three Super Bowl victories. His ability to motivate players and his strategic brilliance made him a beloved figure both on and off the field. Whether he was calling plays or cracking jokes, Gibbs knew how to keep the team fired up and laughing their way to victory.

  1. Paul Brown – The Innovative Mastermind:

Paul Brown, the founder and original coach of the Cleveland Browns, was a true innovator. He introduced a host of new strategies and techniques that revolutionized the game. Brown’s dry sense of humor and quick wit added an extra dimension to his coaching prowess. His famous quote, “The key to being a good manager is keeping the people who hate you away from those who are still undecided,” showcases his ability to lighten the mood while staying focused on success.

  1. Bill Parcells – The Big Tuna:

Nicknamed “The Big Tuna,” Bill Parcells left an indelible mark on the NFL with his tough, no-nonsense coaching style. Parcells’ ability to turn struggling teams around and lead them to success is legendary. His dry humor often came through in his press conferences, leaving reporters both amused and perplexed. Parcells had a knack for delivering punchy one-liners, making him as entertaining off the field as he was formidable on it.

  1. George Halas – The Founding Father:

Rounding out our list is the legendary George Halas, the founder of the Chicago Bears and one of the architects of the NFL itself. Halas’ coaching career spanned over four decades, during which he led the Bears to six NFL Championships. Known for his fiery personality and sharp wit, Halas was a true pioneer of the game. He once quipped, “Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it,” a sentiment that perfectly encapsulates his commitment to excellence.

Conclusion:

The top 10 NFL coaches of all time have left an enduring legacy on the sport, achieving remarkable success while injecting humor and wit into the game. From the perfectionist ways of Vince Lombardi to the dry humor of Bill Belichick and the witty banter of Joe Gibbs, these coaching greats have inspired players and fans alike.

Their ability to lead, strategize, and entertain has solidified their places in football history. As we celebrate these legends, let us not only cherish their coaching achievements but also appreciate the smiles, laughter, and occasional comedic relief they brought to the intensity of the game.

Not a bad job for an AI, although we would comment that the list is notably lacking any coaches of colour, as well as Nathaniel Hackett.

 

 

May Daze

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Wow this spring seems to drag on forever! When is the NFL back? Is it training camp yet? All of these questions might be answered in this May Daze podcast.

As the weeks trudge on, it’s still almost 4 months to go before the NFL season kicks off again.
Just as a comparison, you can still build half a human in that time, although some religious folks might dispute the timeline.

To help you get through the doldrums, we have a podcast to help get you through the week, as Wade and Ryan wax on about all the nonsense that it is filling their heads as of late.
Make sure you get a listen to it here.

Among some of the things that the guys discuss in this podcast includes:

London Games

Hooray! We finally know all of the teams that are coming to Europe this year, spoiler alert-we get Jag’d off twice!

First up on October 1, 2023 will be an AFC/ NFC battle as the Jacksonville Jaguars host the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley stadium.
Both teams have been here in the past few years, so it will be a nice surprise for Falcons fans who get to see their mediocre team twice in as much time.
The game should serve to build up the momentum for Jacksonville, and it will be nice to see what Calvin Ridley will treat UK fans to.

October 8th is a date to remember to bring your folding table from Costco, as the Bills Mafia descend on London for a match up between the Jaguars.
The last time the Bills came to London, they also played the Jaguars in 2015, but lost that game 34-31.
This should be an exciting game, with loads going on that week.

October 15th is the final of the London games for this year, as the Tennessee Titans host the Baltimore Ravens at Tottenham stadium.
Lamar Jackson and OBJ will be the big names to see, as this AFC battle should be an entertaining one for the London faithful.

Bye Cummies

The Washington Commanders sale is now going through, as the league says ‘see ya’ to Dan Snyder and his minions.
Having bought his childhood favourite team for $750 million in 1999, we went on to honour the legacy of the ‘Skins by not investing in the stadium, sexual allegations from cheerleaders, and changing the name to something horrible.
Your 12 year old self would vomit in your own mouth Dan if he/you saw what you/he did.
At least Magic Johnson doesn’t have any skeletons in his closet.

Super Bowling

The NFL went ahead and announced another Super Bowl last week, as if the 2023 schedule release wasn’t enough for hungry fans!

It looks like the trophy is heading back to SoCal for 2026, as the league heralded the 49ers as the hosts of the big game.
Given the rise in homelessness and sky-rocketing business vacancy rates in the city, tickets shouldn’t be that hard to finagle.

The other two Super Bowls are of course 2024 in Las Vegas, and 2025 in New Orleans.

With the legalisation of cannabis in many of these states, it will be interesting to see the state of many of the fans, as Vegas is going quite green these days for a desert.

Stream it Ain’t So

So YouTube will be showing the NFL this year, but given how the NBA Playoffs have been going, it might be a bit nervous for many NFL fans.

With reports of drop-outs, no streams and constant crashes, many NBA fans have taken to social media to rant about the state of the Google player.

Many UK fans remember that horrible debacle that occurred when the dolts at Deltatre took over the Gamepass, and we had nothing but outages for weeks.
They also got really butt-hurt when we complained on Twitter, and told the NFL UK not to work with us as a result.

Thankfully Deltratre is gone, and Dazn is in, so the streaming options for UK fans should be ok, after the NFL cracked the whip on them.

The big scary factor for US fans is that one of the Wild Card games will ONLY be available on Peacock, leaving tens of millions of fans unable to watch.

Good luck with that Peacock, what could go wrong?

Watch this space, as we will be announcing some big activity around the London games this year! Until then, enjoy the sunshine of your May Daze!

 

2023 London Games

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The 2023 London Games have been announced by the NFL, and the world seems right again.
The Jags will be playing in London two weeks in a row, and the Bills and Titans get two home games.
2023 has the NFL rocking Europe. Bring it on!

Our Predictions

Every year we here at NFL in London make our picks for who will be playing in the capital and when, and this season was as hit as miss as any.

We did correctly guess that the Bills would play on Oct 8th and the Titans on the 15th, as well as picking that the Ravens would be one of the teams to visit.
Other than that, we got it all wrong.

The Jags will be coming early October, (not late like we thought), and they are playing back-to-back in London, which fits given their current home stadium situation.

We had also heard that the Bears would be coming to Germany, but it seems like we weren’t the only ones, after Donna Kelce give us some insider tips.

Oh well, you can’t get them all right.

Oct 1- Falcons vs Jaguars (Week 4)

Atlanta is back in London after only a year away, as the Falcons look to take their ‘rebuild’ team to Europe to take on the AFC’s new/ old darling.

With Jacksonville struggling to get their home stadium affairs in order, they begin the nomadic hosting of games as Wembley, in a battle of the south.

Trevor Lawrence & Bijon will be some of the big names to to attend, and it will be fun to see Calvin Ridley play his old team in a country where betting is completely legal.

Should be a great game to kick off the season!

Oct 8- Jaguars vs Bills (Week 5)

Bills Mafia will be in full force, as they host the Jags in an awesome AFC battle that should be a decider in both of their divisions.

Josh Allen and the boys will be riding the blue high into Tottenham stadium for this 2:30pm kickoff, and expect a massive home crowd of Bills UK and Buffalo supporters making the trek.

With Jacksonville playing two games in row, they should be comfortable on London turf, and it will be a nice surprise for them to actually be the visitors in London for the first time ever.

Unlike many previous London games, this one could be a shoot-out.

Oct 15- Ravens vs Titans (Week 6)

Lamar is coming guys! Lamar is coming.

The Ravens have tidied up all of their drama, secured some new receivers, and are ready to ‘ahem’ their way into the AFC again this season.

Sure Joey B and them cats are getting all the love, but the Ravens know that every AFC win this year is key to moving into the top 4 discussion.

Tennessee has Billy Jeans, sorry Will Levis, so they will be ready to bring the Music City if fun to London for the final of the London games.

A great way to end the last of the London games, and this one sure should be full of excitement in North London.

Germany

The Germans proved to be exceptional hosts when the NFL came to Europe, and has set a bar to English fans that we need to sing, and smile more if we want to up out game.

With two great games set to touchdown across Germany in November, fans there are in for a fall treat of some pretty amazing games.

Nov 5- Dolphins vs Chiefs (Week 9)

It’s Tua vs Patrick, as the Fins head to Frankfurt for the first of two games in northern Germany.

This will not only be an incredible game, but full of atmosphere as well as two hot teams will be cheered on by fans from across Europe.

Expect big crowds, and an even bigger score.

Nov 12- Colts vs Patriots (Week 10)

The AFC is all over Europe this year, with a shut out of NFC teams coming across the pond. Sucks on them for doing the league late.

Indy will be recharged and super soaked in Jim Irsay’s passion and maybe some alcohol too, as the Colts are ready to rock a crappy division.

Bill Belichick wasn’t happy to travel to London a decade ago, so let’s see if the old guy softens on his return trip.

While not a marquee game like the rest, expect the Pats to draw a large Europe contingent, and the Colts to perhaps tap into the bustling equestrian scene. Who doesn’t love horsies?

Frankfurt will look to put the ‘F’ in the NFL this year, football and fun.

London Fun

We will be throwing a few parties around the London games this year, with tickets on sale shortly.
Watch this space.

Make sure you check out our Facebook page as well for more details.

https://www.facebook.com/nflinlondon