NFL: [Rapoport] "Former #Packers TE Brandon Bostick will sign with the #Vikings, landing quickly after his release"

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/568168508279926784 via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2wcz0j/rapoport_former_packers_te_brandon_bostick_will/

NFL: Marcus Mariota will throw at the combine. That should put a lot of pressure on Winston. Could be looking at record number of QBs to throw.

https://twitter.com/Gil_Brandt/status/567890247897468928 via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2w9uzb/marcus_mariota_will_throw_at_the_combine_that/

NFL: This is what niner fans were saying about Jed York just two years ago...

http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/ydy1w/hey_niners_fans_tell_us_what_you_think_about_jed/ via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2w9g1d/this_is_what_niner_fans_were_saying_about_jed/

NFL: Browns To Unveil New Logo Next Week

http://teamstre.am/1L8ZULc via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2w9paq/browns_to_unveil_new_logo_next_week/

NFL: Ryan Mallett expected to be Texans' starter

http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nfl/306924/Ryan-Mallett-expected-to-be-Texans'-starter?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2w55fn/ryan_mallett_expected_to_be_texans_starter/

NFL: Jason McCourty ready to pitch Titans to twin brother Devin McCourty

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000470764/article/jason-mccourty-to-recruit-devin-mccourty-to-titans?campaign=Twitter_atn via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2w4fdt/jason_mccourty_ready_to_pitch_titans_to_twin/

NFL: If your team had to be renamed and rebranded. What would you call your team?

No text found via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2w0tct/if_your_team_had_to_be_renamed_and_rebranded_what/

NFL: If the worst team from every team's history (post-merger) was to play for a season, who would win the Super Bowl?

Use the worst players, coaching staff and record. via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2w0lx8/if_the_worst_team_from_every_teams_history/

NFL: You have all the players in your team's history available. Construct the best possible team.

All offensive and defensive positions, and special teams too if you want. Basically make your franchises all time team. via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vwi0m/you_have_all_the_players_in_your_teams_history/

NFL: Source: Chris Johnson, Michael Vick leaving Jets – Metro

http://teamstre.am/173Fgii via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vtqqk/source_chris_johnson_michael_vick_leaving_jets/

NFL: Now that we're half-way through, who do you predict will be on the 2010s all-decade team?

EDIT: To streamline the discussions, I'll start up a comment thread for different position groups. via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vphit/now_that_were_halfway_through_who_do_you_predict/

NFL: Report: Vincent Jackson to be asked to take pay cut

http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasyfootball/update/25067047/report-vincent-jackson-to-be-asked-to-take-pay-cut via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vpa8x/report_vincent_jackson_to_be_asked_to_take_pay_cut/

NFL: Revising Defunct NFL Franchises: Rock Island Independents. 8 of 8

The NFL came about from the merger of two leagues, the Ohio league and the New York Pro Football League. Just as many teams grew out of themerger of two good teams, the APFA (now NFL) combined the best of the two leagues, along with selected independent teams. Just as the formation of professional teams required the existence of semi-pro (and before them, amateur) teams, The NFL could not have emerged fully formed. It took having a structure of Semi pro teams in loose associations existing for early Pro teams to grow out of and it took those early pro teams existing in order to have something for the stronger teams and organizations to plant roots into.In 1920 the APFA looked like this:Akron Pros Four time Ohio league ChampionBuffalo All-Americans 1918 City Champs, 1919 New York Pro ChampsCanton Bulldogs Four time Ohio league ChampionChicago Cardinals Current Arizona CardinalsCleveland Tigers Ohio League memberColumbus Panhandles Ohio League memberDayton Triangles Ohio league Champion, three other league championshipsDecatur Staleys Current Chicago BearsHammond Pros IndependentMuncie Flyers Indiana State ChampionsRochester Jeffersons 1916 NYPFL ChampionRock Island Independents Five unbeaten seasonsOf the teams available in 1920 to form a league this wasn't a bad list. It's interesting that the surviving NFL teams didn't have championships to their name previously.In 1932, the year after the last of the "Modernized" teams that I've profiled folded, the league looked like this:Chicago BearsGreen Bay PackersPortsmouth SpartansBoston BravesNew York GiantsBrooklyn DodgersChicago CardinalsStaten Island StapletonsThe NFL was at it's lowest ebb. Only eight teams existed but Of these eight only two would fold. The Portsmouth Spartans would become the Detroit Lions, The Boston Braves would become the Washington Redskins. Teams would continue to join at a much slower pace but the core of the NFL was in place. Even during the Great Depression the NFL would add teams. No NFL team has folded in the last 50 years.Rock Island was another of those teams that bridged the gap between semi-pro and pro. The name "Independents" came from the fact that they didn't have either corporate sponsorship or membership in a league. The owner from 1915 to 1923 was Walter Flanigan, who has the distinction of being the only owner to fire a coach mid-game. He left to concentrate on his real estate and insurance businesses, and the team played a couple more years before jumping to a second league. The league was the first AFL, and it didn't pay as well as the NFL. With players leaving for better paying teams the Independents went semi-pro in 1927 and then folded.I had not intended on doing the Independents. They weren't one of the stronger teams or nearly as good a story as Oorang.The idea behind this project was to do teams that were champions, that looked as though they could have survived into the modern era. A team like the Canton Bulldogs or Frankford Yellowjackets were good bets at one point to be solid league teams for a long time. They were winners and had solid ownership but had one or more things go bad. Likewise the team needed a strong identity, something that would supply a direction to follow. Providence and Pottsville didn't have good graphic groundwork but their teams had been too strong to ignore.The team I was going to do was the Columbus Panhandles. They had a good logo http://i.imgur.com/AneT6sX.png and I got as far as putting together a helmet http://i.imgur.com/NleGGHS.png but I couldn't come up with what was next.That's really how it goes sometimes. The inspiration just isn't there and it's best to try a different direction.Rock Island had a logo and and a uniform with a lot of green stripes. In playing with it, a design came out that was nice looking and was unique.The original unis : http://i.imgur.com/rpSscnH.jpgThe logo : http://i.imgur.com/ulIjqW2.jpgFrom that I got this:The modernized helmet: http://i.imgur.com/ucZHArC.pngThe Modernized Jersey: http://i.imgur.com/SouJbMO.jpgI've gotten more feedback on this design than any other which surprises me a bit. One of the great things that the NFL does in branding is keeping team identity strong. The logos for Detroit Lions, The NY Giants, Minnesota Vikings, KC Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, all look like themselves and nothing else. For the most part all 32 have very strong identities without repeats. That's a difficult thing to do. So kudos to the generations of Graphic artists who faced making logos for The Rams, etc.There's been a couple of requests for the Rochester Jeffs, or Akron All-Pros. I'll have to think about it. I wish there was more out there for these teams.These were done in Photoshop. Fraser Davidson made the template for the helmet. You can D/L the Photoshop file here:http://rezland.deviantart.com/art/Revolution-Speed- Template-280301179I made the teamplate for the uniform from promotional images for the new Bucc unis. You can D/L it here: http://darth-brooks.deviantart.com/art/Doug-Martin-Template-450283476The process of making the template was described here: http://boards.sportslogos.net/topic/97813-photoshop- advice-megathread/Here's the list of the teams.Canton Bulldogs http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2v2jbm/revising_defunct_nfl_franchises_canton_bulldogs_1/Dayton Triangles http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2v4gzi/revising_defunct_nfl_franchises_dayton_triangles/Frankford Yellowjackets http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2v7u8l/revising_defunct_nfl_franchises_frankford_yellow/Pottsville Maroons http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2v91yq/revising_defunct_nfl_franchises_pottsville/Providence Steamroller http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vcqwr/revising_defunct_nfl_franchises_providence/Duluth Eskimos http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vhqb0/revising_defunct_nfl_franchises_duluth_eskimos_6/Oorang Indians http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vkui8/revising_defunct_nfl_franchises_oorang_indians_7/Rock Island Independents http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vprwm/revising_defunct_nfl_franchises_rock_island/ via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vprwm/revising_defunct_nfl_franchises_rock_island/

NFL: Ex-San Diego Chargers quarterback Jesse Freitas found dead

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ex-san-diego-chargers-quarterback-jesse-freitas-found-000918727--nfl.html via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vlrhc/exsan_diego_chargers_quarterback_jesse_freitas/

NFL: Mike Mayock's first position rankings are out

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000470108/article/mike-mayocks-position-rankings-for-2015-nfl-draft via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vlb96/mike_mayocks_first_position_rankings_are_out/

NFL: Most Prolific TD Duos By Franchise

http://i.imgur.com/NI5NM4I.jpg via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vhh1n/most_prolific_td_duos_by_franchise/

NFL: Lofa Tatupu resurfaces in Seattle as new assistant LB coach

https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/564946826743148545 via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vd44p/lofa_tatupu_resurfaces_in_seattle_as_new/

NFL: Antonio Brown led the league in True Receiving Yards for 2nd year in a row.

http://www.footballperspective.com/antonio-brown-led-the-nfl-in-true-receiving-yards-in-2014-too/ via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vcgts/antonio_brown_led_the_league_in_true_receiving/

NFL: For the next 16 weeks I am doing basic mockups of possible NFL team expansions (8 cities w/ 2 ideas for each one). So here is Week 1. The Austin Bats.

http://imgur.com/a/azGQE#0 via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2vcp50/for_the_next_16_weeks_i_am_doing_basic_mockups_of/

NFL: What if the NFL was run like world soccer associations? Who would get promoted and relegated? Who would win the league, and the Cup? I'm gonna find out. Here's the first in a series.

On the first Sunday in months without the NFL, I found myself watching the other Football and wondering what the NFL would be like if it decided to run it's season like soccer leagues do. So with the help of WhatIfSports.com's simulation engine, I set out to figure it out.First I had to divide the league into four separate divisions, with the best teams at the top, and the worst at the bottom. So I looked up the 2015 draft order and here's how it shook out: League StructureAt the top of the pile is the NFL Premiership, next is the NFL Championship, followed in order by League 1 and League 2.Next came scheduling. Teams will play all 7 other teams in their division once at home and once on the road for a total of 14 games. For this job, I called on the fantasy football schedule maker at footballguys.com, and here's what it turned out: Premiership, Championship, League 1, and League 2. I've only posted the first eight weeks to save space, but the remaining schedules are basically a reverse of the first half of the season.Here is where I should mention that in European Soccer, each association usually runs a secondary competition alongside it's main league championships, these are known as cups, and guess what - We're gonna have one too. These are usually single-elimination knockout tournaments where the teams are randomly drawn against each other. The 32 teams in the NFL are perfect for this. Here's the draw for round 1. Cup games will start after week 3 of the league season.As far as the league competition goes, like in soccer, a win will count for 3 points in the standings, and a draw 1, and a loss 0. At the end of the season, the two worst teams in each division based on points (with point difference in their games being the tiebreaker) will get relegated to the next lowest division, and the two highest ranked teams will be promoted to the next higher division. The top team in the premiership will be the Champion of Football in America.So with all the rules out of the way (I think that's all there is to cover) - Let's get to Matchday 1 Results!In the premiership, the game of the week was a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX with the Seattle Seahawks visiting the New England Patriots and getting their revenge with a 27-17 road victory. Marshawn Lynch racked up 114 yards on 19 carries, and Russell Wilson scampered 68 yards to the end zone in the 4th Quarter to seal the win. I've linked the Game Report.Other results in the Premiership were Packers 22-24 Colts, Cowboys 7-38 Broncos, and Panthers 31-34 Ravens.Week 1 in the championship looked like this, with links to the best games in each division:Lions 27-24 CardinalsBengals 30-30 Steelers in an exciting former AFC North derby.Bills 31-29 EaglesChargers 23-12 ChiefsLeague 1 played out like this:49ers 20 Texans 13Saints 23 Dolphins 33Vikings 18 Browns 23 in which Isaiah Crowell scores at the death to seal the come-from-behind victory for Cleveland.Giants 37 Rams 25And finally, in League 2:Bears 21 Falcons 40Washington 7 Jets 24Jaguars 10 Raiders 20Buccaneers 17 Titans 16: Vincent Jackson catches a last-second TD pass to escape the road loss.So after week 1 here are the standings for the whole NFL.So, I hope you all enjoyed my post, and I hope you like the idea! But most of all, I hope you'll keep coming back to check in throughout the "season" for fun and discussion.Until next time.EDIT: Well, thanks for the gold, you kind people! I wanted to mention that I'll be posting these every 4-8 days. It won't be exactly weekly, But I'll try to not make it longer than that. via /r/nfl http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/2v8tmn/what_if_the_nfl_was_run_like_world_soccer/