Smuts' NFL Thread

[sharpylcfc]

3 hours ago, Izzy said:

Not sure if you're old enough to remember the Cowboys team of the early 90's but there's another great documentary on Netflix about them. Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and all that lot - superb.

 

Also watching another Netflix doc on the SEC college season. I went to the Masters golf with my old man in April and we stayed in Columbia. We went to the South Carolina Gamecocks stadium to look around but it was all closed up.

 

Can't believe these college coaches earn up to $10m a year. I didn't realise what a massive industry college football is. 

 

I don't remember it bit young for that so will add it to my watch list.

 

I've added that to my watch list already so will watch it after quarterback. College Football is massive over there but didn't realise how big it is. I've seen the size of the stadiums and they are massive for college level. That's a crazy amount of money for college coaches to be paid, shows how big the industry is over there.

 

On a slightly different subject Izzy still related to the NFL, any advice on the watching on TV front, would you stick with just Sky or go with Sky and gamepass? Or just gamepass on it's own? Any advice would be great. With the season starting soon unsure what to do.

[Izzy]

2 hours ago, sharpylcfc said:

I don't remember it bit young for that so will add it to my watch list.

 

I've added that to my watch list already so will watch it after quarterback. College Football is massive over there but didn't realise how big it is. I've seen the size of the stadiums and they are massive for college level. That's a crazy amount of money for college coaches to be paid, shows how big the industry is over there.

 

On a slightly different subject Izzy still related to the NFL, any advice on the watching on TV front, would you stick with just Sky or go with Sky and gamepass? Or just gamepass on it's own? Any advice would be great. With the season starting soon unsure what to do.

I'm probably not the best person to ask re. watching on the TV mate.

 

I don't have Sky SO use my old mans SkyGo log in on my laptop but rarely watch live games anymore. I wouldn't know how Gamepass works - sorry.

 

Tend to get my NFL fix from highlights on YouTube these days.

 

[ajthefox]

5 hours ago, Izzy said:

Not sure if you're old enough to remember the Cowboys team of the early 90's but there's another great documentary on Netflix about them. Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and all that lot - superb.

 

Also watching another Netflix doc on the SEC college season. I went to the Masters golf with my old man in April and we stayed in Columbia. We went to the South Carolina Gamecocks stadium to look around but it was all closed up.

 

Can't believe these college coaches earn up to $10m a year. I didn't realise what a massive industry college football is. 

 

I watched the QB doc when it came out. Bit better than S1, was certainly interesting to see a bit more from Goff and Burrow. Surprised they kept Kirk on again.

 

Watched 2 eps of the cowboys doc but that was enough - Jones is so full of himself I'm not sure I can stomach any more.

 

I watched a series of the Cowboys Cheerleaders doc and must say I thought that was really good. Very interesting insight to see how hard those women work, many of them until this season having to work several jobs to survive. Crazy really how exploitative they've been given the Cowboys is one of the richest clubs in world sport.

[sharpylcfc]

47 minutes ago, Izzy said:

I'm probably not the best person to ask re. watching on the TV mate.

 

I don't have Sky SO use my old mans SkyGo log in on my laptop but rarely watch live games anymore. I wouldn't know how Gamepass works - sorry.

 

Tend to get my NFL fix from highlights on YouTube these days.

 

Thank you very much anyway mate. Highlights might just be the easiest way in the long run, then the odd time my team is on sky watch it on there. Just seen the price of gamepass and it's on the expensive side. Really enjoying quarterback though. Tried the receiver series on Netflix yet?

[skolfoxes]

22 hours ago, sharpylcfc said:

On the front of sky renewing now I'm not sure what the best option regarding watching is do I just stick with Sky or go with Sky and gamepass too?

Haven’t had Gamepass for a couple of years. It certainly used to let you watch all games live, other than the ones Sky have chosen to show, as well as Redzone. If your team’s not on Sky very often it’s ideal, if you’re a fan of the Cowboys, Packers etc (one of the popular teams) then lots of their games will be on Sky which is annoying if you only have Gamepass. 

[sharpylcfc]

6 minutes ago, skolfoxes said:

Haven’t had Gamepass for a couple of years. It certainly used to let you watch all games live, other than the ones Sky have chosen to show, as well as Redzone. If your team’s not on Sky very often it’s ideal, if you’re a fan of the Cowboys, Packers etc (one of the popular teams) then lots of their games will be on Sky which is annoying if you only have Gamepass. 

I've just seen the gamepass prices and I don't know if it's just me but it seems very expensive!

[Izzy]

2 hours ago, sharpylcfc said:

Thank you very much anyway mate. Highlights might just be the easiest way in the long run, then the odd time my team is on sky watch it on there. Just seen the price of gamepass and it's on the expensive side. Really enjoying quarterback though. Tried the receiver series on Netflix yet?

That's next after the Cowboys and SEC series!

[KingsX]

On 30/08/2025 at 05:27, Izzy said:

Also watching another Netflix doc on the SEC college season. I went to the Masters golf with my old man in April and we stayed in Columbia. We went to the South Carolina Gamecocks stadium to look around but it was all closed up.

 

Can't believe these college coaches earn up to $10m a year. I didn't realise what a massive industry college football is.

 

CFB (college football) is the apotheosis of American sport.  For millions of us, fall Saturdays exist only for going to games and watching on TV. 

 

Its beauty is its regionalization and adherence to old traditions.  The game on the field and the spectacle surrounding it are equally compelling.  Mascots and nicknames, rivalries, silly traditions and trophies, tailgating scenes -- these would be perfectly recognizable to our great-great-grandparents.

 

It’s far from an NFL-type homogenized product.  The results are far more random, and the venues and experiences far more unique. 

 

When we are traveling in the fall, we always take in a game.  We’ll be in Seattle in a few weeks to see our Buckeyes take on the Washington Huskies.  At a waterfront stadium Everton FC couldn’t equal for all the EPL money in existence.

 

What’s happening to it as more and more money gets shoved in, is the same as what’s happening to your football.  The income is tilted from the have-nots to the haves.  Games are scheduled 100% by and for the media giants.  Local rivalries played since the 19th century have been shit-canned to construct coast-to-coast super leagues.  The intense, cherished off-field part of the experience -- especially the brilliant marching bands -- are never shown on TV.  But the fan bases will NEVER give it up.

 

I’d start a thread here - but I’m guessing few Brits can even watch it.  And I already spend too much time watching it and talking about it. 

[bovril]

Is the college stuff still on TNT? Not a massive gridiron fan but the college football was always quite enjoyable for the reasons outlined above. Would love to go to a game in the southern states some time.

[SouthStandUpperTier]

Just now, bovril said:

Is the college stuff still on TNT? Not a massive gridiron fan but the college football was always quite enjoyable for the reasons outlined above. Would love to go to a game in the southern states some time.

DAZN

[Izzy]

1 hour ago, KingsX said:

 

CFB (college football) is the apotheosis of American sport.  For millions of us, fall Saturdays exist only for going to games and watching on TV. 

 

Its beauty is its regionalization and adherence to old traditions.  The game on the field and the spectacle surrounding it are equally compelling.  Mascots and nicknames, rivalries, silly traditions and trophies, tailgating scenes -- these would be perfectly recognizable to our great-great-grandparents.

 

It’s far from an NFL-type homogenized product.  The results are far more random, and the venues and experiences far more unique. 

 

When we are traveling in the fall, we always take in a game.  We’ll be in Seattle in a few weeks to see our Buckeyes take on the Washington Huskies.  At a waterfront stadium Everton FC couldn’t equal for all the EPL money in existence.

 

What’s happening to it as more and more money gets shoved in, is the same as what’s happening to your football.  The income is tilted from the have-nots to the haves.  Games are scheduled 100% by and for the media giants.  Local rivalries played since the 19th century have been shit-canned to construct coast-to-coast super leagues.  The intense, cherished off-field part of the experience -- especially the brilliant marching bands -- are never shown on TV.  But the fan bases will NEVER give it up.

 

I’d start a thread here - but I’m guessing few Brits can even watch it.  And I already spend too much time watching it and talking about it. 

Help me understand something here please mate...

 

I'm now an official South Carloina Gamecocks fan having walked around their stadium and I know they're in the SEC which I think has 10 teams?

 

But there's also other college football conferences right such as Big 10, ACC, Pac 12 etc?

 

So how do the crown the ultimate best college team each season?

 

Do all the seperate conference winners then play off to determine the overall champion?

 

[SouthStandUpperTier]

2 minutes ago, Izzy said:

Help me understand something here please mate...

 

I'm now an official South Carloina Gamecocks fan having walked around their stadium and I know they're in the SEC which I think has 10 teams?

 

But there's also other college football conferences right such as Big 10, ACC, Pac 12 etc?

 

So how do the crown the ultimate best college team each season?

 

Do all the seperate conference winners then play off to determine the overall champion?

 

They have the College playoffs now. Before that the national champion used to be decided by a poll of 'experts'.

[KingsX]

8 minutes ago, Izzy said:

Help me understand something here please mate...

 

I'm now an official South Carloina Gamecocks fan having walked around their stadium and I know they're in the SEC which I think has 10 teams?

 

But there's also other college football conferences right such as Big 10, ACC, Pac 12 etc?

 

So how do the crown the ultimate best college team each season?

 

Do all the seperate conference winners then play off to determine the overall champion?

 

 

That's a very good question   So good, it keeps scores of journalists and commentators in a job.

 

 

 

 

The short version is what @SouthStandUpperTier said

 

The long version is a saga of power politics no less contentious than presidential elections.  Since there appears to be a smidgen of interest, and since you guys can access games on DAZN, I am going to create a thread.  We can discuss this, and not hijack the NFL thread.

[Golden Fox]

On 30/08/2025 at 17:18, sharpylcfc said:

I've just seen the gamepass prices and I don't know if it's just me but it seems very expensive!

Its one of those things that is reasonable to start with, then goes up every year. I had a good think about renewing this year, but without making a firm decision either way, it then went through automatically. 

 

It is a very good product, as you get Redzone, every game live (bar Sky games), and can then watch highlights or full game replays of every game. (or game in 40 which is just the action). 

 

As the Niners rarely play in the early window, I'll usually watch early window Redzone and the Niners games in a week, and then if there's a big Thursday, Sunday or Monday games, I may dip into those. Then its great having all playoff games on tap. So that is a lot of football. 

 

I did have a few years of watching on dodgy streams, and that was so hit and miss and painful, I don't want to go back to that, so its a bit of a case of you get what you pay for. 

Edited 31 August 2025 by Golden Fox

[FOXYTALK]

If your a fan on college football. I would certainly recommend watching QB Beyond the lights. Several seasons of high school  players and their challenge on making to the college system. The sacrifices they make are incredible. 

[ajthefox]

18 hours ago, Golden Fox said:

Its one of those things that is reasonable to start with, then goes up every year. I had a good think about renewing this year, but without making a firm decision either way, it then went through automatically. 

 

It is a very good product, as you get Redzone, every game live (bar Sky games), and can then watch highlights or full game replays of every game. (or game in 40 which is just the action). 

 

As the Niners rarely play in the early window, I'll usually watch early window Redzone and the Niners games in a week, and then if there's a big Thursday, Sunday or Monday games, I may dip into those. Then its great having all playoff games on tap. So that is a lot of football. 

 

I did have a few years of watching on dodgy streams, and that was so hit and miss and painful, I don't want to go back to that, so its a bit of a case of you get what you pay for. 

I don't think £150 for a year is too bad, and as you say you've got your choice of highlights and redzone which is pretty good.

Depends what you're comparing it to doesn't it, it's much cheaper than paying for Sky Sports or TNT. Fewer games obviously and granted you do get other sports with them, so it depends what you're into.

[sharpylcfc]

On 30/08/2025 at 19:21, Izzy said:

That's next after the Cowboys and SEC series!

Let me know what you think of it, once I've finished Quarterback I'll watch the SEC series then I'll watch receiver after them.

[sharpylcfc]

On 31/08/2025 at 20:23, FOXYTALK said:

If your a fan on college football. I would certainly recommend watching QB Beyond the lights. Several seasons of high school  players and their challenge on making to the college system. The sacrifices they make are incredible. 

 

On 01/09/2025 at 13:51, ajthefox said:

I don't think £150 for a year is too bad, and as you say you've got your choice of highlights and redzone which is pretty good.

Depends what you're comparing it to doesn't it, it's much cheaper than paying for Sky Sports or TNT. Fewer games obviously and granted you do get other sports with them, so it depends what you're into.

Thank you both, I may have to look at gamepass for next season. Give me more time to weigh up pros and cons especially with the price. What is gamepass like because it's not standalone it's through DAZN isn't it?

Edited 3 September 2025 by sharpylcfc

[ajthefox]

1 hour ago, sharpylcfc said:

 

Thank you both, I may have to look at gamepass for next season. Give me more time to weigh up pros and cons especially with the price. What is gamepass like because it's not standalone it's through DAZN isn't it?

Yeah it's through DAZN but the subscription is entirely separate from anything else on DAZN.

 

The highlights packages are great. The game in 40 is really handy if you just want to see all the plays back to back but the full game replay also cuts out ads so is less than 3hrs typically. I prefer YouTube for the short highlights that are 10-15 minutes over the 5-6 minute package they do.

 

There is quite a lot of extra NFL content on there like Hard Knocks, superbowl games going back ages and loads of extra NFL films stuff, a lot of which is very well made. They used to do these 20 minute tape sessions with current pros which I found really interesting, they're still there but no longer making any. 

[sharpylcfc]

47 minutes ago, ajthefox said:

Yeah it's through DAZN but the subscription is entirely separate from anything else on DAZN.

 

The highlights packages are great. The game in 40 is really handy if you just want to see all the plays back to back but the full game replay also cuts out ads so is less than 3hrs typically. I prefer YouTube for the short highlights that are 10-15 minutes over the 5-6 minute package they do.

 

There is quite a lot of extra NFL content on there like Hard Knocks, superbowl games going back ages and loads of extra NFL films stuff, a lot of which is very well made. They used to do these 20 minute tape sessions with current pros which I found really interesting, they're still there but no longer making any. 

I just looked on DAZN and looks like you can do the monthly subscription so I might try it at some point and if it suits me then look at doing the full season from next year. Do it as a trial type thing. Shame they don't do like a week's free trial or anything to be honest.

[Golden Fox]

4 hours ago, ajthefox said:

The game in 40 is really handy if you just want to see all the plays back to back

I watched a few games like this the first year, but you really miss out on the drama building at key moments.

 

The big one for me was the 2019 playoffs between the Rams and Saints whicy came down to an awful non-call on a pass interference in the last 2 mins. I was thinking "what just happened?" as the game in 40 sped on. Needed to then load up the full game to appreciate the big moment of the game. 

 

So it sounds good in theory, but I pretty much gave up on it after that! 

[StanSP]

Apparently Redzone is going to have ads

 

[spacemunky]

I just realized that the season starts tonight.

[SouthStandUpperTier]

4 minutes ago, spacemunky said:

I just realized that the season starts tonight.

 

[sharpylcfc]

17 minutes ago, spacemunky said:

I just realized that the season starts tonight.

So glad the NFL is back. How is everyone thinking their teams will do this year?