Hey, what the...??? Yes, it's true, the New England Patriots are going to be playing (with) the Tampa Bay Bucks this Sunday at Wibley Stadium in London!

Why?

I have no idea. Maybe it's because the owner of the Bucks also owns Manchester United?


But I would like to hear from the locals over there, your impression of American Football both before and after the game, and I know you think they are a bunch of poofters wearing all that padding and all, but if you have any questions about the rules of the game, please ask.

Carry on...


Oh, and any of you Yanks care to pick a score?

For the Brits, the Tampa team is on a 10 game losing streak and the Pats scored 5 touchdowns in 15 minutes last week, a new league record...it should be a blowout by the Pats but you never know.

errm.... that would be Wembley Stadium, Tim.

You're right though that they're a bunch of "poofters wearing all that padding and all" especially since they don't even play a full game out actually ON the pitch!

They wouldn't last 10minutes in a game of Rugby (League or Union)!!!

Ooops, sorry, my spelling sucks but my typing is worse!

I never could figure out why Rugby hasn't caught on over here. I like it but not too many of us have ever seen it.

Now Cricket? You can keep that. ;^)

Go Pats!
we were at the Irish pub last night as our bike ride got rained out and some Brits were asking why we call it "Football" as they very rarely kick it.
Any one know why?

Because "Handball" was already taken?

Or how about we re-name it to "Cripts vs. Bloods" Ball, espeicially if Rush ever becomes an owner...

Or "Over-paid, cry-baby, jackass ball" in honor of TO?

Actually, the average NFL player would lay waste to the average rugby player on the open field.

Padding or not.

In the NFL, they hit hard enough to separate the spine from the pelvis. They've had hits so hard that its cracked the skull THROUGH the helmet.

To call the NFL players "poofters" for wearing pads is like buying a sports car because your lacking for something. These guys would literally kill each other if they didn't have protection.

Rugby Union is alive and well in the US. Many colleges and universities have teams. There are also quite a few working teams (guys who are out of school). I ended my 20 year rugby career 16 years ago (Drew University , White Plains , Bergen Bruisers, Morris Old Boys) and loved every minute of it. One of my sons played for Middlebury College. There are teams in Florida too, just look and you'll find them. We even have a national team (the Eagles).

the NFL has had pre-season exebition games in london for over 20 years. i went in 1988 to a game in london.

I was at the buccs game last week and could tell they were "saving up" for London



I predict Bucs 3, Pats 0

As a former College A-side Rugby player, I can tell you that while we were tough, even ex-college American Football players were too much to handle. They have NO regard for their bodies, much less ours. Being hit by a 250-290 lbs player traveling at speed (40 yard at 5 sec or less!)is akin to being hit by a train.

We had a match against some former A. Football players during my third-year at the university. The match was stopped, as we started to run out of players and ambalances.

An ex-defensive end hit one of our fly-backs and SHATTERED his jaw and skull. He was in the hospital for a couple of months. Another player from our side had a punctured lung and I was so sore and bruised that it took a few days to get out of bed afterwards.

I could not even imagine if they had been NFL players...............

"I was at the buccs game last week..." So sorry to hear that.

Seriously, comparing the games/players is apples and oranges. The football guys are super tough and hit incredibly hard, but the rugby guys are also far tougher than the average Joe, but have far more stamina than football players. As mentioned, they are on the field for much more time. They are also constantly moving, where football is more of a series of sprints, with short breaks in between (and a fair amount of substitution).

I don't watch much rugby, but I can't recall seeing rugby players being given oxygen after making a major play (such as football players are commonly doing after running 20 yards).

Anyway, GO PATS!!!

Mike

Unfortunately it should be a very lop-sided game, one of the best teams in the league vs. one of the worst.

BUT...you never know, the psycology might kick in and the Pats might just slack off and not go all out, while the Bucks might -finally- step up their game.

The line is Pats by 2 TD's which is a pretty big spread. I'd put money on the Pats if it wasn't being played in the UK.

I donno what kind of shenanigans are going to happen over there that will have an effect on the game.

True about the continuous nature of the Rugby match. American Football players have plays that take a few seconds and then get to rest for a minute or so. Rugby players are more akin to Soccer (real Football!) in that they are almost constantly moving up and down the field.

I can't tell you how many times that I have had this discussion over adult beverages after a match. My A. Football buddies have pretty much convinced me that there are positional players in A.Football that could RULE on the Rugby pitch.

I don't know a lot about pro ball, but image Ray Lewis, who is a great runner/athlete, hitting you without pads! No thinks. How about some of the NFL running backs or linebackers? Most of the linemen would probably get too tired to handle the whole match, but don't underestimate the fitness of those horses.

The USA must have something in the water (or needle?) that breeds these monsters. The IOC considered American Football at one time, but decided that no other country could compete with the USA in terms of the lineman (lots of 300-330+ lbs mutants)needed. Maybe the Europeans and other countries could field the folks at quarterback, running backs, kickers (absolutely)and receivers, but not in the "trenches".

I would love to see a Rugby match between some NFL players with a few months training and a top professional side. Even better, a A. Football game between them.

Just daydreaming.............

Well they start them young and they grow them big, and many are on the juice no doubt. The shortest kid on my son's High School Basketball team is 6'3". Most of the Divison 1 College football linemen are huge, 6'4" or taller, and 300+ lbs.

You might have heard a couple weeks ago, there was a very good running back from (I think) University of Southern Cal who dropped the barbell on his neck while doing his regular workout bench pressing...285 lbs! His spotter actually sliped and dropped it. But he's just a "little running back", not a big lineman!

LOS ANGELES -- Southern California tailback Stafon Johnson is unlikely to play again this season after a falling weight bar crushed his neck and larynx.

The senior who scored the No. 7 Trojans' go-ahead touchdown against Ohio State two weeks ago was bench-pressing when the bar slipped from his right hand and fell onto his throat.


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Johnson was in critical but stable condition late Monday night after more than seven hours of surgery, said Katreena Salgado, a spokeswoman for California Hospital Medical Center.

He was treated for crushing injuries to his neck as well as severe injuries to his larynx, said the hospital's trauma medical director, Dr. Gudata Hinika. Stan Johnson, the player's father, told ESPN's Shelley Smith that his son needed a tracheotomy to enable him to breathe.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a source close to the family said surgeons worked to realign Johnson's larynx in hopes he will be able to use his voice.

It's unlikely Johnson will be able to play again this season, but his prognosis is good and doctors expect him to make a full recovery, Hinika said in a statement released by the hospital.

"It hit him with a lot of force, and it hurt him," coach Pete Carroll said after the Trojans' brief practice Monday night but before the surgery was finished. "No broken bones as far as I understand, but he's got some damage in there somewhere, and they're working it out, trying to figure out what it is. ... It is serious. He did get hurt, so we don't know exactly what it is, and they're not going to know until they go through the surgery."

Immediately after the accident, Johnson was coughing up blood, a source close to the USC football program told ESPN's Smith.

Carroll said Johnson "was OK," but couldn't speak, when he left the weight room for California Hospital Medical Center. Johnson's family and friends gathered at the hospital on Monday to await word on his surgery.

Carroll tweeted his concern later Monday evening. "Please keep Stafon Johnson in your thoughts and prayers ... still in throat surgery after weights accident this AM," it read.

Earlier, Carroll said that weight room incidents are not entirely uncommon.

"That happens sometimes when you're doing bench presses, but this one just hit him wrong," Carroll said. "You can miss the rack or something. This was right at the end of his set, and he wasn't putting the bar down on the rack yet."

An assistant strength and conditioning coach was standing over Johnson at the time of the accident.

"I've seen players have the bar slip and fall onto their chest, but never in my 25 years of coaching have I heard of someone dropping a bar on their throat," said head strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle, who was standing 10 feet away at the time of the accident. "We're fortunate he was being spotted."

Johnson, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound senior from Compton, Calif., is the Trojans' second-leading rusher and goal-line specialist. He's rushed 32 times for 157 yards this year and leads the team with five touchdowns. He entered the season with 1,395 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.

Johnson's absence likely means more carries for 235-pound junior Allen Bradford or perhaps 225-pound sophomore Marc Tyler when USC plays California on Saturday.

Information from ESPN.com Pac-10 writer Ted Miller and The Associated Press was used in this report.

No one could touch the American quarterbacks. In athleticism perhaps but that's the least of it. They are the result of a lifetime of selection from a huge talent pool.

Tight Ends are actually some of the most versatile athletes on the football field. They have to be able to block huge Defensive ends/tackles. They have to be able to run receiver routes and be able to have good enough hands to catch the ball.

2 different games here. The players have been chosen to fit the position. Put one of those 300+ lb linemen where they have to run continuously up and down the field and they would all be gone, replaced by a better body type individual who could do that.

As far as pads - They protect the hitee and the hitter. Get rid of them and you would see the reckless abandon go way down.

I would put The Beast (SA)up against any NFL pro if you want to start comparing individuals.

Ok.

I'll pick

Troy Palamalou (sp)
... crazy mofo ...

I'll take that bet. Can't remember they guys real name, but the question is how do we arrange it?

Need to find someone who's in line at the Make-A-Wish foundation, or get those History Channel guys who set up the simulations comparing Ghengis Khan VS Supeman and stuff.