NFL Preseason Live 2011 subscription

Ok, so again this year I've purchased preseason as well as regular season access via nfl.com site.

Last year, there were issues w/game tape from local broadcasters, missing footage, delay, etc.

This year there appears to be an issue w/broadcast of WAS @BAL from ESPN.
I've alerted nfl support (nflpreseasonlive@neulion.com) but they've given me the standard "it's not 24hrs" (game is available after 24 hrs - their rules on blacked out games)
Well it's now after midnight PST which makes it 3am EST and the game is still not available.
Let's see game began at 8pm EST on Thursday approx end at 11pm EST.
So it should be available around 11pm Friday EST, which translates to 8pm PST, but it's now after midnight (Saturday) and I still see blacked out in the guide, sigh....

Why don't I have ESPN? because this year I don't have cable or satellite TV (I had to cut back somewhere due to - "in between jobs" status for months).

You'll need to click on picture to see the date and time in lower left corner.

So my guess is ESPN is having an issue, but why doesn't nfl tech support say so???


Comment on viewing angles:
If I could have one view it would be an end zone view. I really wish the nfl would add this feature/view for all games especially for those of us who will view the games online. I believe the nfl already "shoots" this view, we as the general public are not priviledged to watch this view, just teams, coachs and nfl broadcast tv analyst, but we really should have access.

BTW MNF in past seasons did have the "end zone" view. Hopefully this year they'll continue to have this view.

I would prefer the view from the offense, but if they only had the view from the defense I would still prefer this versus the side view that we now see on broadcast tv for the past 40+ years.

I've noticed at time during a broadcast that we'll see a wider view during a play. My guess is that someone in the broadcast booth thinks it's going to be a pass play, but what do you know? it's an inside handoff and that wide focus has to quickly resized, a bit dizzying for my eyes. Just do end zone, slightly higher, the camera moving above the field would be ideal for such a use and with wide angle we should have a fine view.

We have the technology to broadcast simultaneous views on regular over the air tv w/the advent of all digital airwaves. Local broadcast stations should beg their network to broadcast multiple views. CBS could for instance use 8.1 for normal and 8.10 for endzone views. Why 8.10? well I noticed 8.2 is used for Spanish language and here in Vegas, there is a channel 47 which uses .1 through .8 (there's oldies and other specific content on these channels).

Oh well, billions spent on creating the nfl 'product', but when will they spend on more features for the general public????

How the new kickoff rules may affect the game

I was reading this article at pro-football-reference.com and stopped for a while to muse about may really happen.

Those teams that do have good ST return men will probably be impacted the most. BUF, CHI, CLE, and SEA in mind will be most notable. These teams won't be able to change field position as easily on kick returns and thus should punt more often and total scores for their games should have a greater tendency to go under the total.

Of course, if this labor dispute continues and we have a shortened seasoned, again under the total should occur more often even if the books adjust the lines. The only teams that will be able to score int 35+ range will be the veteran teams w/a good QB, thus over the total should occur in less games than normal.

I wonder what the normal over/under will be for this upcoming season? I also wonder how many overs and unders has occurred for the past 5 seasons as well as the O/U tendency for each team.

Safety is good for the game/players. Kick offs will become more like the 25yd FG attempt. The 25yd FG I would guess is successful about 95% of the time and perhaps touchbacks to the 25yd line will be just as routine. Eventually coaches will place less emphasis on the KO and thus ST play which perhaps could lead to more practice on the offensive side or the ball, after all the team with the most points wins right?
A few teams have FG kickers who can also do kickoffs from the 35yd line and get the touchback. OAK comes to mind and I think the kicker in ARI perhaps as well (unless I'm thinking of someone else). This could help on game day with the team activating another player (instead of carrying ST player).

The average teams has 10 - 12 possessions a game, if both teams score 21pts (or 3 out of 10 possessions) then 42 will be the ending total for the game. The average total must sit somewhere in between 42 and 45 pts is what I'll guess for right now.
Now if instead of scoring a TD, you have to punt or settle for a FG, total should be lower at the end of the majority games. Thus if the total is set somewhere between 42 - 45 pts the under should occur more often the over. We'll see if this occurs or I hope to remember to check on this later on this year.

update 3/24
via NFL, the touchback has been returned to the 20yd line (instead of 25yd) and I still state we will see more punts from the returning team, and w/more 'field position punts', there will be less scoring TD's and more FG's.
Those teams w/good QB's & WR's will move the ball and continue to score TD's. The teams w/questionable QB's will only be able to score TD's perhaps 1 of 4 or 5 possessions, but more likely score FG's

So for a TD team vs a FG team, 3.5 pts won't make much of a difference, the fav will win.
A FG team vs a FG team, that .5 pts will really make a difference.
I suspect that we may see those odd numbers again of 4.5 and 5.5 spread, where depending on the team, the dog may start to bark loudly.

Season 2010 - week 21 - SuperBowl XLV - results

ATS
sides 0-1
O/U 1-0
OLyrs 0-1

notes: PIT w/o their Center M Pouncey is a bit older along the O-line (by 3 years) and thus the 0-1 record.

Game comments -
The better team won, especially in the beginning, the interceptions at the beginning of the game and the fumble at the end, leads me to say the GB D played outstanding when it counted and it appeared that Big Ben and Co. just fell apart in the 4th Q, and this could really be seen in their last gasp 2 minute drill.
For the most part PIT D played fairly well, w/both DC LeBeau and S Polamalu showing their "age", their front 7 had a really nice game, but GB QB got the ball out of his hands in a very timely manner.
GB O had a good game, but the WR's could have had a much better game. This game could have been a blow out for GB except for the dropsies by their WR's.
Watching ST, PIT K and FG were 'off', the K in the 4th Q couldn't drive the KO into the endzone. GB ST had a better game, but not their best.
All in all, the better team won, hopefully GB will again make it to the SB in the near future.

Season 2010 - week 20 - conference championship results

ATS
sides 2-0
O/U 1-1
OLyrs 0-2

finally a decent week, too bad I had no bets down, (unemployed at the moment).

Season 2010 week 21 - SuperBowl XLV

SUPER BOWL XLV Cowboys Stadium - Arlington, TX

02/06 6:25 PM
101 PIT 45 ***
102 GB -2.5 Over

a behemoth of a storm, brings cold, wind, snow and sleet to the area,
but the roof will be closed for this event.

I had thought of posting picks for the SB props, but since I'm a little busy
maybe next year...

Season 2010 - week 20 - Conference Championship picks

01/23 3:00 PM
303 GB -3.5 **
304 CHI 43½ OOOO

01/23 6:30 PM
305 NYJ 38½ OOOO
306 PIT -3.5 *

Season 2010 - week 19 - divisional playoffs - results

ATS
sides 1-3
O/U 1-3
OLyrs 1-3

wow, both #1 seeds lost and both #2 seeds won their games, NYJ and GB are both lucky and good, guess I rather just be lucky

interestingly enough that was NE's 3rd playoff game loss in a row...