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as it should be, honestly. I dont see how the pats got the second easiest schedule in the league.

In fairness to the NFL, the schedule is pretty much determined once the regular season is over. You have the division opponents set, you play the team that finished in the same spot as you in your conference for each division, and your out of conference schedule rotates on a 4 year schedule. I guess the Pats just lucked out with the out of conference and weak division schedule.

If it makes you feel any better they have 2 picks in each of the first 2 rounds next weekend and you can thank NO and OAK for that.

If it makes you feel better on NFL Network the other day the past 5 yrs (I believe that's how many) the team with the easiest schedule has missed the post season the next year.

The first two picks are set in stone, so who should Minnesota pick at 3? Matt Kalil to fill the left tackle spot for over a decade or Morris Claiborne to help an awful secondary deal with Rodgers, Stafford and Cutler?

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross pushing for the team to draft Ryan Tannehill with the 8th overall pick.

<http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/22/source-stephen-ross-is-pushing-for-ryan-tannehill/

It’s unknown whether Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill will be selected with the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh choice in the 2012 NFL draft. If the converted receiver remains on the board at No. 8, it’s believed that the Dolphins will be inclined to take him.

On the surface, the decision would seem to flow from first-year offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, the architect of Tannehill’s transition to quarterback in College Station. But a league source tells PFT that the man pushing hardest for Tannehill is owner Stephen Ross.

Ross desperately wants to turn the page on yet another embarrassing offseason, which has seen the Dolphins fail to hire Jeff Fisher as coach and Peyton Manning as quarterback. They also whiffed on new coach Joe Philbin’s pupil with the Packers, Matt Flynn, even though it’s unclear whether the Dolphins decided they didn’t want Flynn or Flynn decided he didn’t want the Dolphins, or a little bit of both.

As mentioned earlier in the day, the season-ticket base has plunged to 30,000. The Dolphins need to create excitement, which in turn will sell tickets. Regardless of whether Tannehill develops into a franchise quarterback, the perception that the team finally has found a potential replacement for Dan Marino will suffice in the short term– especially since it will be the first time the Dolphins will have used a first-round pick on a quarterback since acquiring Marino in 1983.

Put simply, Ross needs to find a way for his team to stand out as it otherwise fades into the South Florida sports landscape. Tannehill will make a difference in 2012. If he fails, they’ll be no worse off in 2013 and beyond than they otherwise would have been.

From a good source I have they are saying Mia is very willing to move down in the draft and trade the 8th overall pick if the right deal comes along.

Brian Dawkins retires after 16 years. http://theredzone.org/BlogDescription.aspx?EntryID=25777

Should get strong HoF consideration. Easily a top five safety for a decade.

I don't think there's even a question of whether he's getting in. 42 forced fumbles is just impressive. Same number of tackles as Ronnie Lott.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Clara_Stadium

In case anyone didn't know, the 49ers are getting a new stadium. The team originally wanted to have a new stadium in San Francisco by 2016 to help with the city's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, but when plans fell through, they landed a stadium deal in Santa Clara County, which is pretty much San Jose. Despite no longer playing *in* San Francisco, they will continue to use the San Francisco 49ers name, but certain political figures from the area have opposed this.

Renderings of the new stadium are fantastic. It looks very nice.
www.newportbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/49ers_stadium_graph.jpg

It's set to open for the 2014 season if all goes to plan. Candlestick will be demolished and turned into a residential area.

Did you see that there are talks about the Raiders possibly being tennants to the 49ers in the new stadium? How do you feel about that? And I didn't want to go off-topic in this thread, but how do you feel about the Athletics trying to land a stadium deal in San Jose? There are a lot of things up in the air regarding Bay Area sports right now.

I have mixed feelings about sharing with the Raiders. Part of me would be a little po'd, because the Niners have put so much work into it over the past few years and it would be a little annoying to see the Raiders piggyback their way into it. Mark Davis doesn't seem to be interested in it though. I know Joe Montana and Eddie Debartolo would love the Raiders to move to Santa Clara, because they're trying to build a hotel/sports bar project near the stadium and Raiders games would mean extra revenue. The Raiders are an interesting case, because their only two viable options appear to be LA or Santa Clara. I can't see Northern California getting 2 NFL stadiums, especially with the Rams, Chargers, Vikings and others with stadium concerns.

As for the A's thing, I think that Larry Baer (even though I'm not a big fan of him) has a right to protect the Giants from a business standpoint, especially if the A's being in San Jose could take money out of their pockets. If the A's do get to go there, I hope the Giants at least get a deal cut with them like the Orioles did when the Nationals moved to DC. Another potential arena is a possible Golden State Warriors arena in San Francisco, which would help fill the city's financial void that will left by the 49ers. We haven't even brought up socal stadium issues (Angels, Dodgers, Chargers, NFL). You're right that California's stadium landscape could look VERY different a few years from now.

It would surprise me to see them go to LA. That didn't work out so well the last time.

"You're right that California's stadium landscape could look VERY different a few years from now."

Could you see any current Cali team leaving?

Sacramento Kings are the best candidate with how sleezy the Maloofs are.

Gee that would go over well.... If I'm both teams considering the problems that have gone on in the past when these two teams play I think separate facilities to keep the peace is best.