How Does Someone 'Get Into' American Football

shamrock55

op come follow the redskins with me im like you and have just really started to get into this game i watched the skins beat giants in wk 1 and just decided id follow them simple really although i hear they have been pretty poor last few years but have won their first 2 games this and had a good pre season they have a great history too with great stadum and nice colour jerseys:D they are playing their big rivals the dallas cowboys tonight too so it would be a good game to start you off although there is a good chance the skins could lose this
so op come aboard the washington redskins and feck the rest of em:D;)

deisedude

FreeOSCAR wrote: »

Thats the beauty of this game though, whichever Franchise you choose to follow none of them are really a bad choice due to the yoyo nature of this league. ( Except maybe the Bengals :P )

I support the Bengals not because I'm going out of my way to be anti-bandwagon or because i'm insane as implied by some here! I studied in Cincinnati in 2009, the one year they were good in God knows how long and seeing as I lived there it seemed like the logical option of a team to support even though some friends of mine told me to support the Browns or Steelers! I should have listened!

Richard Hillman

I learned pretty much everything thats needed to know by playing Madden. I used to just watch the Superbowl every year and knew what was going on but not too much in terms of rules and positions etc. When i started playing Madden it turned me into a serious fan of American football. I watch it everyweek and even stay up into the late hours to watch games. I only started watching NFL about 4 years ago. Im very sure if i didnt play Madden, i would probably still only watch the Superbowl and have not much of an idea whats going on.

eagle eye

Meh who cares why you support a team? It doesn't worry me anyways. I've supported the Patriots for a long time now and before Belichick or Brady got there. Froze my ass off in the coldest stadium I've ever been in which was the old Foxboro stadium. If I meet a Pats fan it doesn't matter to me though when he started supporting them, just that he does.

I don't get why somebody would be interested enough in people becoming Pats fans that he'd call them bandwagoners. Hell we haven't won a Superbowl since 2004! And who wouldn't fall in love with the Patriots and their high scoring offense and what chick wouldn't fall for Tom Brady after she gets one look at the stud who scored the hottest supermodel on the planet?

Howshocowpownw

spiralism wrote: »

no need for that. also, i'm a utd fan and i support the broncos, hardly bandwagoning

seriously though, be a bit original, there's too many who follow the sport over here that are pats fans tbh, and that's not a knock on the pats lads here

Of course they're in a really great period but it's the Boston/Irish thing as well. Me and my friends went over to family members years ago and went to a match and got into it.

matthew8

Play Madden NFL to get a grip of the rules and watch NFL redzone on sky sports.

FlutterinBantam

The-Rigger wrote: »

I watch the superbowl each year but I still don't understand the rulez.
Tried reading them on wiki but it still left me flummoxed.

Go Stealers.

That's the one game you shouldn't watch.

Over-hyped, neutral venue, prawn sarnie crowd, half-time show bull.

Regular season and playoffs is where its at.

Rules.

Team that has the ball tries to get into the other end zone in blocks of 10yds or more using up to four attempts.Every 10 gained allows a new set of 4 attempts or downs.

The other team tries to prevent them doing that.

If they fail, the other team gets a chance and the original team try to prevent them.

That's about it:D

Justin10

Way I got into it was just watching games.
Knew the Steelers had Irish roots so followed them and loved their defence.
But then I came across a guy called "LT" well after seeing him it was the Chargers for me.

Madden makes a massive difference, you get to know the best players, teams, stadiums etc.
How the rules work and how the seasons works etc.

WastedSpace

Just watch it and you'll know if you enjoy it or not. The rules arent that complicated.

Stev_o

A friend got me into it really and one day he just wouldn't stop talking about it. He'd occasionally post video highlights of his team and it got my attention. We started playing Madden and then my interest took off from there.

Saw the highlights of the GB vs Cardinals Wildcard game for 2010 and it blew me away. Immediately loved Rogers and his style as up until then I had seen much QB rushing clips and thought this was sooooo cool. Knew they were the team for me.

Just so happened my friend was a Vikings fan Shenanigans inn sued.

Rochey18

Rochey18 wrote: »

But then I came across a guy called "LT" well after seeing him it was the Chargers for me.

Huh?

Oh you mean LaDainian Tomlinson?

Was thinking of the LT.

Hulk Hands

OP I was in the same position as you a few years back. A few of my friends watched the game religiously and followed teams. I can remember having arguments over why they wouldn't come out on the piss on a Sunday night, staying in to watch a "stupid" game instead.

Now I love the game. I spend every Sunday evening watching football, play fantasy football, and every Vikings loss hurts nearly as much as United losing at soccer or Galway in the GAA (and that's saying something)

A few things I'd recommend -

Pick a team obviously and read up on their players and history.

Play with said team in Madden. It will help you learn the rules and the roster etc.

This one mightn't be for everyone, but I used to place small wagers at the start to keep an interest. Just like Soccer Saturday is more interesting with an accumulator on, it's the same with the NFL. E.g. Even throwing a fiver on the Jets or the Ravens this sunday night (will be a great game anyway), will give you a reason to stay up and watch it, all the while getting familiar with the players and developing an appreciation for the game.

Paully D

I've just gotten into the sport this season also.

I love America as a country etc, but the main thing that attracted me this year is that I'm starting to fall out of love with English football and I find the whole sports system in America to be much fairer. The smaller teams can make a good go at winning something with a few good drafts, etc.

I knew the basics from playing Madden years ago, but thanks to Madden 12 I'm learning every day about formations, plays to run and when to run them etc, to the detriment of my college career :pac:

I support the Baltimore Ravens. Main reason being I got attracted to the city of Baltimore from watching the TV show The Wire and decided to go with the Ravens based on that. I've been reading up about them a lot, I know a lot of their players such as Lewis, Rice, Flacco, Ngata, Oher, Cundiff etc. They have a great Twitter page that updates the news as and when so it's easy to keep up to date.

Another thing is to look online for a series from HBO called 'Hard Knocks'. It gives a great insight into the way pre-season is run in the NFL, and you might start liking a team from that. The one I watched recently is the Jets from last season, very interesting.

I still have a long way to go on learning everything but I'm getting there. I look forward to Sunday's American football now and I think I'll get the game pass next season too so I can watch the Ravens every week.

You won't regret getting into the sport anyway, that's for sure.

FreeOSCAR

Paully D wrote: »

I still have a long way to go on learning everything but I'm getting there. I look forward to Sunday's American football now and I think I'll get the game pass next season too so I can watch the Ravens every week.

Side note man. You can get the Gamepass on a monthly basis so if the Ravens are not on primetime for a few weeks it would be worth getting. Also it's brilliant to have on when you want to rewatch games or even key plays.

D3PO

Paully D wrote: »

I look forward to Sunday's American football now and I think I'll get the game pass next season too so I can watch the Ravens every week.

You won't regret getting into the sport anyway, that's for sure.

Hey Rookie :pac: advance warning soon you will look forward to Saturday evenings aswell and college football. Dont say I didnt warn you :cool:

I suspect Maryland Terrapins are the college team for you. Although the way they got run on by Temple last week sheesh it could be heartbreaking to support them

GoldFour4

Paully D wrote: »

I've just gotten into the sport this season also.

I love America as a country etc, but the main thing that attracted me this year is that I'm starting to fall out of love with English football and I find the whole sports system in America to be much fairer. The smaller teams can make a good go at winning something with a few good drafts, etc.

.

This really. I got sick and tired of the same teams winning everything in England. Love how wide open the NFL is. The salary cap is the key. Id probably have the same passion for soccer that I have for NFL if they had a salary cap.

Paully D

Paully D wrote: »

I love America as a country etc, but the main thing that attracted me this year is that I'm starting to fall out of love with English football and I find the whole sports system in America to be much fairer. The smaller teams can make a good go at winning something with a few good drafts, etc.

It's also nice to see grown men play a sport where they don't have to sit out 6 weeks with a broken nail, where rolling around screaming is not a tactic, where they don't run after the officials crying for players to be ejected etc. etc.

FreeOSCAR

Deleted User wrote: »

It's also nice to see grown men play a sport where they don't have to sit out 6 weeks with a broken nail, where rolling around screaming is not a tactic, where they don't run after the officials crying for players to be ejected etc. etc.

The Giants Defense says hello. :pac:

It's not the sport itself that causes these issues, it's the individuals. You get aholes in every sport. Football, Rugby, Soccer etc.

curry-muff

mikemac wrote: »

Nonsense

You need to support the Baltimore Ravens

Not known for flashy offence but the defence is pretty flashy, leading the league in scoring

Looking forward to seeing Ravens flashy defence in action tonight

mikemac

So have you selected the Ravens as your team OP?

If so that was the best choice :cool:

bamboozling

curry-muff wrote: »

Looking forward to seeing Ravens flashy defence in action tonight

Detroit Lions is where it is at I'm afraid. People gonna start inventing quadruple coverage for Megatron pretty soon.

curry-muff

mikemac wrote: »

So have you selected the Ravens as your team OP?

If so that was the best choice :cool:

Na, haven't settled on a team yet, I've sorta narrowed it down to Ravens, Packers, Patriots and Eagles.

I have family in Philly, so if it wasn't for Vick being such an unsavory character I'd be supporting them by now.

spiralism

curry-muff wrote: »

Na, haven't settled on a team yet, I've sorta narrowed it down to Ravens, Packers, Patriots and Eagles.

I have family in Philly, so if it wasn't for Vick being such an unsavory character I'd be supporting them by now.

he did his time... vick gets worse press than he deserves, he's looked a changed man since his return

curry-muff

Oh, there's that Ravens defence

edit: Spoke a little soon, McKnight just waltzed through them :pac:

spiralism

curry-muff wrote: »

Oh, there's that Ravens defence

edit: Spoke a little soon, McKnight just waltzed through them :pac:

that's special teams, very different to defence

curry-muff

spiralism wrote: »

that's special teams, very different to defence

Im guessing thats when they send out a mixture of defense/offense?

*Runs off to Google*

D3PO

curry-muff wrote: »

Im guessing thats when they send out a mixture of defense/offense?

*Runs off to Google*

mainly defensive backups but its not really defense. Ravens defense looked damn sexy again last night.

Peyton Manning

spiralism wrote: »

vick gets worse press than he deserves, he's looked a changed man since his return

No he hasn't.

He still can't read a blitz for shít.

mikemac

You want to be an Eagles fan?

Are you ready to boo and jeer your own team at a seconds notice and run the unpopular players out of town?

You need an unforgiving attitude to support that team

spiralism

Tom_Brady wrote: »

No he hasn't.

He still can't read a blitz for shít.

haha love it

cooker3

**** the begrudgers. Support whoever you like and if that happens to be Packers or Patriots because they are successful then whatever. I mean most of us don't have any connection with US so whatever team you choose is usually going to be arbitrary in anyway, so whether that is because they have best QB, team, nicest jerseys, best cheerleaders etc than so be it.

For me I got into it, like most ,by playing the Madden games, you remember the 1 that came free with sega megadrive along with some ice hockey game where you just wanted to get into fights. I learned the rules and after we got sky in the house I decided to check out a game. This was back in day when 1 game a week was shown at 9pm (new fans don't know how good you have it with immense tv coverage and gamepass/streams etc) Packers were playing Tampa Bay and I just decided whoever wins I'll support, some whippersnapper in his 4th year called Favre had a good game to win it and that was it.

My love for the game just increases year on year. We won the superbowl following season in 96 (beating the Patriots ) and while I enjoyed that it was nothing to how I felt this year watching us win it at 10am in the morning in some ex-pat bar in Thailand. It felt as good as any Ireland victory.

I think the best thing about the NFL is while I'm a packers fan I'm equally as much an NFL fan and I just love watching the game and once you get into it your hooked for life. No better league in world than the NFL by far imo.

Hazys

cooker3 wrote: »

For me I got into it, like most ,by playing the Madden games, you remember the 1 that came free with sega megadrive along with some ice hockey game where you just wanted to get into fights.

I loved that EA Sports double header game on the mega drive.

The hockey was one of the best games of its generation. The fights were hilarious, i remember after every goal i scored when i was supposed to be celebrating a goal, id go around pushing the oppostion players onto the ground untill one of them fought back...oh the memories...good times.



I didnt have a clue how to play Madden back then, picking plays was a mystery.

I would pick a play then once i snapped the ball it was a great shock to me to see whether my player would try and run it or pass it. I thought i was pressing some button to make the guy throw it rather than run it.

Cherry_Cola

I'm in pretty much the same boat and am trying to get into it. At the moment I'm leaning towards the Buccaneers so will check out more of them.

UnitedIrishman

As someone who only really got into it in the last couple of years, started getting into it after the Giants vs. Pats final a few years back and started watching NFL Access sporadically up until the start of last season. Got a Packers t-shirt a few years back from a mate of the aul fella without knowing anything bout them so decided to follow them and now make it my point to watch them every weekend. I'm sure some would probably call me a glory hunter for supporting them only since the start of last season, but it shouldn't matter.

Even if Rodgers went down last weekend (please god don't let that happen) and we went 0-12 for the rest of the season, it wouldn't stop me from watching every week and seeing how our backup Flynn did or how McCarthy would change the game. It's a fantastic game to get into and I'm still learning but in fairness, this board has been brilliant in finding out rules/plays/rumours etc.

Best way I found to get into it was by joining the Fantasy Leagues, playing Madden and I always have an accum on a few games at the weekend. Other than that, I watched pretty much all of the America's Game series on Sky which gave me a good back knowledge of the game.

sonic85

starting to get into american football now only after watching a couple of games but its fairly addictive stuff! dont really have a team but im leaning towards the colts and the bengals (cool colours and logo).

seen the colts and the buccs last week and liked the look of curtis painter - thought he did well. threw a big TD pass tonight too

GoldFour4

sonic85 wrote: »

starting to get into american football now only after watching a couple of games but its fairly addictive stuff! dont really have a team but im leaning towards the colts and the bengals (cool colours and logo).

seen the colts and the buccs last week and liked the look of curtis painter - thought he did well. threw a big TD pass tonight too

If its between those two then id choose the Colts.They could end up drafting the most hyped qb in many years next april. Plus it doesnt make you look like a bandwagon fan !

Jopari87

sonic85 wrote: »

starting to get into american football now only after watching a couple of games but its fairly addictive stuff! dont really have a team but im leaning towards the colts and the bengals (cool colours and logo).

seen the colts and the buccs last week and liked the look of curtis painter - thought he did well. threw a big TD pass tonight too

If you liked Painter, wait until you see Peyton Manning!

sonic85

malachyscott wrote: »

If its between those two then id choose the Colts.They could end up drafting the most hyped qb in many years next april. Plus it doesnt make you look like a bandwagon fan !

major bonus that! i dont really want to follow a team that everybody else is. want a little bit of originality

sonic85

Jopari87 wrote: »

If you liked Painter, wait until you see Peyton Manning!

out for a while though isnt he? neck surgery wasnt it? i thought painter did well for a man making his first NFL start! hope he gets a few more games under his belt

Q_Ball

I've started following the sport in the last year or so (i.e since I started playing it) and I've been stumped as to who to follow. I'm always up for the underdogs and the way the lions have come back from big margins to win games has won me over.

Plus I could get a jersey with 'megatron' on it

Jopari87

sonic85 wrote: »

out for a while though isnt he? neck surgery wasnt it? i thought painter did well for a man making his first NFL start! hope he gets a few more games under his belt

I'd say he will be probably be out for the season. No point in risking him with no chance in the playoffs.

On the plus side, Painter definitely improving. Colts might also learn to run the ball as they don't have Peyton to bail them out all the time.

Green_Martian

spiralism wrote: »

you're in for a rough year if you do lol, least nobody will land the bandwagon accusation on ya... just watch a load of different teams and see who ya like, the team chooses you more than anything

Its a horrible season so far :mad: Defo could not accuse him of jumping on the bandwagon