West Ham Online

"Free agency started last night and was pretty crazy some huge money being spent. Osweiler getting £18m a year for the Texans, leaving the Broncos without a QB, Giants have spent a fortune on good but not great players, Oliver Vernon has more guaranteed money than JJ Watt. lots more deals but cant be bothered to list them all."

"I'll dig out the radio phone-in: it'll be genuinely good to know that we have a HC who can relax and laugh slightly at himself. He'll get on with the players better if that's the case. I always felt that Bowles was constantly uptight and on edge. When I saw Gase at the presser, I worried that we'd done the same thing! Mind you, Belichick is hardly a barrel of laughs, is he?! I don't know if he has ever relaxed!"

"yes, he looked wired as fuck but fair play to him, I heard him interviewed on another show (phone in on some radio station) post the press conference and he more than held his own, and was quite funny. it won't be boring for the next couple of years :.)"

"What worries me most about the Jets' press conference, was Chris Johnson's admission that it was Gase's familiarity with the AFC East that led to his appointment. Of course, he's familiar with the division - he has coached in it with Miami. But he didn't exactly rip up any trees for the fishmen, and if mere familiarity with losing in the division is sufficient to get the job then we're not setting a high bar. I'm still convinced that Mike McCarthy was the better choice. But, hey, Gase is now our guy - so we'll get behind him. And the execs have had the good sense to appoint a top defensive co-ordinator (Williams) to ease pressure on Gase and allow him to focus on offense."

The one where Gase went all bog-eyed?!

"So while, on paper, the Rams should be considered favourites for the Super Bowl, the combination of Belichick-Brady will always keep them in the hunt. In the AFC East this year, the Patsies were sub-par at times (their ""par"", that is) yet still came good every time it mattered. Never known a coach who could take others' cast-offs and turn them into world beaters like Belichick does. And the Patsies o-line is getting better by the game this season. Going to be one heck of a match-up with that Rams d-line."

did you see the Gase press conference?

"Belichick is comfortably the best head coach in the NFL. There are some excellent 'others', including McVay, Reid and Payton. But, unfortunately, there is only one Bill Belichick standing above all others. And I say that as a still-angry Jets fan. [Grabs napkin...weeps]"

*falling*

"of course he's gronk, you prat. stop playing down your chances, I'm not calling for your bullshit :.) Mcvay should be coaching us but fuckhead Snyder & his braindead cսnt lapdog Allen continued with Gruden üò†"

"Patriots will probably look to run the ball a lot and tire out that defensive line and keep Goff off the field, the Oline has been dominant for the last 4 games opening huge holes and keeping brady untouched"

"Gronk isnt gronk anymore, that was his best game of the season last time out, he's been an immense blocker this season but hasnt done much receiving. Probably his last game in 2 weeks. I would say in general the chiefs have better receivers, i mean other than edelman they're working with other team's castoffs. I obviously think bellichick is incredible but most people would have you think McVay is the best coach in the game currently. Think Bill finds ways to confuse Goff, they'll take away cooks the same way they did Hill, its if they can stop the run with a lighter box and get pressure on Goff"

*priced up*

"every position how? most experienced QB ever, one of the best TEs ever, one of the best slot/clutch receivers ever, best successful head coach ever. the patriots were always going to be proved up as favourites. in regard to the game, it's all on how your o-line handles donald & suh"

Not in the slightest. They look like the better team at this point in time. Plus they have ALL the experience.

Is it just me that finds it odd that the patriots have opened up as slight favourites? Other than QB I feel like the Rams should have an advantage in every other position - some would even have you believing they have an advantage at head coach. Think its probably just in expectation o f a lot of money coming in for the Patriots from people who may not know a whole lot about it.

"Burns - no jealousy: the Rams are a very fine side indeed. But as a franchise, they have regularly fecked over their fan base, sponsors and local partners in hot pursuit of a bigger dollar. As a club, they're not for me. Good luck to them against the Patsies. But, for me personally, that's like watching Chelsea v Spurs: I'm figuring out a way for both sides to lose!"

"Yup, they did a really great job protecting. You have to tip your cap to the linemen and the coach. There's always a good gameplan. It's true that the Rams DL is pretty fearsome and Donald IS a monster. Not an extra pound of fat on him either. That'll be a great battle. Probably the one which decides the game."

"Yeah have to say i think the real stars of last night were the offensive line, brady only got hit once, think chargers hit him once too Thats Bosa, Melvin ingram, houston, ford and chris jones who are all top pass rushers and none of them could get anywhere near him, as well as basically dominating the run game too. Feel like Donald is a completely different beast though and can destroy an Oline single handed so be interesting to see how they try to take him away like they always do to someone like JJ Watt who has never done much against them"

"Mr. Burns 2:25 Mon Jan 21 Was just a joke. As I said, whatever happened last night is past and I hope they win the Super Bowl."

"When was that 1946 or something? Maybe not but then is it unusual for franchises to move in American sports? It's quite alien to me, and us over here, but it happens."

Mr. Burns 2:16 Mon Jan 21 But should they ever have left Cleveland after winning a championship?

"A lot of jealousy towards the Rams here, sad to see. We've been perennially shit for years. Don't forget they were 4-12 two years ago, the turnaround has been immense. The Rams should never have left LA in the first place, but the then owner Georgia Frontiere moved them. She is hated in LA by the fans, of which there are a few regardless of what you might think."

"Chiefs lost that on a coin toss. Super bowl will probably all come down to the Rams DL and if they can win their individual battles. Scarnecchia is a great coach/schemer though. Almost always a rock solid OL that does exactly what's required. Gives a tonne of time to throw the ball, or opens up lanes for the running game."

"All that said about the Rams, I have a friend that has been supporting them since before we worked together in the early 2000s. (Not sure if he jumped aboard during the Greatest Show on Turf but he has stuck with them.) But we take what we can get in Canada, NFL-wise. Look at me, I went on a trip with a school jazz band."

"They are, unfortunately, an almost perfect coach-QB combo. It's like the live in each other's heads. It makes me sick! ;-)"