OT: National Football League - Who do you support?
Apologies if something like this have been posted before but with all the Detroit Lions posts popping up, I began wondering what NFL teams get the most support/love from the MGoCommunity.
What NFL team(s) do you support? Why?
I'll start: I live in Carolina so I generally support the Carolina Panthers. But my heart lies with Tom Brady so I consider myself a fan of the New England Patriots.
Lived in Wisconsin until I left for college so naturally I became be a Packers fan. Luckily I was born bleeding maize and blue so I have always loved Michigan more than any other team, which is why I will always cheer for Michigan Men (no matter what team they play for) in the NFL.
Are you also hoping they cut brandon saine at the end of camp like I am?
Yes and I will continue to pray to the Almighty Football Gods that the Packers will realize the mistake they made.
I will watch on occasion to see how Wolverine alumni are doing, and will go to a superbowl party, but aside from a game playing in a bar while I am there I generally don't follow the NFL. There is something just mercenary about pro football, I will stick with the college game.
Washington.
who are like me...
I almost never watch a complete NFL game, ever. I'll watch a little bit here or there; maybe a half, if it is a really important game. I'll watch some of the Super Bowl. Out of sheer boredom.
But I spend most of 7, 8 or 9 Saturdays every fall watching Michigan games, live. And when Sundays roll around, I have had enough football. I'd rather play golf. Or even watch golf. It's not that I get overloaded on football so easily. I love to watch other college teams, especially conference rivals and the big national programs. And I'd rather watch most college teams, as opposed to most pro teams, play. And all together, that is waaay more televised football than what I really require. I have almost zero rooting interest in the mercenary millionaires of the NFL. I sort of like watching the Dolphins, to see Henne and Jake Long work together. I enjoy watching Charles Woodson play for the Packers. Ditto Tom Brady, of course. Mesko. And Woodley and Larry Foote, etc., etc., etc.
If you gave me tickets to a Lions game, I wouldn't go if the weather was nice enough to play golf instead.
I prefer watching college football and hoops a thousand times more than their pro equivalents.
And this is why:
"...No man is more important than The Team. No coach is more important than The Team. The Team, The Team, The Team, and if we think that way, all of us, everything that you do, you take into consideration what effect does it have on my Team? Because you can go into professional football, you can go anywhere you want to play after you leave here. You will never play for a Team again. You'll play for a contract. You'll play for this. You'll play for that. You'll play for everything except the team, and think what a great thing it is to be a part of something that is, The Team. We're gonna win it. We're gonna win the championship again because we're gonna play as team, better than anybody else in this conference, we're gonna play together as a team. We're gonna believe in each other, we're not gonna criticize each other, we're not gonna talk about each other, we're gonna encourage each other. And when we play as a team, when the old season is over, you and I know, it's gonna be Michigan again, Michigan."
~Bo~
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
I'm pretty much in this boat (except that I could watch college football seven days a week if it were on). I invest so much time following college football that I just don't have much desire to get fired up about another level of football beyond that. If I tune in to the NFL, it's just for entertainment purposes. It doesn't really matter to me who wins.
Lions first and foremost. The Colts in the AFC as long as they are not playing the Lions.
Grew up in Chicago (Rogers Park) and it's DA-BEARS!
I grew up in the 70's when the Cowboys were calling themselves "America's Team"... I hated them so much that I became a fan of the Steelers since they were the only ones who seemed to be able to beat them.
And then I read a biography on Vince Lombardi for either a 4th or 5th grade book report and instantly became a Packers fan as well... which was rough until recently because they were a pretty bad team through the 70's - 80's.
But my screen name should tell you which team I favor if push comes to shove...
Lions have always been my team, but the patriots are my playoff team, i'm hopping that the Lions will finally be able to have meaningful games past the first 4 weeks of the season now though.
Miami Dolphins. My dad wasn't as big a pro football fan as college (Go Blue!), so I was left on my own. The Lions never caught on with me, though I've watched them a lot, living in the area. My earliest (vague) football memories are of the Dolphins making a playoff run in '71 before getting crushed by the Cowboys 24-3 in Super Bowl VI (grr). But the next season was perfect. :D
The '70s - strange time in football, very heavily run-oriented. Three yards and a cloud of dust! Miami had a trio of RBs who saw time: HBs Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris, and FB Larry Csonka. Back in the day 6'3", 235 was FB size. Csonka wore a single-bar helmet, had a crooked nose that had been broken a number of times, and carried two or three guys before going down.
Also like Brady and the Pats.
Learned about football when I was 4 years old living in Ft. Worth so I follow the Cowboys. Moved to central Ohio when I was 5 so I also follow the Bengals. Now I'm back in Texas following both.
Funny side story. My Dad always follows the local team where he is living. We had moved to Ft. Worth from Wash DC, so when we moved, he was a Redskins fan. His son becoming a Cowboys fan was almost too much. It made for two great Sunday afternoon's every year. He now lives in Indianapolis so we no longer have that rivalry.
I've been a Packers fan since birth. I love that the two Super Bowl victories of my lifetime were made possible because of the contributions of the two UM Heisman Trophy winners of my lifetime.
Don't laugh. I'm from NorCal.
One of the most storied franchises in the NFL is on the path of the Lions for the youngest generation.
I was raised in Kalamazoo = life long Lions fan. New England comes in next, Thanks to one Thomas Brady and Belichick (dude just wipes your ass on detailes). Oddly enough 3rd is Green bay(something about team play, and Chuck)
4th anybody that beats Dallas, Cleveland, Jets, Philly, Pittsburg, Tennessee, Minnestota and Indy.
Monsters of the midway! Big Bears fan.
I grew up a Lions fan watching Barry demonize defenses by himself (only to be let down by the rest of the team usually).
I also enjoyed rooted for the Colts while Harbaugh was their QB (which gave me an affinity for Marshall Faulk as well). I am a fan of the Patriots and Brady when they aren't playing the Lions. I was also rooting for the Raiders when Woodson was playing for them and they made it to the AFC Championship Game.
Ultimately, I am a college football fan for the pageantry and *cough cough* amateurism of the sport. Something about watching a game at the Big House, as I'm sure you all know, is just too special to be overcome by the pro game.
Reading the other thread (though he deserves the HT).
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<br>Growing up in Michigan where the Lions suck with a father who was a Bears fan and a mother who liked the Lions (but far less than Michigan), I was naturally...a Vikings fan. They were good, and I liked their uniforms. But as time went on, I far more root for Michigan players, and after Anthony Carter was done the Vikes got a little too Buckeye-y, and Denny Green was kinda an ass. Now it's the Pats. I sooooo want Brady to get at least one more. The loss to the Giants is my most scarring sporting event not involving Michigan, or the Pistons in a Finals. After that, the Dolphins (I've always liked them...More so now) and whatever team Breaston plays for (I guess KC now). And Michigan guys.
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<br>I'm rooting for the Lions. The team that were no more than a point of humor to me might have it right. I hated them after Millen fired Moeller after the NFL meetings so he couldn't even get a coordinator job, for his joke hire du season. (Still only Lions coach with a winning record in my lifetime). But this may be the best management team they've ever had under Ford. That may not be saying much, but Prez, GM, Coach...they at least all appear competent. And likable.
Lions faithful here....RESTORE THE ROAR!
Lions...cause it's Detroit and Barry. But I pull for the Pats due to Brady and the mentality/discipline they foster when Detroit has a bad year.
Hometown team, follow them out of hope. This year, I think the hope will pay off.
p.s. According to Greg Banks' twitter, he is now on the Lions. Congrats to him.
Lions till I die.
Dallas Cowboys
Why- My best friend growing up was a Dallas fan and he is the one that got me into it. I live in Ohio so I like to see the browns do good as well even though I live closer to Cinci. I just can't stand Mike Brown.
Grew up in Chicago as did my Dad so I'm a diehard Bears, Cubs, Bulls, Blackhawks fan. The one team I went against the grain with was...Michigan since there are countless Irish fans in Chicago.
It seems the Hawks-Wings rivalry is all that puts me at odds with the board.
Detroit Lions all the way! Unfortunately, I'm 17 and have seen zero playoffs wins in my lifetime, but we're changing that in the next few years!
The New York Football Giants (sorry if the "Football" make Chris Berman come to mind, but it is their official corporate name). My family have been Giants fans since it was neccessary to distinguish between the football and baseball teams of the same name.
Wow guess I'm an oddity around here. I was born in Atlanata and moved to Michigan when I was 4. My mom's a huge MLB and NFL fan and thus I was dressed in Braves and Falcons gear since birth. The other two sports I adopted my Detroit teams(although less ferverently) and I do root for the Lions and Tigers to do well. Of course all of them are dwarfed by my love of the Maize and Blue.
...was to the Washington Redskins. I was 5 during their 72-73 Super Bowl season with George Allen and The Over The Hill Gang. I've loved them ever since through thick and thin.
I'm from Michigan.
Have lived in Philly my entire life. It's definitely a great time to be an Eagles fan. The season can't come soon enough. High expectations to say the least. Hopefully BG can come off the PUP list sooner rather than later to help them make a run.
August 2nd, 2011 at 10:05 PM ^
Has to be the Motor City Kitties. Go Lions!
August 2nd, 2011 at 10:29 PM ^
I have always stayed a homer and root for the home teams. Even though I have moved away a long time ago. I still root for all Detroit teams and the beloved UofM. I have rooted for the Steelers and Patriots since they usually always have a strong roster of Michigan players. But always a Lion fan. NFL isn't as crucial as college though with 16 weeks and a PLAYOFF.
August 2nd, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
I was a Lions fan first and always will be, but I end up supporting the team in the local market wherever I happen to live. Now, it's Tampa Bay, but it's also been the Bears, 'Fins, and Jaguars for various periods of time.
I tried the same while living in dc for 4 years. I gave the Redskins a chance. Then I realized that being a lions fan, it's impossible to root for a team that has (had) talent and doesn't win anyway. Plus their fans and stadium and owner are horrible.
August 2nd, 2011 at 10:44 PM ^
Are there any decent Lions boards out there?
Prideofdetroit.com is pretty good.
August 2nd, 2011 at 11:21 PM ^
I was born in Michigan but I've lived in Tennessee for the past 29 years. I've loved the Lions as long as I can remember which has mostly been futile but I've always had hope. I also became a Patriots fan in 1976 when Steve Grogan was their QB. The fact that Brady ended up there is just gravy. When they play each other I pull for the Lions. So It's the Wolverines and all the Detroit teams first and foremost for me !!!!
August 2nd, 2011 at 11:26 PM ^
It's great to be able to cheer for Charles Woodson on Sundays.
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:40 AM ^
Glad to see the other Bears fans on the board!!
so I root for the Bills. I was in high school when they lost 4 Super Bowls in a row and it hasn't gotten a lot easier since then. They have had so many good players and I love the way their fans stick with them through the good times and bad. It's really disappointing to hear all the talk of moving the team to Toronto or elsewhere. I think the fans deserve better.
1. Lions - grew up in Michigan with Billy Sims and Barry Sanders and Jeff Komlo. What's not to love?
2. Seahawks - have spent most of my adult life in Washington, minus 5 years in NC
3. Patriots - but only because of Tom Brady
Dammit. Double post.