Shutdown Corner - NFL

Shutdown Corner

Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:10 am EDT

Patroits get a scouting foothold in Israel

By MJD

The New England Patriots, who have established an NFL dynasty through their scouting acumen, have turned their attention to that hotbed of American football excellence, Israel.

The Israelis, long known for their enthusiasm about and skill for playing American football, now have Patriots owner Bob Kraft as the sponsor of their national football league. The Israeli Football League will now be known as the Kraft Family IFL. By 2010, I expect half of the Patriots defense to be Israeli.

Much unlike the NFL, the Kraft Family IFL has a link on their homepage that allows anyone to sign up to play in the league. Take that, NFL. You and your exclusionary "we only want fast, strong, and huge players" policies will soon leave you as the 2nd-best American football organization in the world.

There's a chance I'm wrong, though, and Bob Kraft is not looking to find an Israeli replacement for Matt Cassell, and is instead just a kindhearted, Jewish American philanthropist, looking to lend a helping hand and perhaps grow the game internationally. Applause for Mr. Kraft.

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30 Comments

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  1. Ben P
    1. Posted by Ben P Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

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    I think thats fantastic. An NFL owner encouraging overseas development of American football. Its an idea which im sure will go well for Mr Kraft. And as a Pats fan.. im proud of our owner to further the expansion of the game to the international masses.
  2. Ummmm
    2. Posted by Ummmm Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:34 pm EDT

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    Go Jerusalem Kings!!!
    I'm guessing not, but do you have any info (and links) on if the players get paid at all???
    I may need to relocate...
  3. daddymag
    3. Posted by daddymag Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    You Don't Run on The Zohan.
  4. domenick2x
    4. Posted by domenick2x Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    Jebus....4 posts until a Zohan reference. Some of you people really need to keep up.
  5. Saro G
    5. Posted by Saro G Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:46 pm EDT

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    Probably wants to pick up some surveillance tips from Israeli Special Forces for his head coach.
  6. j t
    6. Posted by j t Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:43 pm EDT

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    are they playing with cleats or Jerusalem cruisers??
  7. Rasheed H
    7. Posted by Rasheed H Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:01 pm EDT

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    ooh, 4 posts before a spygate reference. GFY hater!
  8. Paradise
    8. Posted by Paradise Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:03 pm EDT

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    I can hear it now.... the cheers !!! As American football spreads across the Middle East. Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Israel, Iraq, Iran..etc Much like the Cincinnati Bengals with their "Who Dey" & the New Orleans Saints with their "Who Dat" chant.... Some country will pick on it with something like this: Hussein Hussein... Hussein is gonna beat them ????? Hussein...Hussein... etc THE punchline being... as teams consist of 53 players.. lets say 40 of them might have the name Hussein...
  9. Saro G
    9. Posted by Saro G Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:46 pm EDT

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    Yeah, I hate inarticulate, uncharismatic, unpleasant cheaters.
  10. TRUST BILL
    10. Posted by TRUST BILL Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:35 pm EDT

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    how long before POLIAN and the excuse makers in indy have a group cry to the league about the competitive advantage this gives the PATS?
  11. noreaster
    11. Posted by noreaster Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:55 pm EDT

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    jim r , as much as i enjoy the pats / colts games , the colts really do whine a lot . you should listen to the colts radio broadcast sometime , its a real hoot , kind of like the old johnnie most calls with the celts . thing is , we all expected biased from johnnie , it was his comical trademark .
  12. noreaster
    12. Posted by noreaster Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:55 pm EDT

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    rasheed , the spygate crutch will likely be re-newed now that the pats arent just laying down after the loss of tom brady . they only need to win 5 of their last 9 games to go 10-6 . a win this sunday will eliminate indy from contention but a loss wont hurt the pats very much . it should be a fun game to watch .
  13. Fantasy Guru
    13. Posted by Fantasy Guru Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:27 pm EDT

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    Down, down Israel. Palestine is arab land!
  14. giantsforever
    14. Posted by giantsforever Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    Fantasy Guru (#13)- I agree with you completely! As you stated, long live Israel!
    And you are correct-"Palestine" is as real as the unicorn.
  15. giantsforever
    15. Posted by giantsforever Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    fantasy guru (#13)- i agree with you completely! as you stated, long live israel!
    and you are correct-"palestine" is as real as the unicorn.
  16. giantsforever
    16. Posted by giantsforever Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    Fantasy Guru-as you said: "Long live Israel." Also you are correct when you state that Palestine is an illusion-as real as the unicorn.
  17. whosyourdaddy
    17. Posted by whosyourdaddy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    Piped in music cheater Bill Polian is a BIG HOG PUFFER
  18. Derek T
    18. Posted by Derek T Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:10 pm EDT

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    im a pats fan and i think its garbage
  19. Mad Max
    19. Posted by Mad Max Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    I agree with giantsforever
  20. boston
    20. Posted by boston Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    With all the spygate crap being flung at us pats fans,did anyone see about st. louis? They're sending tapes to the league citing plays the pats should have been flagged on. Where did they get the tapes? See everyone else tapes games too losers!
  21. Jack R
    21. Posted by Jack R Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:48 pm EDT

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    holy [profane] #21 youre the model anti-Patriots fan with your assertion that proving that everyone is doing it doesnt affect the influence of us getting caught. OF COURSE IT MATTERS the more people are proven guilty the more it proves that what we did was irrelevant, pull your head out of your [profane] and realize that what we did was irrelevant. seeing as we got caught and proceeded to go 16-0 AFTER being caught. and dont even bring up that we lost the superbowl, 18-1 is a pretty f-ing good record and proves that the dynasty had nothing to do with us filiming anything. can we all just f-ing drop spygate already. its a done deal
  22. john y
    22. Posted by john y Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:51 pm EDT

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    Pats fans, Pats fans, Pats fans. Having tape of the players on the field is LEGAL. If it wasn't, no one could watch game film. The Rams aren't sending film to the NFL showing the Pats signaling in plays with illegal hand signals. They also aren't sending in tape of the Pats pregame walk through to so penalties during that. The Rams just thought the officials did a poor job calling the game and wanted clarification. Teams do this all the time.
    Everyone knows the Pats broke the rules and were given a non-punishment by losing the next to last pick of the first round in a draft where they had 2 first rounders. Everyone strongly suspects the commissioner had evidence that the Pats cheated in the Superbowl run and probably against the Rams, because he destroyed the evidence so quickly without letting anyone see it. However, there is no concrete proof other than it sure looked fishy.
  23. lordstinkbug
    23. Posted by lordstinkbug Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:56 pm EDT

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    ten years from now, the pats will win a game against someone's home team, and they'll still post some crap about "spygate". because everyone wants to point the finger at someone else when their team loses.
    guess what- if you're a man, you suck it up... and move on to the next game. if you're a puss, you whine about past history on web pages like this.
    if you're a chick, call me & we'll discuss.
  24. Ahmad A
    24. Posted by Ahmad A Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:43 pm EDT

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    Bob Kraft and the Patsies should be ashamed of themselves.....while the Palestinians are being starved and ethnically cleansed off their land, he wants to support the Apartheid State of Israel in throwing footballs around. Good job Bob, you Nazi.
  25. RONALD D
    25. Posted by RONALD D Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:49 pm EDT

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    it looks like a way to pay players a less amount and mr. craft puts more money in his pocket. sure bring them all in from oversea's. who cares about giving an american a job today?

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