American Football

[Anon]

Old one looks better...

 

[Renegade]

No words.

 

[Kim Mitten]

Reggie is done in Detroit. Sure someone will take him on, even with his injury issues, although I'm pretty sure he'll need to adjust his wage demands as it being said he's been cut as he was unwilling to take a pay cut, he was due $3.5M next season, can't see anyone paying him that.
I now expect a RB to be drafted anywhere from 3rd round onward.
The good news with his money off the cap is that if a deal is done with Suh and a little more negotiating is done with others, the entire out of contract D-Line may well all come back next season.

 

[RavenBish]

WHAT'S DEZ DONE?!

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

It's a banner year for NFL videos that people may or may not have allegedly seen, aint it.

Seems hard to process Jennifer Lawrence's mammaries putting 101 girdles around the earth in 40 minutes but this thing not seeing light of day somewhere in the last few months, or TMZ/Deadspin not having shelled out for it yet, but who knows.

If there's one good thing about the rumour and inuendo gaining this sort of critical mass it's hopefully that someone in a position of authority will reach out to him and help get it sorted. Because whatever it is (if it is) it must surely still be preferable to the non-trivial chance of Dez giving someone a suitcase of cash to fix it Marvin Harrison style.

 

[Kim Mitten]

Schefter of EPSN saying he's been 'working' on it since September - when the hell is this video from? How much back dating can be taken into account if, as some reporters are suggesting, Bryant's career is about to go down the pan? Can hardly kick him out if it's from his college days, you'd have to kick out half the players if past indiscretions are taken into account.

Anyway, could be happy days for Murray if true, with Bryant out of the way he can get the contract he wants.

 

[TomPNE94]

Adrian Peterson's ban overturned by a federal judge. Eh?!

 

[Anon]

Adrian Peterson's ban overturned by a federal judge. Eh?!

Yeah that mystifies me too.
---
A.J. Hawk released. 2013 season was underrated, he had a great season - but last season took a big step back, is now 31, and is earning too much money. All the best though, a good solid player for years.

With him and Jones gone there's a big gap at ILB, not keen on Clay playing there more often, so it's almost a guarantee we'll raft an ILB high, possible even two of them, and it wouldn't surprise me to see us bring in a FA on top. Barrington played well last season, but there's still a large gap there in our weakest area.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/571361240536076288

YESSSSSSSSSS

 

[Anon]

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/571361240536076288

YESSSSSSSSSS

Browns starting QB 2015.

 

[Kim Mitten]

Josh McCown has signed for the Browns. In the real world that would rule Young out of it (if he has a mega showing at the veteran combine) but this is the Browns so I could well see your statement coming true Jimbob. McCown back up, Manziel rehab.

Anyway, interesting move from Cleveland, I'd say Hoyer's home time is done. They still keep making noises about drafting a QB with one of their 2 first round picks - could have an interesting QB battle come July/August in Ohio, hopefully they make it a full out beauty and invite the likes of Vick and Leinart as well.
On the note of Hoyer - I'd like the Lions to have a look at him, Olovsky is a FA, is still synonymous with the 0-16 season, and frankly a bit naff as #2 QB. I'd feel more confident a positive result would come about if Stafford had to leave a game and Hoyer came in instead.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

COURTESY OF SOME CONTACTS AT NFL HQ I HAVE RECEIVED SOME ADVANCED FOOTAGE FROM THE VETERANS COMBINE:

(you can be sure it's recent cos it's after Jim Harbaugh invented the zone read)

 

[Kim Mitten]

A question of troubled running backs for y'all.

Ray Rice - anyone think he'll get on a team? I'd actually like the Lions to take a look at him, think you could get him very cheaply on a one year deal, just see how he goes. Think he'll go somewhere but will have to wait for teams other priorities to fall into place.

Adrian Peterson - Most seem to think he's done in Minnesota, including his Dad, certainly be nice to see him out of the NFC North - but will someone else really take him? His contract is mega, pundits talking Cowboys, but unless they can do some kind of magic with his money I really can't see him going to Dallas. I really can't see him going to teams that can afford him, like the Jaguars - but maybe if he wants out of Minneapolis so bad he will go anywhere.
Hell maybe the Packers will work something out and do a reverse Favre!

 

[Anon]

Vikings do seem to like our cast-offs; they paid Jennings when he had probably peaked, paid Des Bishop (was a good ILB but TT released him after an injury - which was good call) and have now picked up Bostick too.

Having said that, they're reaping dividends from Johnson who looked spritely last season. Late round pick by us, tore an ACL or the like so was on the practice squad, Browns signed him while injured, then put him on their practice squad where the Vikes picked him up. Given the Browns available WR group right now, that they didn't find a place for him on the active roster just smacks of Browns continuing to be the Browns.

He might get on a practice squad or pre-season team but I have a hunch Rice might be done when it comes to getting a year contract. His 2013 season was abysmal iirc, so although he's had a year of rest with the low and flooded market for FA RBs and the supposed strong and deep draft for RBs as well, he might be lucky to get the vet minimum (assuming he qualifies for that?).

 

[Kim Mitten]

No surprises, the Lions didn't use the whopping $26.7M tag on Suh. So on March 10th the bidding begins.

I really have no idea where he will go, the things that come out of his camp seem to change like the weather. First he wanted to go to a 'big market'. basically only the New York Jets who can afford him on that criteria. Then he wanted to go to a 'team capable of winning now'. In that category he either stays in Detroit or goes to Indy.
Now he has said 'my agent will decide' so he's going to whoever gives him the most money. In pole position there is the Raiders and the Jaguars. Expect him to be given the largest contract for a defensive player ever seen.

I'm still undecided to whether it's a good thing to keep him, keep the best DT in NFL, or improve the whole team overall. I'm starting to lean to the Lions letting him go, if Teryl Austin had got a job elsewhere I wouldn't be saying that, but what that man did last season was superb, and I think with 3 good to very good DTs rather than 1 superb and 2 good, he can still work the same magic.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

LeSean McCoy for Kiko Alonso. Now that's a double taker.

 

[Anon]

Blockbusting trade alert. Schefter is reporting the Bills and Eagles are swapping McCoy for Alonso...

Bills got about as far as they could last season with no decent QB or run game (I thought Marrone had done a good job in the circumstances) and wasn't Alonso injured? I suppose on that front it could be said they'll have an upgrade on last season.

...however with McCoy's role somewhat reduced last season, can't help but think the Eagles have pulled off a very, very good deal for the long-term. A player who wasn't as key as seasons' past, a deep RB draft, and now a very good and young ILB/OLB.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

I do think McCoy would have been plenty more productive last year if their O-line hadn't been such a MASH unit (says bitter fantasy owner who took him #1 overall), but yeah, there's a lot to be said for selling high on a star name with miles on the clock aint there. And yeah, Alonso did a knee ligament during camp. I know those injuries are eminently comebackablefrom nowadays, but it's still at least a little bit caveat emptor innit. The other big disparity is cap hit - Alonso is still on rookie peanuts, McCoy due a lot.

 

[Anon]

I guess with all trades both teams have to feel like they're getting a good deal, which is probably why they're so rare. The only others I can recall of the last few years have been swaps of reserves. Like you say both McCoy and Alonso have different question marks, but with the Bills' run game non-existent last season (burned on fantasy to a lesser extent by Spiller) and the likelihood of them finding a good QB being very unlikely probably has seen Ryan move for a top RB to lean on.

...which if they go run-first, even if McCoy has a blitz of a season he'll probably be in the same boat as Murray with a decent amount of tread on the tires. Despite Alonso's injury, I reckon the Eagles have the better long-term deal if he can recover.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Aye, if we're doing insta-hot-takes I agree the Eagles have got the better of it. Alonso's injury is sufficiently far removed that they should be able to get a proper look at him in his medical too, I'd assume.

 

[RavenBish]

Depends how much of McCoy's production you think is down to scheme, I think he's pretty fucking good and still a decent age. Alonso iono, if Chip liked him so much he could've taken him instead of Ertz in the draft. It makes sense for both teams in some way but then I feel like the value of backs and inside linebackers is so low that you can find a McCoy or Alonso in round 2 if you felt like the position was a big need. Bills d-line is also so good they probably feel like linebackers aren't as important. Dunno.

Kelly's approach to team-building by hand grenade is joyously similar to Paolo Di Canio's, people call him a genius but he cut DeSean Jackson and then immediately gave Riley Cooper $25m soooo..... It's stubborn and risky for a team that isn't particularly far off being a contender if they just proceeded the way they were.

Meanwhile, in the nasty Nati, our refreshing and aggressive approach to free agency is going swimmingly - we kicked the tyres on JACOBY JONES. Watch out AFC.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

I don't think anyone calls Kelly a genius in the field of NFL GM-ing/personnel decisions, to be fair.

 

[RavenBish]

Maybe, he's got this unwarranted Belichick-ian savant aura surrounding him though whereby his methods may be questionable but he gets results.

It might just be some big picture shit though and they're going after Mariota. That would be fun.

 

[Kim Mitten]

Great trade all round schemes wise I think. Firstly Rex is basically trying to do in Buffalo what he did early on at the Jets - ground and pound. He should have better success, this Bills D is way above anything he ever had in New York and it'll keep them in games. It would also look, from this trade, that they are going to stick at QB, probably draft OT.
I think from the Eagles point of view they have, if his injury is healed good, arguably the best young LB in the NFL now and with the Kelly O he thinks anyone can plug in and play and get production from them. Having said that I now put them firmly in pole position to sign DeMarco Murray.
Clearly going after Mariota as well - he appears to be falling on a lot of draft boards (personally don't know why, think he'll end up having a much better career than Winston) but as RavenBish says be fun to see draft day and just how much they'll give away to get up the board and to what spot.

 

[Renegade]

Yeah, I don't think McCoy's relative lack of production last year had anything to do with him declining as a player. Kelly brought in Sproles, who took away all of his production on third down (after McCoy was one of the best backs in the league on third down the previous year) and as mentioned, his offensive line was a complete mess until about week 10 last year. Not to mention how frustrating it was that he lost all of his goalline carries to Kelly's trickery and Chris Polk (yes, I had him in fantasy too...). I watched most of his games last season and he still looked like the same player.

We all know how much Rex loves to run the football, this will be the best back he's had to work with since becoming a head coach (not counting LT in the last few years of his career). The Bills already have one of the best defences in the league and didn't suffer at all without Alonso last season, I actually think it's a better deal for the Bills. As much as the Eagles offence is all about scheming, I don't think it's that simple to just plug and play a replacement for someone like McCoy. Mirrors the Dallas situation almost.

 

[Anon]

Cassel and 6th round 2015 pick to the Bills, 5th round 2015 pick and 7th round 2016 pick to the Vikings.

I like this one. I reckon Cassel's a little better than all the free agent QBs out there, so is really the best the Bills could have gotten for 2015, and at his salary that's not bad at all for a below-average but ok starter. Plus, even if it doesn't work out well I don't think there's any harm done long-term which is the risk with the Alonso/McCoy trade. For the Vikings, they know that Bridgewater will almost certainly start every 2015 game, so carrying $4-5m for a clear backup is probably too expensive, so they improve their create a little room and get a higher pick.

 

[Aberstone]

Sensible trades all round so far, surprising because there's normally a clear loser whenever a trade occurs in the NFL. Let's remember Matt Cassel has taken the Chiefs to the playoffs before behind a superb running game. As for Philly, well with Trent Cole and Cary Williams cut, surely they are all in in the Ndamunkong Suh sweepstakes?

I haven't given any insight into the Steelers (non-existent) FA plans so here goes:

Lance Moore was cut yesterday, no loss there. Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Mitchell and Marcus Gilbert have re-structured their contracts to clear cap space so the team can re-sign whomever and make a play for a couple of niche FA targets.

Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor, James Harrison, Jason Worilds and Brett Keisel will be gone. Harrison and Keisel are bittersweet blows but accounting for their age they were only ever meant to be stop gaps, plus with the development of Stephon Tuitt he should slot into Keisel's position next season. It wouldn't surprise me if Arthur Moats and Brice McCain are re-signed on the cheap as the team look to clear further cap space to given Ben one final contract.

Reading the Behind the Steel Curtain SBNation blog, the head writer has mentioned the team possibly going for Roy Helu Jr. as a backup for Le'Veon Bell. I wouldn't mind that although I believe he'll go somewhere else where he'll be offered a longer contract.

 

[Anon]

Not read it anywhere, but if Maclin isn't resigned it wouldn't surprise me to see the Eagles go for Cobb - his versatility would be a perfect fit there...

 

[kieran_vale]

Sad to see Vince Wilfork has been let go. He's been one of the premier players in the NT position down the years and a great leader as well. Unfortunately the business side of things has to come in to it and if we are to keep Revis and McCourty then it needed to be done as with Revis present deal we are over the cap with his $25m cap charge for next year if a new deal can't be agreed. At least Wilfork will leave the Pats the best way possible with another ring. He could of course possibly be brought back but I'd be amazed if nobody else brought him in.

Of Revis and McCourty its the latter I'm more inclined to think we'll lose. I can see some team paying a huge premium to him as there are not a lot of great options otherwise in the draft or free agency.

Vereen also is going to be a bit of a decision. I'm inclined to think he will go elsewhere and we'll try to bring through White who was pretty much red-shirted for the year. Not too sure I like that though, the pass catching RB is a huge part of the Pats Offense and could be tougher to replace than people think.

 

[Renegade]

Brandon Marshall is a Jet. Fifth round pick, seems like a good deal for them, even if he spent half of last season injured. A huge upgrade on Harvin (assuming they get rid) and another huge red zone target opposite Decker. If Mariota lands there, he will have more help than Geno Smith or Mark Sanchez ever had as rookie QBs. He will be able to just throw jump balls in the red zone.

If they keep Harvin and get Mariota then dayum, the Jets should actually be worth watching.