American Football

[Renegade]

http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2018/02/eagles_super_bowl_parade.html



The Superbowl was majestic.

I reckon the Colts dodged a bullet with McDaniels, it's easier to look impressive when you have Bill Belichick and Tom Brady in the same room as you. He may be a great coordinator, but his failure as the head coach of the Broncos is probably more instructive. His place as the hottest coaching prospect always puzzled me and that was before he highlighted his questionable character by reneging on a deal that already saw the Colts hire personnel that he wanted. Tool. The Colts are likely fucked next season, but I think this will work out long term.

 

[RavenBish]

He's a brilliant offensive mind so I guess him being highly touted as a HC candidate is because the only way you have him running your offense is by giving him the top job and hoping he has the man management skills a head coach needs as well - I don't think he has the latter however. I'd be surprised if he gets another offer any time soon after this debacle, then again it's the NFL so I probably shouldn't be surprised at all.

 

[RavenBish]

Blake Bortles just got a 3 year deal worth $66.5m. Quarterbacks eh?

 

[Renegade]

Oh dear.

 

[Anon]

Before judging I'd like to see what the yearlies are and how much he'd cost if the Jags cut after year one.

I suspect it wouldnt be much more, if marginally any, than the 5th year option. In which case it wouldnt be such a bad deal at all.

Not to mention this year the Jags likely not being in the contention for one of the top 4 maybe 5 draft QBs. In which case of available vets the only one who's better tham Bortles is Cousins.

 

[Anon]

Before judging I'd like to see what the yearlies are and how much he'd cost if the Jags cut after year one.

I suspect it wouldnt be much more, if marginally any, than the 5th year option. In which case it wouldnt be such a bad deal at all.

Not to mention this year the Jags likely not being in the contention for one of the top 4 maybe 5 draft QBs. In which case of available vets the only one who's better tham Bortles is Cousins.

The quarterback was scheduled to make $19 million in 2018, but will instead make an average of $18 million per season from 2018 to 2020. Bortles can make a maximum of $66.5 million with all incentives and escalators included, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported.

...see, should always ignore the headline figure until the details come out. He'll get only 7m extra guaranteed, they can cut after one year with not much worries. And like it or not, he did actually play ok in 2017 and without his best WR.

 

[pride_of_notts]

Anyone been watching any of the Combine Josh Allen seems to be the big big winner and probably Jackson didn't look so good his throwing does concern me personally I would rate the QB'S going into the draft
1. Rosen
2. Darnold
3. Allen
4. Mayfield
5. Jackson

Also it seems today Shaquem Griffin is putting up some really great numbers so it will be interesting to see where he lands in the draft

 

[JJ1532]

Makes me laugh seeing people trash Griffin's numbers. Like, people saying "oh, his left hand won't get fatigued like the rest the players and "His 40 yard time is only that good because he doesn't have drag". How ludicrous can you be when you are belittling a man with only 1 hand?

 

[Anon]

Yeah those comments are idiotic. However I doubt Griffin gets taken before day 3.

His bench press was incredible to watch, and I'm told his game stats are very good and in theory could have been even better were it not for his hand. However it's perfectly understandable that GMs will look at his limitation and think that what he could get away with at college will be far easier handled by NFL o-linemen. An amazing story to watch play out though.

 

[kieran_vale]

Looks like the Seahawks are in full on rebuild mode. Traded Bennett to the Eagles and quite probably moving on from Sherman too. The latter with his injury and contract will probably end up being cut to free up $11m in cap space if they go through with it. If the price was right I wouldn't be averse to him being in New England.

Would not surprise me at at all if they end up being last in the division next year. A lot of other holes in the team became apparent last year particularly on the O-Line. It was only Wilsons brilliance that kept them in the playoff hunt.

 

[Anon]

Some funny deals already. Norwell to Jags, Wilson to Fins, Watkins to Chiefs... all look ludicrously overpriced to me.

Allen Robinson looks like comparatively decent value given the timing.

 

[MagpieBee]

Yeah, initially I thought it was too much. Amazing what 6 hours of hindsight can do!

No idea why the Fins didn’t just pay Landry if they were going to give that much to Wilson

 

[kieran_vale]

Looks like Cousins to the Vikings is being finalised. 3 years for $86m fully guaranteed. That is ridiculous money. I don’t see it with Cousins being honest, he’s always struck me as someone with nice stats but liable to a big mistake at the most inopportune time. Good situation for him though to come in to not just financially.

 

[Anon]

Cousins is totally worth that, without a doubt. He's a FA, proven good QB about to come into the prime of his career. I'd comfortably put him in the group of QBs with Stafford etc. Ground breaking with the fully-guaranteed contract too - rightly sets the bar higher for Rodgers.

When you look at how much Jimmy G got after six games... Cousins is most definitely worth his amount. Vikings improve, and underline being a force in the north for a good few years now.

 

[JJ1532]

Problem the Vikings have though is it eats a lot of their cap space and might mean they have to trade/release a few pieces in the next couple of seasons. Issue I have with is, they are paying him elite QB money and he aint an elite QB. But I suppose given the rest of their roster, their time to go for it is now.

Wow, didn't realise Amendola was leaving the Pats, off to sign with the Dolphins.

 

[kieran_vale]

Problem the Vikings have though is it eats a lot of their cap space and might mean they have to trade/release a few pieces in the next couple of seasons. Issue I have with is, they are paying him elite QB money and he aint an elite QB. But I suppose given the rest of their roster, their time to go for it is now.

Wow, didn't realise Amendola was leaving the Pats, off to sign with the Dolphins.[/

As much as I detest the Fins wish him nothing but the best. Restructured his contract last couple of years to make basically a drop in pay to stay with the Pats and always produced when it mattered most. Hope he has managed to get every single penny he can out of them. With Edelman coming back next year his role was always going to be reduced anyway. Amendola is a great short term replacement for Landry anyway for them.

Jimbob going have to agree to disagree on this. Again if we are talking fantasy numbers fine but for a QB without even a playoff win or dare I say a signature win to pay that money is something I will never buy in to. The only thing I do like is with it being a shorter deal they will not end up screwed capwise like the Ravens were with Flacco in the long term.

 

[Anon]

Vikings upgrading at QB will hit the cap, but its at the most important position. If the alternative is Bradford at 20m, Keenum at 18m, its an easy decision for a contender. All other positions pale in comparison.

No idea on with players Fins are targeting what their strategy is. I think they were right to let Landry go at his number, but the players they've signed so far...

Not talking fantasy numbers Kieran, Cousins isnt even a great fantasy QB anyway... its based on how good he is. I find the 'playoff wins' thing to be one of the worst stats to judge individual QB performances, has no context. Its what QBs cost, and as above the alternatives are only a third cheaper and worse ability.

Again when you look at what Garopollo got, Cousins got market rate.

 

[Anon]

Also, with Flacco's contract - again they paid the going rate for his SB contract, and for the next few years he played to the contract (which got beat in value every year as new QB contracts come along). The mistake they made was re-upping it a year or two ago and seemingly committing themselves for the long haul to accommodate spending elsewhere - and his play has now dropped.

Cousins is clearly part of the Carr/Stafford/Rivers -type club, but became a FA and was the most recent contract done - don't forget Stafford had the biggest QB contract just a year ago. The alternative is going for a worse QB at still a big chunk in Foles, Keenum, Bradford, or going via a rookie route - which given where the Vikings pick and that they're a contender, isn't a realistic option.

For teams that don't luck into a Rodgers, Brady, Brees etc, this is next best option.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

That Cousins deal will be small fry in a couple of years time, QB contracts will keep going up and more importantly for us the cap will keep going up, so I'm pretty confident we can keep hold of everyone we need to for a while yet as long as we draft well the next couple of years.

It's absolutely the right move, no Cousins isn't elite but he's looked decent in a mediocre Washington offense for 3 years, and christ we managed to get into the NFCCG with Case bloody Keenum last season, so you'd like to think Cousins has enough ability over Case to take us one step further.

Signing Bradford would have been nonsensical, Bridgewater and Keenum both massive risks for different reasons, and we're too far down the draft order with nowhere near enough picks to move up and grab one of the guys that will go in round one (who all have asterisks alongside them as well), everyone knows it doesn't mean it's a cast iron guarantee but this is the most sensible move we could make.

 

[Anon]

Wilkerson on a one year prove it at $5m guarantees $3m incentives is very good business on "Day 0" of free agency. Could do nothing, could be a steal. Our defensive line could be borderline elite for a 3-4.

Jimmy Graham's not the chain mover he was but our redZone TD conversion rates felt really poor. Yet to see the numbers so might be more expensive than I'd like but the announced timed with the cutting of Nelson suggests to me Nelson's savings has paid for Graham.

Bon voyage Jordy. Was financially the right decision, Adams stepped up into true WR1 territory and was the only one who looked decent with Hundley at QB. Cheers for the memories though - was probably the first Packers receiver I'd seen play from start to finish since I started watching NFL proper.

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The Albert Wilson, Ryan Grant and to a lesser extent Paul Richardson and Danny Amendola contracts look horrid. Sammy Watkins with 30m guarantees is huge for such inconsistency. Allen Robinson was a relative snip. Landry's too expensive for a slot guy but it does make sense for a team needy in receivers and with oodles of cap.

Astounded by Browns paying that much for a sparingly used Steelers o-lineman, and the Jags spending that much on a good-but-not-great guard.

QB merry-go-round not looking good for McCarron and Foles. I think only the Bills haven't yet signed a 'bridge', and with their move up in the 1st, they're clearly attempting to draft one high.

 

[Anon]

Few snippets. Of the players I know, finding myself disliking a lot more deals than liking them. Nature of FA I guess.


Deals I like

• Dion Lewis. Durability issues remain, but I like it that the Titans have gotten reasonable value and that they can pair with Henry for the hard yards
• Mo Wilkerson. Only 5m guaranteed, upto 8m with incentives. Worth the risk and the tie up with Pettine could mean it's a bargain
• John Brown. Type of WR perfect for Flacco, worth a one year 5m.
• Allen Robinson. Coming off injury, but it's a snip looking at what others got.

Deals I don't like

• Jerrick McKinnon. At best a change of pace back, and yet his contract is excessive.
• Albert Wilson. Fringe WR3 at 8m a year.
• Trumaine Johnson. 15m a year. Not an expert, but is he actually much more than an half decent corner?
• Sam Bradford. 20m for that injury record. Cheaper bridges available, and yet they've paired with Glennon which suggests no highly drafted QB. Lack of direction.
• Ryan Grant. 4 year 29m to Ravens for the... 4th WR on the iffy Redskins depth chart?
• Jonathan Stewart. Far too much for an over the hill RB

 

[kieran_vale]

Titans doing their best to turn into Patriots South it seems. Will find a lot out about Mariota this year I feel. Got some nice pieces to that team and Dion will enjoy playing behind that O-Line.

Looks like Solder is off to the Giants. They need to improve their O-Line a hell of a lot and he will do that but at 4 years for near on $60m I believe they are welcome to that. Closer to the end of his career than the start and had a number of injuries at times.

Otherwise it’s back to a normal Pats FA. Nothing happening early. Talk of us offering a deal to AJ McCarron which am not against and seen Jordy Nelsons first choice is NE but I don’t see the need for another receiver in all honesty. Am glad we picked up Cooks fifth year option looking back as he’s a steal compared to some of the deals floating around.

 

[Anon]

Yeah you had to pick up Cooks 5th year, especially with giving up the 1st to get him.

I can't imagine the Pats missing Amendola and Lewis much, would not be surprising to see them do little to nothing. As galling as it would be to see Jordy in a Pats uniform I wouldn't begrudge him a move anywhere tbh. Solder the classic case of scarcity paying big.

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Totally agreed on Mariota as well, sink or swim for him. New OC, pair of complimentary backs including both a pounder and pass catching back, a highly drafted WR and reasonable catching core around him, and a very good o-line. Mariota needs to step up as he's shown very little so far.

 

[kieran_vale]

Honey Badger signs for the Texans for 1 year for $7m. That is stunning work from the Texans. Absolutely love this move for them and at that price.

 

[Anon]

Honey Badger signs for the Texans for 1 year for $7m. That is stunning work from the Texans. Absolutely love this move for them and at that price.

Stunned at that price. I do think he's lost a step and hasn't been the player he was pre-injury, and of course the position isn't the most lucrative... and surely the one-year nature is because of the injury...

...but that's a good price for a potential playmaker.

 

[MagpieBee]

Stunned at that price. I do think he's lost a step and hasn't been the player he was pre-injury, and of course the position isn't the most lucrative... and surely the one-year nature is because of the injury...

...but that's a good price for a potential playmaker.

Insanely good price, surely half the league must be thinking “wish we’d done a deal at that price!”

The pay cut at the Cards can’t have been that low, so looks like the agent messed up there.

 

[Anon]

Jets move up from 6 to 3 for three 2nd round picks (2 in 2018, 1 in 2019).

Made sense for Jets to move up into that slot, they'll get one of the assumed top three QBs, and if he's any good that deal will be cheap as you like. Makes sense for Colts to move down, possibly end up getting the guy they wanted anyway, and have 3x 2nd rounders to fill the numerous holes...

 

[Renegade]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...re-no-3-overall-pick-of-2018-draft-from-colts

Jets trade up to #3 overall to grab a QB no doubt, despite having Bridgewater and McCown. I like the move, I reckon they've gazumped the Bills as well, who look like they are getting ready to trade up too. The Giants are going to get a king's ransom for the #2 pick.

 

[pride_of_notts]

Personally I think the Giants should be looking at a QB Eli isn't going to be around for the long term now (especially given what happened this year) and I doubt they will be in such a great position in future drafts

 

[Anon]

Personally I think the Giants should be looking at a QB Eli isn't going to be around for the long term now (especially given what happened this year) and I doubt they will be in such a great position in future drafts

Giants rarely pick this high, and Gettleman strikes me as a good GM. I agree, I think they should go QB at 2. Alternatively could switch with the Broncos for a bulk of picks, and at 5 they still might be able to take the likes of Mayfield.

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Glad the Jets have made a move though. Get tired of all this nonsense about teams needing to tank in order to get a very high pick for a QB in the next draft. Eagles have shown you can make your way up the draft, just have to be prepared to do it. Bills are clearly doing the same. Just have to be prepared to make the move.