American Football

[kieran_vale]

Yeah we have pushed the boat out on both of them but when you look at the complete lack of production from that position certainly in the last two years I’d say it is worth it. Also Cam if he is the starting QB next season which I’m guessing he will be as a placeholder at least the best year he had was when he had Greg Olsen so this gives him the best chance.

As ever with these FA contracts though in a week or so once the details on structuring etc come out give an idea how good they really are.

Reference the Bills I think their best work was already done keeping Milano and Feliciano. Keeping that team together was really the priority rather than us having a load of holes to fill.

 

[pride_of_notts]

Yeah keeping Milano was massive for me especially as it is impossible to tag a non pass rushing OLB I don't anticipate any major signings more than likely it would be rotational pieces it will be a case of finding some value in players being overlooked then go bpa in the draft.

 

[Aberstone]

The Bengals signing Mike Hilton from the Steelers is such a canny piece of business - nasty, physical slot corner and an absolute monster against the run.

Edit: This was too good not to post.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1371895188084432896

 

[pride_of_notts]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1371959633108205572

Like this can't imagine to much money has been laid down another Wide receiver weapon for Allen just need a consistent pass catching Tight end and some Running Backs

 

[kieran_vale]

That’s a really nice pickup. One year deal and was actually a lot more productive than I actually thought he was last season given the declining QB play and Hill when he was under centre being pretty much a gadget player. For TE I think a good move for the Bills would be go for Ertz who now has permission to look at a trade. He would be deadly in that offense.

Seems the way the Pats have structured our FA signings has left quite a lot of wriggle room for more moves if we desire as well as the amount to sign our draft picks. With the new TV deal kicking in down the line the cap will rise back then so have pushed some of it to then.

I do wonder if the next move might be a Gilmore trade to add some stock to move up the draft board for a QB.

 

[kieran_vale]

Probably my favourite story of free agency so far. The #1 ranked receiver at the start of this period so you go and offer him this sort of deal. That is peak Mike Brown

https://twitter.com/x/status/1372317559484252160

 

[pride_of_notts]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1372622666780188674

Really good move for the money involved could be the 2nd best Afc East QB.

 

[kieran_vale]

He probably is to be fair. Was very surprised to see that deal announced though guess it’s with a view to moving on in a years time.

On the subject of Trubisky I really don’t get the Bears thinking over quite a long period of time going back to when they traded up initially to take him in fact before that when they paid good money to Glennon to be starter then went and put Trubisky in there instead.

Hired a coach in Nagy who always made it clear he didn’t think much of him. Brought in Foles who outside of one miracle playoff run in Philly was a disaster. Then spent a huge amount of time chasing Russ when it was blatantly obvious Seattle were not going to deal him. They only had to look at the $39m dead money hit Seattle would incur for trading him this year.

On top of that they bring in Dalton as starter who to be honest brings nothing that Trubisky doesn’t and at least the latter knows the system. All of which is to say I don’t know how Ryan Pace still has a job.

 

[pride_of_notts]

Yeah I had Trubisky going somewhere he could fight it out for a starting job but it strengthen the QB room having a high level back up.

Bears I just feel they are in no mans land there does not seem to be a plan they tried that Blockbuster trade which was a no go and it will probably take significent capital to move into position for a top QB prospect.

 

[Stagat]

Not bad to have one of the better backup QBs in the league in Trubisky. Better than Chad Henne or Mike Glennon or whoever the Vikes backup is (random team, no idea who their backup is).

Ne'mind all that though. Real QB real talk. Deshaun Watson looks kinda fooked with all these allegations right now.

 

[pride_of_notts]

Deshaun Watson situation looks really interesting to see what the league is willing to do if he is guilty of whats being said as he is without one of the biggest stars will they go hard on him or give him a slap on the wrists.

 

[Stagat]

or whoever the Vikes backup is (random team, no idea who their backup is).

Okay, I Googled it.

Sean Mannion.

Genuinely never heard that name before.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Okay, I Googled it.

Sean Mannion.

Genuinely never heard that name before.

Don't worry, Vikings fans haven't heard of him either!

 

[pride_of_notts]

Okay, I Googled it.

Sean Mannion.

Genuinely never heard that name before.

Such is the life of the Back up QB reminds me of what one of Peytons OC said about the lack of reps in practice for his back up "If no18 goes down we are fucked and we don't practice fucked"

 

[kieran_vale]

That actually did work out pretty well for them when Peyton had to take that year off due to neck surgery. The likes of Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky helped them win the Andrew Luck sweepstake.

What the Colts then did to Luck by putting a bunch of turnstiles blocking for him after is another matter.

 

[Aberstone]

That actually did work out pretty well for them when Peyton had to take that year off due to neck surgery. The likes of Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky helped them win the Andrew Luck sweepstake.

What the Colts then did to Luck by putting a bunch of turnstiles blocking for him after is another matter.

For a guy whose most famous moment in the NFL was running out the back of the endzone for a safety (during an 0-16 season), he's carved out quite a nice media career for himself.

If anybody has 35 minutes going spare, I'd recommend watching Carson Wentz's interview on the Pat McAfee Show from last week - very enlightening and amusing at the same time.

 

[pride_of_notts]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1375493884323708931

Big move for the 49ers all a question is who is there guy think the top 3 are nailed down QB picks It will be interesting to see where Jimmy G is moved on.

 

[kieran_vale]

Quite a few knock on effects of this move just looking at it. First and foremost fair play to Miami, this is all a result of the Tunsil trade they have a bagful of premium picks to set them up for the next few years as well as the trade with Philly getting them back up to 6th.

Agreed it is highly likely the top three at least will all be QB's with Wilson to the Jets and given the Shanahan scheme I would guess Fields to San Fran (he is the one I'm hesitant on not necessarily because of him but Ohio QB's have been rather patchy in the NFL). Not great for the Falcons if they were looking to trade their #4 pick to a QB needy team though as anyone wanting a QB had better love all three of the potential ones (I'm not including Lawrence as he is a lock at #1).

Also looking at if the above were to happen there are going to be some monster talents falling to the middle of the draft order looking at Pitts, Chase, Waddle, Surtain to name a few, could even throw in Parsons (character issues notwithstanding).

From a Pats perspective for Jimmy G I would love him to come home. Our scheme needs a quick release QB and when he was with us his was timed as actually quicker than Brady. Not giving up more than a second for him though as his injury history is not pretty to put it mildly.

 

[pride_of_notts]

Ohio State does have the reputation of producing bad QB's for the Pros don't think they have produced a decent one ever.

49ers I don't think it is nailed on Fields Wilson is more than likely there no1 choice but there has been a lot of talk about Jones and Lance.

Phins moving back up the draft is interesting For me it points towards a WR don't see them going Pitts.

On Jimmy G I would be rightly scared the guy does not seem able to stay healthy for an entire season personally I can see a lot of teams passing on him with his history.

 

[kieran_vale]

Some of these pro-days am seeing with Wilson and Fields are getting ridiculous. Yeah it’s very nice seeing a few highlight reel type throws running to their left throwing against the body but show me you can do that when you are getting hunted down by a OLB and the receivers are in blanket coverage.

Those sorts of throws are meaningless to me unless he can show he can read a defense pre and post snap and change things up at the LOS if need be.

 

[pride_of_notts]

I think the media in general over hypes both the Combine and Pro days 70+ yard throws are a nice piece of eye candy same with the 40 times but generally I feel the big things are the measurements and the interviews are why the teams attend these meetings.

 

[kieran_vale]

Got to admit while it was expected this one does sting a fair bit. What a player and pretty incredible he ended up as great as he was in a position he never played until he got to the NFL. For anyone who saw him the last year and a half though for his own health I'm glad for him he has taken the smart option. Wonder if this may accelerate looking for a WR in the draft in just over 2 weeks time.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1381703860075520000

https://twitter.com/x/status/1381722282570170373

 

[pride_of_notts]

A wide receiver might be a good option should be some good ones available maybe Waddle or Smith doubt Chase will be there but I suppose it's going to be a question whether the Pats draft QB at some point I feel they have to go down that route at some point not convinced Cam can make the comeback.

On Edelman fantastic career but it seems it is a case his knee is shot not surprising given how brutal the slot position can be

 

[kieran_vale]

I’m somewhat in two minds about what I want to do in the draft. Will start with the one thing I don’t want and that is to give up the farm to go to #4. More I think about it the more I think the Niners were crazy to do it and we would be even more for the 4th choice QB.

If we do pick at #15 I’m thinking we might have the pick of defensive players so would go with Parsons or Paye though am minded to trade back and go with a Kadarius Toney later in the first and then with an extra second go for Kellen Mond or Davis Mills then.

When I think of Edelman one play springs to mind from the Seahawks Super Bowl. Took one down the seam from Brady and got in a full on collision with Kam Chancellor which would have ended any other player. He got straight back up with Chancellor looking like he had come off worse and Jules then made another big play straight after to help put us in front.

 

[pride_of_notts]

I doubt Parsons would be there at 15 even with the character concerns Paye is a good call on the Edge's it will be interesting when Jaelan Phillips goes arguably the best edge in the draft but his injury history will scare a lot of teams.

 

[kieran_vale]

Seems like it’s down to Jones and Lance for the Niners with the third pick if Ian Rapoport is right (and he usually is). My suspicion if they are keeping Jimmy G on the roster then Lance will be the man if all that is true as he is more the project type QB but with higher upside you’d say so will need to sit for a bit.

The fun really starts in the draft after that from the Falcons downwards. If as expected all the five QB’s go within the top 10 or so plus the WR’s, Sewell and Pitts there is some serious defensive talent getting pushed down through no fault of their own.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

There's no way you give up that much not knowing who you're going to pick surely?! I just can't possibly believe that they're so in love with at least 2 of those 3 guys that they'd give up that much for #3 without committing to one, maybe to get to #1, but it just seems very unlikely to me. I think everything we've seen since is just due diligence in case one of these crazy stories come out in the hours before the draft to cover their backside, and also to play the draft poker came in case someone wants to do something really stupid.

Also, if you're giving up that much, there's no way this guy sits on the bench, he's got to be starting day 1, in which case it's Mac Jones, which makes sense given Shanahan's obsession with Kirk Cousins.

There's some serious QB reaching going on this year and a lot of teams sat 5-15 are going to get some absolute steals without having to move. Bodes well for the Vikings at 14, but I think we will trade back to get a second round pick.

 

[pride_of_notts]

My feelings is Lance is the pick for the Niners I just get the feeling Jones is to similar to Jimmy G Falcons picking at No4 is really interesting so much they can do with it don't think they will add a Franchise QB but they can get Sewell who is likely the best Left tackle out of college in years.

On us we are so late in the draft I would not be against a trade out if we are picking at 30 My preference would be either Corner or Edge.

 

[Reremnart]

It would be about time that I witnessed the Steelers have a losing season, it looked a certainty back in 2013 when the team were 2-6 at one point but still managed to go 8-8. The draft will make or break the Steelers 2021 season - the team need to draft a decent running back and serviceable offensive linemen just to give the team any semblance of a running game.

On teams going from 1st to worst, how come the Football Team haven't been mentioned yet?

We need to draft Najee Harris or Travis Etienne in the first round followed by OL in the next 2 or even 3 rounds.

 

[kieran_vale]

My feelings is Lance is the pick for the Niners I just get the feeling Jones is to similar to Jimmy G Falcons picking at No4 is really interesting so much they can do with it don't think they will add a Franchise QB but they can get Sewell who is likely the best Left tackle out of college in years.

On us we are so late in the draft I would not be against a trade out if we are picking at 30 My preference would be either Corner or Edge.

Aye that's my guess which may well be completely wrong. If they draft Mac Jones who as Tom rightly says a scheme fit is probably the best and he is the most NFL ready I just don't see the value in incurring that $25m cap hit for Jimmy G when they could cut him loose with very little dead money. With drafting Lance you can have Jimmy G as a starter for a season and if he rips it up may well get some decent trade value for him next off-season.

Pats it appears the noises are being made about Justin Fields. Depending on what we give up for the trade up if we do it I wouldn't mind it. Whilst I do have some minor question marks over him someone with an arm like his and can run a 4.4 there's tools to develop there for definite.

One thing keep an eye on with the Falcons is there are stories they may be open to trading Julio. If the cap can be made to work if the Ravens are not all over that with their insipid passing offense their GM is being incredibly negligent especially after they picked up an extra late first following the Orlando Brown trade.