Mr. Scot

Joe Schoen, Bills Assistant GM. We interviewed him for our GM job before hiring Fitterer.

I'd have to agree that story looks pretty bogus now. They were also on the phone with George Paton so I don't really think that talk was just for the cameras. More to the point though, they didn't just talk about it. They actually did do right by him.

Pretty much They had been speculated as a possible trade destination, but from what I'm reading I think that's fallen by the wayside.

I've read the backstory. Have you? For one, pretty much all of the Watson stuff was outside speculation and crazy cloak and dagger theories about Tepper. The actual stories that have been told say that we were interested but since the Texans said they weren't trading him, it didn't go any further. The initial contact with the Jets about Darnold came way back in February right after the Stafford deal failed, and might have been finalized sooner except the Jets didn't want to do anything until they'd had a chance to go through the full scouting cycle. Even so, while exploring other options (as they should) the team never backed off of Darnold and ultimately landed him. I get that this doesn't fit your narrative, but those are the actual reports. And I'm more inclined to believe people who have actual involvement and connections rather than just a fan with theories.

They looked there because both Rhule and Fitterer were familiar with him. Rhule met him when he interviewed for the Jets job and Fitterer had scouted him for Seattle. Rhule also mentioned that during a film session with the defensive coaches they were watching the Jets and Phil Snow was impressed by Darnold's performance. This was one of the things that spurred them to look in his direction and contact the Jets in the first place. And ultimately, they liked him enough to make him a Panther. I know some here have a narrative that Darnold was just the best they could do or was insurance just in case they couldn't get someone like Fields (CRA repeatedly assured me of this pre-draft) but obviously that wasn't true. Yet some still seem to think that just because they don't believe he's good, the Panthers can't possibly think that. Except they do. Passing on Fields cemented it. Now, are they right about him? That I don't know. But arguing that the Panthers simply must think less of him because "there's no way they could disagree with me" is not only just plain dumb, but also ignores the facts in favor of an imaginary narrative. Bottom Line: If anyone wants to argue that they don't think Darnold can be the guy, that's a valid opinion. Trying to argue that the Panthers don't believe he can be the guy is delusional.

Beane was also the one who initiated the Kelvin Benjamin trade. People think it was our idea. It wasn't.

Start watching a little after two minutes in.

Other sources actually confirmed there was no quarterback discussion. The feigned interest in Fields was fishing for trade offers.

It may have been. Possible they might have needed more space than usual for social distancing.

One of the two is actually a starter in the NFL. Hint: It's not Walker.

You get that he's not actually trying to come to any sort of genuine understanding, right? He's trying to wish this fantasy world where PJ Walker is a starter quality quarterback into existence. It's stupid, but hey...

Or the Niners...

It ain't the Ravens...

Interesting insight... Unpleasant reminder: Cooper was previously mentioned as being a big advocate for the signing of Teddy Bridgewater.

This is unusual...

I'd like to think that seeing him working with us might take the sting out of watching him laugh along with the other Buffalo executives at our previous front office's stupidity in that Bills war room video

One other thought: If they do this again next year, it'll include Dan Morgan.

Possible. Depends on whether you have a team that emphasizes line play or secondary. Rivera up in Washington would likely go with the lineman, whereas Legion of Boom era Seattle would probably go with Chinn.

FYI: The guy talking up Chubba Hubbard at about 19 minutes in is the scout who left for a promotion with the Lions.

I can agree with the choices, but not the order. I think Chinn would net a better trade than Brown. Burns likely does have to be at the top though because the league puts a premium on pass rushers.

I remember seeing a comment that they had Christensen, Cosmi and a couple of others all graded about the same but I don't remember where.

I'd probably vote Brian Burns for that spot. On ability, McCaffrey but Burns has an infinitely more tradable contract. Mind you, I'm not interested in trading either one.

It's kind of a function of the structure. You have to win your division to get to the playoffs, so the other three teams in your division become your rivals. The animosity between teams just kind of comes naturally in that situation, but certain people do "stoke the flames" as it were

I actually think it's kind of interesting that they're grading players at more than one position. I wonder if that's been done in Carolina before.

Honestly I think that happens to a decent number of quarterbacks. It's been argued that's what happened to Darnold. I think of David Carr as an example. I've long believed that he could have been a good NFL quarterback if his first few years hadn't suffered from such sh-tty coaching and team management on the part of the Texans.