Proudiddy

I think Tampa will continue to struggle without Evans. That’s our really hope. We have to handle business though regardless.

Jersey and pants definitely pop with that combo

Completely agreed. TBH, we have had so many great players that are in my favorite list, and I hate to narrow it down to one, but Cam is it. Which is crazy, because you would think it would be more of the guys I grew up watching, but no. Cam was the single most impactful player to ever out on a football uniform imo. And like I said in an earlier post, I always felt a kinship with him in a lot of ways… the way he was treated and judged for the off the field stuff in Florida and having to overcome all of that and fight show at back. And although I am not a black man, I have always been welcomed by and accepted more by minorities, and thus, I know what it’s like to be judged by appearances rather than the content of your character and who you actually are. I know what it’s like to be stereotyped and written off or mistreated for your mistakes. I know what it’s like to be held to a different standard while your peers don’t have to meet that same standard. So I always related to that. And the way he came in and just electrified the whole franchise, man… I still think about it often how much it sucks that because of how talented he was, our staff out so much on him and that ultimately cut his career short. You’re right, there will never be another Cam… I think Josh Allen is the closest thing we will see for a long time, but Allen is not the running threat Cam was. Cam could run you over or around you. That was THE absolute funnest time to watch our team ever.

Same, bro. Yeah, it just feels it has run its course and I don’t know that we’ll ever get more value. Plus, with the new ownership, this draft has been super encouraging, so dare I believe maybe this FO can get something to really put us over the top in return for Melo. I’ll still be a fan of his game and try to keep up with him if we move on, but yeah, I feel it’s time to turn the page. (and side note: I felt so happy after their rookie years because I told everybody I wanted Melo and didn’t trust Ant. And Melo clearly looked like the better player early… I thought Ant would bust because all that stuff he said about not loving the game and just his resume to that point… but damn, if we could go back in time.. I love Ant’s game and at times, when he gets in the zone, he is THE BEST player in the league in my opinion.)

Appreciate that, bro! And I could definitely see that with Cam. Even though he’s a little younger than me, he is also someone I admire and feel a kinship with for a lot of various reasons. Funny enough, a few years after that encounter with Steve, I went to Charlotte with one of my friends whose brothers owned a moving company at the time. He dropped me off uptown and went to work the day with them where I would wait until he got done and then we were gonna go to the Bobcats game that night. So I walk all through that area for hours. After awhile, I walk back towards the arena and sit in a bench on the backside of the arena, where the practice court and player’s entrance was. As I’m sitting there, I look up and almost think I’m seeing things - I squint and blink my eyes a couple times just to be sure, and yes… it’s one of my childhood heroes, Muggsy Bogues walking across the crosswalk and into the arena. I think he was coaching the Sting then, iirc. Part of me wanted to just say, “Hey! Muggsy! Thank you for the inspiration and memories! You were one of my favorite players as a kid!” But, I just watched him walk by and into the arena and thought, “that was cool!” I also so Miguel Cotto a couple years back while in Orlando and told my kids who it was but didn’t say anything to him. I think somewhere in my subconscious, that encounter with Steve really made me feel like the gamble on finding out if they’re receptive to interaction just isn’t worth finding out. At the end of the day, no matter if they’re receptive inspired us or were a hero, unless they initiate it, I likely never will… because again, they’re humans just like us. Not anymore unique or special, they just have a highly visible and very public job that we get to watch and in some ways participate. So, I just appreciate it for what it is.

Appreciate you, brother! I know it was lengthy, but I felt whoever actually read it would appreciate it.

Damn good take, brother. I think I take that poo personally because (sidebar: I don’t like to use narcissist often because social media has made it a buzzword and diluted the meaning, so when I use it, I don’t take it lightly) I grew up in a home with a raging narcissist, then married a narcissist and just came out of a divorce after a 20 year marriage with her, where afterwards she met and married another narcissist. And in my dealings with them, over my 41 years on this earth, at times I took great delight in breaking down their arguments point by point and forcing them to either acknowledge their wrongs and take ownership of them or watch them yammer and stammer away when they ran out of lies and excuses. At various points, that was extremely satisfying, but ultimately, which I’ve realized especially after the last 3 years and going through the divorce and everything, it does NOTHING to them. It doesn’t affect them one way or another. For a logical, reasonable, grounded person, you would think calling them on their poo will bring it to their attention when they’re faced with nothing but facts and truth and it would force them to change, but nope. Not in the slightest. They just disassociate from the ones who do that and find more people who will validate their behaviors and thinking. poo pisses me off because they’re so destructive and couldn’t care less so long as their needs are met.

No, I definitely consider all of what you’re saying. But that final drive they had, we KNEW they were passing. And I believe we kept Cherelus and Rozeboom out there. I agree, once Wallace is back healthy, I would love to see him and Ransom out there as the subs in a big nickel, but I know with the injuries we were a little hamstrung. But yeah, if we KNOW they have to pass, I see no reason Cherelus should be out there.

Injuries don’t matter when it comes to the Niners. They are coached and built so damn well. I will say this to some of the other points made in this thread - I do NOT understand why we continue to play the LBs so much. I noticed it as we got later in the Atlanta game when ATL had to pass, I even asked in the game day thread, if you’re 99% sure they’re passing, especially several plays in a row, why tf do we still have Cherelus out there? At the very least put an extra safety out there - someone with better movement and fluidity in space. I understand Ransom was injured and out last week, but I would really like to see us put some packages out there with 4 rushers and Ransom and Richardson as sub LBs. Rozeboom is really just a hustle guy and Cherelus is a hole stomping thumper who is a complete liability in coverage. But, NGL, once Kittle catches it, we’re gonna have hell bringing him down, especially if we go smaller.

I’ve been anti-trade when it comes to Melo, but the way this season has started, it may be time. I love his game and he’s a cool dude, but I’m starting to think, if he’s your best player, you’re never going to win anything of significance. Too many brain farts, too many injuries, and ultimately for as fun and entertaining as he is to watch - his game is indeed a thing of beauty - it just doesn’t translate to wins. And that’s IF he even plays. I think it’s time to cash out and maximize the return. I love Melo, but I think it’s pretty clear what the ceiling is for a team where he is the best player.

I loved those late 90s-early 2000s Miami teams. If McGahee hadn’t had that injury, he would probably have been a Top 10 all-time rusher, no doubt in my mind. The fact he didn’t lose his leg below the knee is still a miracle. And the fact he came back from that, made it in the NFL, and still carved out a career that included over 8k yards rushing and two pro bowls is damn impressive. It just demonstrates how good he would have been had he never had the injury. Prior to that, he was like nothing I had ever seen. Like a bigger, more physical and elusive Reggie Bush.

Yeah, if Brooks becomes anything more than a guy released before the end of his rookie contract and you never hear from them again, that’s found money. I don’t see him coming back from both injuries. Even in his brief time back before the injury last year, he did not look impressive. He looked slow and had no explosion. Now he’s been out 2 years? I doubt he does anything in the league, but who knows? Again, if he does, that’s would be awesome for us. But if he doesn’t, I’m excited about what we have and/or retain out of Chuba, Rico, and Etienne. Etienne is gonna be NICE.

Yeah, Chuba looked better against ATL. He had some more burst. He looked slow and heavy the weeks prior. And interestingly enough, Rico didn’t look quite as sturdy or explosive against ATL, as he came into it banged up. I hope they both feel better going into the San Fran game, as they’ll have an extra day of prep, and then I hope they both get back to as close to in-season 100% as possible after the bye week. We need them.

Also, wanted to point out, all 3 of the Pivot guys I respect and appreciate tremendously. I know RC only had 1 pro bowl, but I loved his game. He was tough as nails and played with a ton of heart and grit. He was trying to knock people out, but was also super cerebral. Fred is obviously a hall of famer and just as tough. Channing made the most of what he had and was hard-nosed as well. And yet, all three of them let Steve slide on a ton of poo in this interview. They actually cowered in several moments and I don’t like that at all. Because for all the things I mentioned in my initial post in this thread, them not trying to reel him back in or hold his feet to the fire on certain bullshit feels gross. Yall were all on the same competitive level as athletes, and yet, yall just let him skate on poo like talking about invoking using a gun on someone, laughing off how he essentially ended two teammates’ careers by BULLYING them and then co-signing it, and letting him completely sidestep accountability about his affair. I get it, because apparently he invited you to his home to do the interview, but either talk some real poo or don’t do the interview at all. This was some real softball poo.

JR loved him and from what I’ve read, Steve viewed him as a father figure. Again, there was talk of him being released after the Bright and Lucas situations from what I recall. I think the only way he survived those was JR. and to further your point he even said in this interview that he skipped offseason workouts his whole career here and told Marty to keep that money from his next deal but he wasn’t coming because he had his own trainer. We NEVER heard any of that during his career. And tbh, Steve always struck me as a guy that picked on people he knew he could take advantage of. Which is another thing I always viewed as a trait most closely associated with sociopaths. And if he thought he couldn’t take someone, he would catch them when they didn’t expect it, like with Lucas. He’s a bully. Period.