Proudiddy

I'm not saying it isn't the right move to let him walk if his number is too high. He does deserve to test the market and see what he can get, because although he is really great at what he does, he is very limited at a lot of other things... thus, overpaying just isn't worth it. I just like him as a player and it sucks that we can't retain him. But, I agree, unless we're running a 3-4, it makes very little sense to retain him with Burns being younger and in all of our future plans. We saw teams demolish us last year when both of them were in by just running the ball all over us and I'd much rather teams pass on us because at least you have a chance to get a pick or something... getting ran into oblivion just sucks.

No, I heard all of it, but the "keeping the dialogue open" comment was just a throwaway. The takeaway was they were letting him test the market first and basically if he got a great offer we weren't going to touch it. Sounds like we have a set number we would bring him back at, and if he gets better than that on the market then we won't attempt to match.

Outside of the Reddick tidbit, it sounds like we haven't really engaged any of the other big names we have coming up for FA like Gilly, Cam, and Donte.

Said he talked to his reps there at the combine and Reddick has earned the right to explore the market, coming off two straight years of double digit sacks, and he should see how much money he can get, and if a team offers him a lot of money, good for him. Sounds like we are miles apart and that's pretty much Fitt saying, "good luck, we're not paying that." This sucks.

I disagree. Extending Donte would be even dumber. And guys like Gilmore are usually able to transition to safety as they age out of corner and still have just as much of an impact. It would be dumb to let him walk if he wants to be here.

Same. For me, its Willis, an OT in the first. That's it.

Yup, and again, is why anytime you're dealing with a coach who is clearly in over his head and lacks any sort of dignity about himself, its absolutely idiotic to keep him around. He is only acting on survival and preservation rather than what's good for the franchise and the future.

Yeah, I think it just becomes a habit. I broke my thumb playing ball when I was 14, and ever since then that thumb pops every so often when I bend it, and I just got in the habit of doing that periodically without even thinking.

Which is exactly why bringing him back made no sense. Most players and coaches worth their salt aren't going to come to an organization with a lame duck coach unless they're in an equally tenuous position... which then leaves us with the only guys who will end up coming here - which in turn, cements the bad season we already anticipate. It's like a self-fulfilling prophecy in the worst ways, and is guaranteeing that Tepper wastes another year of everyone's time instead of cutting losses in a clearly bad situation and doing what he can to put us into a position to improve and/or win next season. It's just so dumb.

fug Zach Thomas. Sam should've been in many, many years ago. Let Zach Thomas wait for his time like they made Sam wait.

I doubt they regret it, but I also think its fair to wonder if they could've made the same run with Goff. The reason Stafford had to make those throws late was because he threw two picks earlier. He also missed wide open throws, including for a TD on the game winning drive... he was bailed out by the refs giving him a whole new set of downs after they hadn't made a call for almost 4 quarters. If they don't call that weak PI, that game is likely over after the next down. I don't dislike Stafford, and it's not like Cam at all. Stafford is cool. I just don't think he is what the media has made him out to be all these years. He's above average, he's solid, but if I'm a DC, he doesn't scare me...

I'm not saying by themselves, Scot. I'm saying they are the main reason or contributor to their team winning. I don't feel Stafford is that guy. He wasn't even the best QB on the field last night. He looks solid, but he often isn't the reason his teams win, he's just a part of it and more often than not, appears largely unimpressive.

We can just agree to disagree. It has nothing to do with the Bengals. I was leaning towards them, but I didn't mind the Rams winning, as I like Donald and McVay among a few others. I have been saying this about Stafford way before the SuperBowl. The only game I felt he really proved a point was against the Bucs. Last night, those refs were gonna keep calling penalties until they scored. That's not a credit to Stafford. The refs definitely took him along for the ride on that last scoring drive, because he almost blew it. And yes, OBJ went down and the run game sucked, but he still threw 2 picks. He's just one of those guys that are solid, but I don't feel the team wins because of HIM. He just contributes to it. All they needed was someone marginally better than Goff, and honestly, after the additions they made defensively and how that side of the ball ended up coming together, I'm not sure that Goff wouldn't have done the same thing Stafford just did. I'm just not impressed. Never have been. He makes some big plays, but he also makes a lot of unnecessary boneheaded ones.

Thats my point. He is above average and was on a ridiculous team. My idea of franchise QBs are guys that elevate everyone around them and make their team better and can carry them to victory if no one else can. Stafford isn't that. He needs the guys around him to do a lot of the carrying. He's better than average, but he isn't what people have tried to make him out to be. He almost blew that game had the officials not stepped in late.

Stafford is better than average, but he's still a bum.

That was no doubt penalty, but when you set the precedent that you are going to let them play all game and then all of a sudden decide they can't when it only benefits one team just leaves a horrible taste in my mouth. And then Goodell's sorry ass getting up there with his "another ending fit for Hollywood" bullshit... you don't say, do you? poo is old. And that statement coming from the same guy who saw the videos that made the Patriots "dynasty" and win over us in Superbowl 38 an absolute sham, and then instead of righting things, decided to destroy them and bury them so no one else would ever find out. fug Goodell, the officials, and the NFL.

The way the refs stepped in and took control of that game was awfully reminiscent of SB50.

Yeah, the Superbowl definitely knocked it out of us. That tends to happen when you work your asses off to get to the pinnacle of the sport and then get used as the league's whipping boy on an international stage to advance their storylines and agendas while having everything you dreamed of snatched from your grasp in minutes. Now, there has been a lot of turnover since then, so I don't believe there are any players or staff outside of Cam that was a part of that, so I think what we're seeing now is just how horrible an owner Tepper is and how bad of a coach Rhule is. They set the tone, and it's clear the tone is one of mediocrity and apathy. Decisions made demonstrate that this isn't a culture of meritocracy, so why really sell out? Your efforts may or may not be rewarded. You may be scapegoated. You may get playing time you don't deserve. Or worse,, you may give 100% and play the game of your life, but your amateur coaching staff will srill find a way to lose and waste your effort, over and over again... so why try? It's all a crap shoot, so it's easier to just show up and go through the motions. I feel like that's where we're at now.

We definitely are already there. How many losing seasons is this now? And now we'll be going on like, what? Our 5th or 6th starting QB in 3 years under Rhule? I remember the Browns having a different starting QB each year for several years, but I don't remember even them having this many in such a short amount of time. The only thing I get optimistic for or excited about in regards to our team is whatever happens after Rhule.

At least he won't get injured.

Remember that cutesy story Panthers media spun, where our dumbass coach called the college LS and asked if he wanted to be a Carolina Panther? Then remember how we used a draft pick on the guy when he likely would've been available as a UDFA? Then remember how that LS couldn't beat out ol' JJ? Then remember how we put him on the PS because he couldn't beat JJ? And now we resigned JJ? Rhule is a fuging idiot. But, glad JJ is back so Rhule's mistake isn't forced into action.

Has plenty of experience but didn't seem to excel in any of it. But, judging from his lack of ability to stay anywhere for too long, he shouldn't be too out of his depths here once this staff is canned in December.

I can't believe that's all it took to move Sabonis. No picks??? Wow.

Just using your post as a springboard, but he def had a job here, I think he just couldn't stand working for an amateurish, know-it-all, self-absorbed idiot who was getting ready to destroy the franchise he loves.

It's likely going got prove to be Rhule's final parting gift as well as the kiss of death for his tenure here. He has the previous connection. He's the smartest guy in the room according to himself and we've seen this movie before *ahem* Darnold! *cough* so just go ahead and prepare yourself... he will be the pick and Rhule will be fired. Thanks Tepper.