Proudiddy

I wouldn't be mad at Pitts, but I have grown to think CB is a bigger priority. My personal, current board is 1) Fields/Lance 2) Sewell 3) Horn/Surtain with the preference being Horn. I saw Verge's blurb about us being interested in Farley after Horn, and made no mention of Surtain, but Farley's back issues scare the hell out of me.

He will be a TE in name only. No doubt, Urban will find ways to use him in various roles.

I disagree. I dont think Payton needs a first round QB, nor does he want one. They looked pretty effing good with a bucktoothed, super-powered The Golden Calf of Bristol despite his limitations. They are stockpiling talent and they're draft record over the last few years should be the envy of the league. So whatever they're gonna do, it's gonna have more of a negative effect on us than it will them.

And yet, we've been sitting back writhing and sulking around in our inter-divisional hate for them saying the same thing for years now - "oh, that's gonna come back to bite them," "no way they can keep signing people," "cap is gonna be unmanageable pretty soon..." guess what? None of those things happened, yet. Theyve signed all the guys and traded for all the guys they wanted and made it through the entirety of Brees' tenure there without ever having to have a massive purge or reset. Moving up to get ahead of us means absolutely nothing to Payton. He does whatever it takes to improve his team and if he can screw us in the process, that gives him that much more incentive... he loves it.

That's why. We lose to Washington, and none of this is a concern. Now it is. And Payton would cut his own nose off to spite us, and he does so at every possible turn. He seriously hates us.

Whatever they do, it's gonna screw us. With them taking whoever they get, and the Falcons taking Lance that win against Washington really fuged us. No matter what we get at 8, both of them got better and did so ahead of us. This will really be the test of how good of a coach Rhule is.

I really hate the Falcons are getting Lance. I hate it.

But not enough to make him the pick?

Thanks as always, Verge! You're the best. So you don't think there is actually any legitimate interest in Fields from us?

Yeah, you're right... I'm thinking the organization hires the radio guys, bc i know they are the ones that announce that directly, so that may be where my confusion was. Also would explain why, as you mentioned, that when the TV network forced Martin out, the team brought him back as the radio guy. Makes sense. Either way, I imagine it makes sense for the network to try to keep him (and keep him with the Hornets) bc of both his and the team's trajectory, and it constantly keeps their name in the public conscience.

You sure about that? I'm pretty sure the team does have say in it. I know the network pays them, but I thought they were contracted out. I'm pretty sure if they had Billy Bob and Jimbo up there announcing our games, the organization would ensure that wouldn't last very long. I mean, I don't know all the ins and outs of the deals, but the organization has to have some influence... they've had to. I mean, it's probably why we've had more play by play guys since we have had a franchise back than other franchises have had in 40 years.

I think EC and MJ meet in the middle and keep EC here long-term. I see EC as a loyal guy so he wouldn't gouge MJ for too much l, but he will definitely be getting a significant raise. And I see MJ seeing the value in having possibly the most renowned play-by-play guy currently in the league, attached to a young, up-and-coming core with Melo, Terry, and Miles as they grow into a contender. It makes sense for both sides to stay together... also, if I'm not mistaken, whatever these local deals are, I don't think they keep play-by-play guys from working with other networks when it comes to the playoffs (Eagle comes to mind, as well as Stephanie Ready and our former guy Devlin, as they all worked the playoffs for TNT while they were with us), so I fully expect EC to cash in on that while still staying on with us for the future.

Ok, so draft day... and as I expected, I have a clearer idea of how my board breaks down. I have it Fields/Lance, Sewell, then Horn/Surtain. I have a feeling Fields, Lance, and Sewell will be gone. I think we trade back a few spots and still take Horn or Surtain, and I give Horn a slight edge as my preference.

I would still pick it up, regardless of whether we take Fields or not. It sounds like we're making Darnold the starter regardless to start the season, and if we can rehabilitate his value and move him for close to the value we traded for him, I would prefer that.

I'm sure every team has talked to every other team about potential moves at this point. And although NE may really want a QB, moving up just doesn't fit their M.O. That being said, if they do, and our options end up being limited to only picking corners at 8 (which still isn't bad), just think back to that win against Washington again.

Hey guys, remember that hilarious time that Teddy dressed up as a referee for his press conference? Golly, Imma miss that kind of top-shelf content.

Thought we could've gotten more value... at least a 5th. But, I'm not complaining. Bye, Edmund. It's been miserable.

I like Horn. I kind of feel like I'd be happy with any one of Fields, Lance, Pitts, Horn, Sewell, Chase, Surtain, or the other big name tackle. Horn has the chance to be an absolute lockdown corner and take away a whole side of the field while also providing some much needed physicality as well. Donte would likely put up huge numbers playing across from him. All that being said, I'm not sure I have any order on my preferences for the candidates I listed above, although I suspect once we're on the clock I will. And last point, I see the argument every year about who should've been taken and where and how projections determine value and help influence for better or worse where teams feel comfortable picking certain guys... so again, I have to put it out there, some players don't have X value, until they do. Meaning, a lot of teams may not feel comfortable taking a guy at 8, but if we feel he is the guy to take even though he's projected at 25, you take him. Now, the key is, if you feel he is the guy, can you trade back and still get him to maximize value. Regardless, if you get the pick right and he plays like a Top 3 pick should, it doesn't matter that you took him 15+ spots higher than he was projected. It feels to me, like there are a lot of guys in that spot this year, and Horn is one of them, so there is a chance to get outstanding value at 8.

Or it could be him giving the impression that mobility is super important to him, when in fact, it isn't and they already have locked in on Mac. Then again, they're rumored to really like Lance, too.

Meanwhile, Louis Riddick was on the radio this morning saying everything he has heard from front offices in the know is that Lance is absolutely killing it in interviews and evaluations. Said his football IQ and intangibles are through the roof and a lot of teams are falling in love with him for that reason.

I know PFF wasn't very flattering in their grading of him, but I wasn't mad at the signing. I wanted us to pick him up when he left MIN because he had a really good reputation that first year or so. So, I'm hoping for the best... and if we are going to be playing him at guard, after a year of starting Chris Reed, he can't be any worse.

Only thing I can think of, without having seen a ton of him since he left the Texans is that I know he lined up all over the front 7 while in Houston, including a lot of snaps on the interior and/or ending up rushing inside because of stunts, and they dropped him in coverage quite a bit too. Obviously, rushing on the interior isn't advantageous for guys primarily built to rush from the edge, so I think scheme has contributed it some... but, I agree, his numbers overall have been very disappointing as a pass rusher.

Wow. Time has flown... it seems like it was just yesterday that he took over that game versus State and ran back that punt for a TD. I know he's had a few injuries, but he has produced when given the touches... I feel like Cincy always underutilized him. I wouldn't mind bringing him in, but being he's a 30 yo RB, I wouldn't bank on him being around after camp, and if he is then that would be a welcomed bonus.

Is Steven Nelson still around?