Mage

That wouldn't have anything to do with why Watson wants to go to Miami though. In all likelihood, he just wants to go to Miami for the same reasons a lot of athletes want to go to Miami. Don't think it goes much deeper than that.

And look, I don't even care at this point if we get Watson or not. I'm just so sick of people creating false and fake narratives to bash the team. You don't even need to do so to bash the team. Plenty of stuff already to complain about. But nowhere has it ever been reported that Watson said no to Carolina or would not play for Carolina. Miami is simply his first option, for whatever reason, and he's only waived it for them so far. He could waive it for Carolina if the Miami deal breaks down. This has been known the entire time. It is likely why Florio said on Tuesday that if the deal was to go down that day, it would be to Miami because he's already approved them. Carolina's would take a little while longer.

Because Miami is his first option. This does not mean that he would NOT waive it for Carolina. Which has been well-known the entire time. If Houston/Miami have a deal in place, then why would Watson waive it for a 2nd team when he could go to his first option? This does not mean he would not waive it for Carolina, if the Miami deal broke down. It does not mean Watson would not play for Carolina. It does not mean we aren't 2nd in line to get Watson. You guys are reading far, far more into Ian's tweet than necessary. The only new information was that we were not going to pursue him, "at this time." And as Florio pointed out, who knows what "at this time" means? It could mean that if the Dolphins/Texans deal breaks down, then we will be back to pursuing him at another time later this week or in the offseason.

I'm sure this will be ignored too. Let's just read more into Ian's carefully worded tweet and just assume Watson would never play for the Panthers.

So I guess we're at the point where we just ignore actual logic on this forum to fit whatever negative narrative we want to push.

It had nothing to do with Watson saying he wouldn't play for Carolina and everything to do with the Panthers just either not being on the same page about Watson or not wanting to fully commit to Watson before the offseason. I'd imagine the talks only ramped up again because they truly realized how horrible Darnold is.

So you only consider reports that fit your theories?

Yes, people have ASSUMED that he would waive it for us. But we've always known the entire time that the only team Watson had officially waived it for was Miami. Not Denver, not San Fransisco, not Philly, only Miami. Ian did not report, "Panthers stopped their pursuit because Watson doesn't want to go there." He said the Panthers would not continue pursuing Watson AT THIS TIME. And then reiterated something that we already knew - Miami was the only destination he's approved so far. And then Joe Person reported that the no-trade clause did not affect us, and that we could still try to pursue him in the offseason when his legal situation is clearer. It is likely the Panthers just were not satisfied with what they heard at the meetings. I don't think it needs to be explained any clearer. If you want to keep laughing at our misery though, go ahead.

Don't think it had anything to do with the poll. I think the Panthers just weren't satisfied enough with what they heard at the meetings in regard to how many games Watson would be able to play in 2021, and decided it would be better to wait until the offseason to pursue him. If Watson outright said no to Carolina, then us pursuing him in the offseason wouldn't even be a possibility. I think the Panthers want his legal situation cleared up, and it won't be by Nov 2. The fact of the matter is, Watson being traded before the deadline was never reasonable. It is why I kept saying we wouldn't get Watson. It's just not reasonable for a team to trade for him right now.

You are making assumptions. All Ian said was that so far, the only team he's waived his no-trade clause for is Miami (which we've known for MONTHS). Didn't say that Watson outright said no to Carolina (which has been reported several times in regard to Philly, not us). Joe Person said the no-trade clause was not the issue in regard to Carolina. We likely pulled out right now because of his unclear legal situation and didn't feel the NFL cleared up enough what would happen in 2021.

I think people are reading too much into this. Joe Person said Watson could still be an option for us in the offseason, and that the no-trade clause wasn't an issue for the Panthers. In all likelihood, they just decided that it would be better to wait and see how his legal situation plays out. Watson is not getting traded before the deadline, as should have been assumed. Miami seems to be the only team that would want him before the offseason.

QB PURGATORY

A 3 point win against a Geno Smith led offense Don't get me wrong, Sean Payton is a great coach. But the Saints clearly aren't the threat they once were with Brees. QB matters, even to the best. Look at how the Seahawks are doing without Russ.

I think everyone knows he is going to get suspended. The idea is that doesn't happen until 2022, while they decide to let him play out this season while his legal troubles play out.

The truth is always somewhere in between Anderson clearly isn't this bad of a WR. But he also clearly isn't the potential #1 guy that people were trying to act like he was last year. He's an okay to solid #2 WR who can stretch defenses. Horrible fit with Darnold, because he needs a QB with consistent ball placement.

This seems might seem like a lot of value on the surface, but not when you realize that to bring Watson in, you would like some of those first round picks to be conditional based on his potential future playing time. Lot easier to make a 2023 1st round pick conditional based on his 2022 playing time than it is a 2022 1st round pick based on his 2022 playing time.

We not getting Deshaun

For whatever it's worth, the Texans play the Dolphins next week. I don't think either side would want the trade to be done the same week as they play. And most transactions are done on Tuesday's IIRC.

No.

Okay, but that was 100% NOT the thinking back then. Let's not play revisionist history. Everyone was calling for heads then, especially Rivera's. I'd argue the negative reaction was worse than it is now. It was looking like another failed season with our franchise QB.

We also lost to a bad Bills team with EJ Manuel in Week 2 lol

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201310060crd.htm The loss to the Cardinals following the bye had everyone FREAKING out. Maybe the score differential wasn't as bad in other games, but I'd argue that loss is definitely one of the worst regular season ones we had. Everyone had basically given up on Ron Rivera at that point. Cam's 3rd season and he still hadn't cut out the bad throws. Smith dropped hella throws that game. It was bad. As angry as fans have been since Sunday... I still don't think it compares to the reaction/negativity following that game. That game basically forced Ron Rivera to turn into Riverboat Ron.

They saw a QB with a lot of physical talent Unfortunately I don't think they accounted for the fact that he A) lacks the competitive drive that great QBs have (I'm not saying he doesn't work hard or doesn't love football, but he clearly doesn't have another edge to his attitude or game) and B) doesn't have the mental side of the game

Fox was a pretty awful coach his last 3 years here. The pass defense was god awful in 2008 because for some reason all of our CBs had to play 30 yards off the receiver. Ken Lucas should have been benched. Delhomme looked horrible, but I can get why they stuck with him... until the playoff game, when he should have been benched at halftime. 2009, Fox allowed Delhomme to single-handedly destroy a Super Bowl caliber team until it was too late. 2010, Fox gave up. Then again, maybe I'd give up to if my QB was Jimmy Clausen. Not saying Rhule has been perfect, and Rivera wasn't. But I'd argue Fox's refusal to move on from Delhomme and then mentally checking out in 2010 is worse than anything those guys have done (so far).