MHS831

I have a question, and I don't read the Canes threads but I watch them on TV when I can. I was not raised with the game and I obviously never played, so I worry that my instincts are naive-- I noticed that a lot of goals are being scored when Brian Burns is in the game--he seems a bit careless with his passes, a bit passive. His shot from the blue line is not getting through like it did before--I realize this is probably the last year he will be here, but is he sucking as bad as it seems? The other day, when the Canes had the game in hand, he blindly lagged a puck behind his own net to no one. The other team (Dallas or Vegas--can't recall) got control and he seemed to panic. I just feel that he has lost a step (or two--he is 40) and mentally, he is not as focused. School me about Burns--

I used to go to Charlotte O's games--Cal Jr and Eddie were there for a brief stint--I recall seeing Eddie hit a grand slam in the first game of a double header, then get ejected arguing balls and strikes in the first inning of the second game. I was just a kid, and I thought that was the big leagues--turns out I was nearly right. I played college ball with K Dean Biasucci at Western--at one time he was the Colt's all time leading scorer. In fact, I dropped out for a year to make $$ and returned in the Spring of 87, and Dean was there-finishing his degree. We didn't really know anyone else, so we'd hang out a lot that semester. He told me that his first contract with the Colts was this (I don't think the NFL Players' Union allows this kind of contract any longer): He made a base salary of $65,000 and then they added $500 per extra point and $3000 per field goal. His second contract was much better....Bert Jones was my favorite Colt ever, but I really liked Mike Curtis in my earliest memories--probably because he leveled a fan who ran across the field during a game--but I loved his fire. Super Bowl V was my first memory, and that year, I got a Colt helmet for Christmas. I remained a Colt fan a year or two after the Panthers came to Carolina--but I have to be loyal to the local team. I think it is silly to root for Pittsburgh or Dallas when you live in Charlotte.

I like the Edge and DT/DE depth in the draft--I think it could hold out until early 3rd--I also like the S depth, and I think we can find one later than early 3rd. If we could walk away with 4 contributors, that would be great---

He was more interesting back in the 80s before everyone had the internet. He could throw out facts and data that we simply did not have at our fingertips. Now he is a bit obsolete, and his opinion (not a former coach, gm, or player) is more of a used car salesman pitch than data-driven analysis and prediction.

I like the fact that they narrowed the shoulder striping, but if we are going to wear uniforms with no silver, I don't think we should have silver helmets. I prefer all white with blue and black logos, but I could see the OLD logo on the black helmet because it has the white trim.

Surprised nobody has mentioned them.

There was a story about the original switch to red--at the time, the Bills had the Colts, Dolphins, and Jets in their conference--all had white helmets. Joe Ferguson could identify his receivers better---

I looked at a few sites that listed teams in order--one had the Panthers with the 4th best--I was surprised that Arizona was so low on the list of just about every team. I think the red, black, with a touch of yellow could be something you could work with--I understand keeping the helmet logo design on white, but I always thought it needed a stripe. They have yellow in the logo (beak) so I think they should bring that in more.

That was my team--Bert Jones. Classic.

I nearly put the Raiders as my #1. I also considered the Oilers' throwbacks--but those red Pats jerseys with white helmets -- awesome

The Broncos is a good example. I hated their helmets, but they could be modified, but the unis were on point. I would be OK if they kept the navy blue with orange instead of the royal blue--I never liked the old Jim Zorn Seahawks' unis that much, but the addition of Nickelodeon Green was a terrible decision, one they stuck with--some may like it, but not me.

For Reference, the Rams have a few:

Atlanta could solve their ugly problem with a return to the throwbacks:

They should go back to these. When they were losing, people mocked the "Errol Flynn" Buc on the side of the helmet--some said it made the team look gay because Errol Flynn was rumored to be--and that could have caused the brand switch--but this design with the flags avoids that issue.

Same page. I like the Chargers, hate the Commanders (but the hate for Atlanta's home jersey is growing on me--and I really think the Seahawks electric green is awful, but not their usual home--the Lions' all gray was bad), and love the old Patriots. Why they ever changed from that red with the UCLA stripes and that white helmet--I will never understand. I see the Kelly Greens in Philly as an option

In the spirit of the offseason before the all-star games, I think this will be interesting if not silly--try to be objective--forget the team, purely look at the HOME uniform design for the 2024 season. In the third category, consider throwback uniforms only. 1. Best looking HOME uniform in the NFL: 2. Ugliest home uniform in the NFL: 3. Best looking Throwback Uniform in the NFL: That is it. Just curious what Huddlers think. Add reasons/explanations if you want.

Tight End in the NFL is becoming one of the most complicated positions to play. I hate to judge anyone who has been in three systems in three years. Tremble might get paid, but the smart move is to let him shop himself and let him know that an offer is on the table.

our nickel...if we can keep Jackson, we'd be set. Bartholomew and Evans were decent with flashes of good in limited play at the end of the season. Might have what we need.

That would be a shocker (Yes, I went there), but OT is an area where you could reduce the payroll. Imagine trading Moton instead of extending him? Some will say, "but we need a DT and Edge and ..." and they would be right, but if you decrease the payroll, you can sign free agents. I doubt it happens and I would be scratching my head because picking a T would not be a pick that was void of other dominoes falling for it to make sense. .

Exactly. And there are some QBs that can be found in the fifth round or later--you just have to do your homework and get lucky. A QB like Ryan Fitzpatrick (7th round), for example--what a find he was--one of the best career backups (even though he was forced to start a lot) I could think of--maybe Gardner Minshew (6th round)--similar situation. Of course, Brady and Purdy are outliers--I could see a Dillon Gabriel fall into that fourth-fifth round area.

I always found it interesting that a kicker would almost be an afterthought. They determine the outcomes of games nearly as often as the QB. Yet they are underpaid and asked to perform cold in the most high-pressure situations. Some teams have special team players who make tackles who are higher paid than the kicker. For example, the Lions just signed Jalen Reeves-Mabin to a 2-year extension worth $8m. Their kicker, Jake Bates, makes $800K. Funny, but in college, our kicker practiced on a separate field, until we went to team when he would come up and kick for FG/XP and Kickoff. Then back to the separate field. We did not know him. He did not hang out with us, and we made fun of his skinny body and funny shoes. Then one day, you are down by 2 with 3 seconds left and the ball is sitting on the 30. The game is riding on this skinny dork with funny shoes. I think, during my freshman year, he won 3 of our 9 wins. We should compare the kicker to the closer in baseball, but we don't seem to value him like we should. I mean, nobody calls a timeout to ice the left guard.

He is a fraud--we do better than him every year. Jalon Walker is a player I like, but if you look at his body of work at UGA, he was not that effective in an edge alignment. He can play all over--more Luvu probably than Parsons. i am cooling on Walker for that reason. Edge is deep in this draft, DT/NT/DE is probably next. Regardless, Walker is a nice player, just maybe not a great fit. I'd take the CB from Michigan instead of an ILB/OLB hybrid. If we don't re-sign Jackson, CB is a need.

A lot of people think this draft is weak at QB--I think, after the first five picks of the first round, there are a ton of developmental QBs who could develop into the role--here is the psychology behind it--Bryce becomes the mentor--you can learn as much by teaching others than by being taught. It also makes him a true leader. But I think there are a few QB in this draft that might not be ready now, but in 2 years, could be NFL starting QBs--Howard, Rourke, Ewers, Milroe, Dart, etc. Talk about a cheaper backup and one that could evolve into trade capital--or if Bryce can't find consistency-his replacement. Round 3 will have some of these qbs--maybe early day 3.

Sometimes people say things during this time of year to keep from tipping their hands, but I believe Morgan. As I look at the offseason in terms of free agency and the draft, I see any path to acquiring an elite WR as either expensive or awkward. In the draft, taking a WR on days 1 and 2 means you may be overlooking the boatload of talent in areas of need---like edge and DE/DT. There will be good edge / DL players coming off the board in early round 3, in my view. We will probably sign a free agent or two, but that means we may still need to draft a NT, DE, and an Edge player--and from what I can tell, these are your best players if the draft goes like I think it will. If TMac is there, I think you have to take him, but it makes filling the needs at DL, Edge, S, etc. much more difficult. Morgan has a very tough job if you consider the long term--he needs to think about the Bryce contract in two years and not back load or extend too many contracts. Winning in the NFL is more about math than anyone realizes. Morgan wants "dawgs" and this draft has them.

I think the Jayden Daniels success will entice desperate teams--maybe too much of an assumption and generalization, but I am confident that Ward and Sanders go early--I would also point out that in the days of Portal, you get to see QBs in different systems--when Bo Nix was at Oregon, I had a low opinion of him from his Auburn days. On the other hand, if a QB can demonstrate adaptability and make a transition work, scouts have more to work with--I am just waiting to see how this new generation of college players is evaluated. (Does that make sense?)