MHS831

I am not extremely happy with this---I wanted our own G Miller or Austin Blythe (Rams). I can say that we keep getting former Viking OL and they are known for sucking there. Maybe he is better at C than G-I dunno. I am happy that we are addressing the OL.

I did not realize he played Nickel--he is a tremendous athlete. I know when asked, Rhule (and this does not matter much at all except for the fact that Hartsfield can play every position in the secondary) mentioned his as one of the Safeties---so I did not think of him that way. Interesting point. Thanks,

I want Elder back, and I think we will re-sign Miller. I am not sure Armah comes back. He was a good special teamer, below average FB, in my opinion. Lotta teams don't use them any more.

Not atop our list of priorities, it would seem

Two guards---and what do I hope we get out of this free agency? 2 guards (and a CB).

Like you need to do that.

I will say Cameron Sutton, CB (formerly Pittsburgh). Because that is what I want to happen.

Zeitler (G, Giants) signed with the Ravens for about $7m+ per year. He was cut last week, fwiw, so he has signed. Last year, Miller played for $4m. I bet he sits and we could get him for half that this season. Same for some other free agents. I would spend on a CB and lock him into a long term deal. I want Cameron Sutton, but that is just me.

The market is worse than you think. Last week, I used a chart in this column comparing the average cap space available this year entering free agency per team ($13.06 million) to last year’s cap space per team ($43.33 million). But I should have used an asterisk. That doesn’t include the rookie pool that teams have to budget for, which averages between $7 million and $10 million per team. So you see Kansas City firing both starting tackles and think, “They’re $12 million under the cap—they can buy one this week in a depressed market.” Budgeting for the rookie pool, though, would leave KC somewhere near $5 million under the cap in reality. But overall, teams last year entered the league year with about $1.3 billion to spend on free agents and rookies; this year the number is about $420 million. So it’s no exaggeration to think you’ll see one-third of the early action as you did last year. Wow. Here is a tip for the Panthers, maybe: There’s never been so many tempting rushers in a free-agency class. Aldon Smith could have multiple double-digit-sack seasons left after rising in Dallas last year; Bud Dupree was on his way to a career year last year in Pittsburgh before getting hurt; Carl Lawson is terminally underrated; Melvin Ingram should be due for a rebound; and Haason Reddick, Matthew Judon and Trey Hendrickson all are intriguing. A month from now, two or three of those players will be unsigned and have massive chips on their shoulder, almost certain to be smart one-year buys while they re-establish a market for 2022. https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/03/15/drew-brees-retires-nfl-free-agency-fmia-peter-king/ Gonna be fun watching this thing play out, but if we don't start signing a few players until next week to get some bargains, I will get the strategy.

Last year, I think, he could have earned about $7m with incentives. He did not make them. I would kinda love to see Cam regain some form of his old self because I pull for him, but that seems unlikely. And if he does, there will be Camolites on here saying, "We should have re-signed him!! What were we thinking? Well, he has had 1 good season (2017) since the Super Bowl (50). He wanted in the $30-35m range. Yeah, that would have been smart.

Over the next few days we will see what people think of Trubiski. I have no idea where he might land-or what he will get-but that is a good barometer. I have mixed feelings about the run on QBs in the draft. First, yes we are going to have to move up (But we beat the WTFs!) and there will be a lot of competition for the pick, so we have to pay top asking price.

So you are basing an argument on some improbable vision of the future that is not at all based on recent history (the Patriots missed the playoffs for the first time in 20 years)? Nice.

Personally, I understand the concerns about Jones, but statistically, he has not disappointed and he is supposedly a fast processor and has a quick release. His average per attempt is higher than some of the players you/we covet more. She is not saying he sucks do not even think about it, she is saying (if I understand correctly) that she has concerns. I am not as concerned, but I am not saying any QB is going to be trash and I am not crowning any player. Did Jones miss open WRs? Yes. Does Fields have question marks? Lance? Heck, even Watson has had 2 ACL surgeries and could have another--TD did. If so, and we have given up 3 firsts and 2 star players, where are we going to be? I am saying that nobody knows how good these guys are going to be--the success rate in the NFL for first rounders is about 50%--a coin toss. Yet we have huddlers who already know the answer and attack any and all who make a positive comment about a player they do not want. How stupid. The more informed Huddlers simply state why they like a player or that they do not like a player because...and they give concrete reasons. Again, I love the drama---I love discussing it and I actually ask for concrete reasons to oppose my opinions because I am not an expert. I want to hear alternative points. Verge has reasons, shared videos, etc. I am still not sold, but at least someone provided concrete reasons. Some points were good, and some lead me to more questions. And then we have people on here whose usernames are cleverly phrased sex positions and they just bash others without facts, using profanity and proclaiming to know it all. Folks, a sign of maturity and intellect is to consider every issue from every perspective before making up your mind. Finger-pointing temper tantrums are for toddlers--I do not care about a toddler's position on the Panthers.

doesn't the league approve these? Yikes if this is something they accept.

There is so much data here, I do not know were to begin my apology after succumbing to the insurmountable surge of logic that has just overwhelmed me. Even your username suggests insecure early adolescent.

When you want to start talking real statistics and measures of QB excellence, I would be willing to talk." Blue = purple because I said so! Take that!" WTF? But you are immature and think you know all. Here is a tip: Nobody knows--not you, not me. So stop your macho BS because it is confirming your ineptitude and nothing more. Weinke? Are you serious? What a cherry-picked, pointless statement. Please don't respond. I am not going to respond your pointless chest pounding. Sheeez.

Did what? Threw for 77.4% completion rate? 350 yards per game? Won a national championship? A: No, No, No. Has Matt ever played on a big stage for a ring? Oh, that is right. Once. How did that turn out? (Hint: 28-3--choking sounds) Do they give trophies for arms? Oh, I guess they do.

No-he cannot do what those guys can do--exactly. Neither can Brady, so he doen't try. Now, some will say, "He is comparing Brady to Jones!!" I would say to them, "You would mock me if I compared Tom Brady in college to Tom Brady in the NFL." Funny story. I was with my coaching buddies (used to coach HS football) at a preseason game vs. the Pats. Bledsoe, the pro bowl QB for NE, was removed during the second quarter, and some #12 came in that I had never heard of---and I watched him. I actually said, "Guys, I think #12 is better than Bledsoe." They all died laughing at me--the teased me all the way home (lived an hour from Charlotte). It was brutal. (I tell this story because I was right--I forget the times when I was not). Today, remind them of it, and they tell a different story--don't recall, etc. I sense some of that will go on here--either way.

They won't admit that they just do not know. I do not see Jones as one who has given anyone reason to write him off. I will say this--if we trade for a QB, we better be right. In the draft, I look at Jones vs. Fields + 2 picks, Wilson + 2 or 3 picks; if we for trade Watson, I look at the players (in the past) we would have lost if we had traded a few years ago--same deal. Is Watson worth Burns (1st rounder), Brown (1st rounder), Moore (1st rounder), CMC (first rounder), and Shaq Thompson (another 1st rounder). Well, that is what it will take to get Watson here. 3 firsts, CMC and Thompson, according to rumor. Are we really better off with Watson after taking that kind of hit? Pretty steep. Or would we be better off signing Trubiski, trading back, adding some key pieces in free agency.... But people will say, "TRUBISKI SUCKS" Have you seen him in a clean pocket with weapons and a running game? Nor have I.

I think I can say this--if the experts see something special in Jones, then I would be happy to see them trade back and take him.. As we approach, I am more interested in the upsides of Wilson and Fields-but I have not written anyone off--trusting the coaches (for the first time in a while) know what they are doing. I am starting to think fields is the man-and we are trading with Miami to get him

I have to agree. We are.

Hoping for the best. He has some skills.

We will. He may be a bust, may fall like a brass balloon. But to say anything (as others are doing) with absolute certainty about a player who has only performed at the highest level on the highest stage is false bravado. I do not know who will be good and who will not--I am just basing my support for a man that possesses some impressive stats and impressive cognitive and leadership skills. If you ever hear me say, "He is not going in the first round..." or "He is a bust" then please understand that i am bluffing to impress others into thinking that i have wisdom I actually lack, because any intelligent fan, scout, GM, etc. will tell you, "The best I can give you is an educated guess."

Damn strong argument. We are waiting to hear why he would not. Why he might: 77.4% completions, 42 TDs, 4 Ints, 350 yards per game. What criteria are you using to dismiss him? Remember not to list things that he had when he won a national title with numbers higher than Burrow (last year) and Trevor. He has a quick release and processes very quickly. So if you discount the fact that he succeeded on the biggest stage in the toughest conference and won a national title, please tell me about this amazing power you have--because it has not been a problem to this point.

The time of year we play along...tell these guys, "OK, I'll bite" I still say, "Do not fall asleep on Denver." That is what I say.