Thomas Davis Has Been Suspended For Four Games After Testing Positive For A Banned Substance.

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

But if he was taking something and now he can't and he's another year older after showing clear signs of slowing down last year...

All I'm saying is that if TD looks like a shadow of his former self this coming season I won't be surprised.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't expecting that anyway.

[TheRed]

7 minutes ago, MtnProwler said:

I don't think our core has dwindled, as you say. It's only changing, and likely to different positions. But I agree we need a good draft.

Ryan Kalil and Thomas Davis are both entering their final seasons. I doubt Olsen plays beyond 2019.

We also have a dire need at DE, and our secondary is patchwork at best. Not exactly a good recipe for success in a division with Drew Brees and Matt Ryan.

11 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

I'm honestly not THAT worried about our "core". Shaq was drafted to replace TD. Larsen filled in fine for Kalil last year and honestly Kalil probably should've been released this off-season. The two big exceptions are TE and DE. We have nothing behind Olsen at TE and we definitely need some young talent at DE.

Let's just remove the bandaid and say Shaq hasn't lived up to his draft selection. Do I think he is capable of stepping in? Sure. But he's already at the end of his rookie contract so even if he has a stellar season can we even afford to pay him amongst the top at his position? That's not a good return on a first round pick. We somehow did that again with Vernon Butler.

We should be able to compete, but we really need a good draft. Like a 2017 Saints draft.

[LinvilleGorge]

2 minutes ago, TheRed said:

Let's just remove the bandaid and say Shaq hasn't lived up to his draft selection. Do I think he is capable of stepping in? Sure. But he's already at the end of his rookie contract so even if he has a stellar season can we even afford to pay him amongst the top at his position? That's not a good return on a first round pick. We somehow did that again with Vernon Butler.

We should be able to compete, but we really need a good draft. Like a 2017 Saints draft.

I don't disagree. It's why I wasn't a fan of either the Shaq or Butler picks. The best way to get great salary cap value is to hit on draft picks and get them on the field during their rookie contracts. It's tough to get great value out of a veteran player. You're usually going to be paying those guys relative to their level of performance.

[The Lobo]

11 minutes ago, The NFL Shield At Midfield said:

welcome to even year panther football kiddos

No poo I was just thinking this. Every even year we just suck eggs.

[Butterflyj30]

It's sad hopefully this can get reduced

[MtnProwler]

   28 minutes ago,  MtnProwler said: 

I don't think our core has dwindled, as you say. It's only changing, and likely to different positions. But I agree we need a good draft.

[Ryan Kalil and Thomas Davis are both entering their final seasons. I doubt Olsen plays beyond 2019.

We also have a dire need at DE, and our secondary is patchwork at best. Not exactly a good recipe for success in a division with Drew Brees and Matt Ryan.]

 

We had an 11 game winning season where two, of those three, were heavily injured and the other one down to reduced role. How am I to expect this to be a sky is falling season? I can't. Guys stepped up then. And guess what, the same guys are there to step up now. Can you say core change?! This is how it starts.

[LinvilleGorge]

5 minutes ago, bull123 said:

He is getting sued for that wreck he had

How is that an "issue"? It's not going to impact his availability at all. A guy who was involved in a car crash four years ago is now suing because Shaq cashed in on that fat 5th year option. There's real money to come after now. It'll get settled out of court in short order anyway. That's how these things always go.

[Cookie Lyon]

Wow

[Kevin Greene]

Bummer, that's a shame for the team.

But every NFL Pro Player is responsible for what goes down his neck.

Just don't expect this to happen for an NFL Man of the Year you have all the respect in the world for.

We don't need a bumpy road this season, we have enough problems to deal with already. 

[TheSpecialJuan]

Thomas Davis has let everyone in the world down.

[AU-panther]

A year too early is better then a year too late 

[AggieLean]

Who cares. TD did what he thought he had to do and got caught. Get better at hiding it or continue to decline. 

Time to go with Shaq anyways 

[LinvilleGorge]

3 minutes ago, AU-panther said:

A year too early is better then a year too late 

Except for bank accounts. TD had several  millions of reasons not to retire after last season. 

[AU-panther]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Except for bank accounts. TD had several  millions of reasons not to retire after last season. 

Strictly referring to a teams perspective