NFL 2011-2012 Off-Season Pre-Draft Catch-All

TheGameguru wrote:

Not to mention he (largely through no fault of his own) will be a cancer in the locker-room. Press will interview him.. people will talk about him.. regardless of wins/loss and whatever he says to attempt to deflect positive or negative attention back to his teammates will fail and his teammates will resent him.

I would be shocked if this season doesnt end up as a total disaster for the Jets.. Better pray Sanchez has a career year.

Jeez, Guru, been taking your meds lately?

I think calling Tebow a cancer in the locker room takes it a bit far. Sure, some people will resent his time in the limelight (see: Santonio Holmes), but the attention he receives in New York will be about the same as in Denver. While not everyone was Tebow's biggest fan as a QB, you didn't hear reports about him being cancer. From all accounts he's a great teammate and that probably helps to heal any wounds that Tebowmania brings with it.

Do I think the Jets made a good decision? Not really, but that's something of a different topic. Like Legion I just don't think he can throw the ball. He didn't make many rookie mistakes, as Legion says, but that's because he only ended up throwing the ball twice a quarter.

As a Jets fan, the Tebow move (and the Favre debacle) have me convinced that the Jets' front office is mostly interested in selling jerseys and t-shirts.

Indiana0210 wrote:

So who is the winner so far in FA?

I don't know where they rank among all the teams, but I can't complain too much about the Chiefs FA season. They picked up a really good RT, which is was a huge need. They picked up a RB that is at the very least an improvement over Thomas Jones, nd gives the Chiefs a more legitimate Thunder and Lightning backfield that they want. They picked up a solid TE who will block and receive well in the twin TE sets they want, letting Moeaki do more of what he does well.

I'm not as impressed with Brady Quinn, but he is at least a solid back-up QB compared to what they have had the last two years. They failed to pick up anyone to compete with Cassel. But I think the OL and RB's have improved enough to give Cassel a shot at running an efficient offense.

Defensively they only lost Brandon Carr, but had already found their #2 CB in Routt, which lets Arenas continue to be a nickel back. they had to let Carr get away in order to franchise Bowe.

They can now go in one of two directions in the first round. They can get a solid LG or NT that should improve them either way.

I can't say they are n line to win the AFC West, but it's going to be fun watching this team develop. I love their defense now, and they suddenly have a potent offense. A lot depends on just how well Charles, Moeaki and berry rehabbed. But all signs point to them being more than ready.

With Jamal Carles and Peyton Hillis in the backfield, Bowe, Breslin, and 2nd year WR Baldwin lining up outside, Moeaki and Boss as TE's, McCluster lining up all over the field, and an improved OL, a failure to score will be on Cassel and new OC Brian Daboll.

I think I might have to say that Finnegan and Brandon Carr were the winners, because those two got hellaciously paid.

garion333 wrote:
TheGameguru wrote:

Not to mention he (largely through no fault of his own) will be a cancer in the locker-room. Press will interview him.. people will talk about him.. regardless of wins/loss and whatever he says to attempt to deflect positive or negative attention back to his teammates will fail and his teammates will resent him.

I would be shocked if this season doesnt end up as a total disaster for the Jets.. Better pray Sanchez has a career year.

Jeez, Guru, been taking your meds lately?

I think calling Tebow a cancer in the locker room takes it a bit far. Sure, some people will resent his time in the limelight (see: Santonio Holmes), but the attention he receives in New York will be about the same as in Denver. While not everyone was Tebow's biggest fan as a QB, you didn't hear reports about him being cancer. From all accounts he's a great teammate and that probably helps to heal any wounds that Tebowmania brings with it.

Do I think the Jets made a good decision? Not really, but that's something of a different topic. Like Legion I just don't think he can throw the ball. He didn't make many rookie mistakes, as Legion says, but that's because he only ended up throwing the ball twice a quarter. ;)

read what I said.. I'm 100% convinced that by all accounts Tebow is a "good guy". Probably an excellent team-mate and all around good citizen. I would probably love to have him as a team-mate and I think he is channeling his "popularity" in the right way (doing charity..inviting children and their family to games etc..)

But he will be a cancer.. because of how other NFL players just "are". He receives an disproportionate amount of attention relative to his "worth".

I think Denver just by that account is relieved to be rid of him.

I still haven't seen any clutch performances out of Sanchez that make me think he's ever going to be good enough to win anything meaningful.

Yeah they made two Conference championship games... with him throwing sub-200 yard games in all of those playoff wins. Not impressed. Think those runs were the Jets being in the same position the Bears were a few years ago, or the 49ers have been the last couple years... great defense, if you could just get a QB that could move the ball, you'd win it all.

I'm probably a Jets hater though, so maybe my opinion is skewed. I hate Ryan, I hated Farve, and NY fans are well... NY fans. Yankees, Jets, Knicks, it doesn't matter, they're all jerks.

TheGameguru wrote:
garion333 wrote:
TheGameguru wrote:

Not to mention he (largely through no fault of his own) will be a cancer in the locker-room. Press will interview him.. people will talk about him.. regardless of wins/loss and whatever he says to attempt to deflect positive or negative attention back to his teammates will fail and his teammates will resent him.

I would be shocked if this season doesnt end up as a total disaster for the Jets.. Better pray Sanchez has a career year.

Jeez, Guru, been taking your meds lately?

I think calling Tebow a cancer in the locker room takes it a bit far. Sure, some people will resent his time in the limelight (see: Santonio Holmes), but the attention he receives in New York will be about the same as in Denver. While not everyone was Tebow's biggest fan as a QB, you didn't hear reports about him being cancer. From all accounts he's a great teammate and that probably helps to heal any wounds that Tebowmania brings with it.

Do I think the Jets made a good decision? Not really, but that's something of a different topic. Like Legion I just don't think he can throw the ball. He didn't make many rookie mistakes, as Legion says, but that's because he only ended up throwing the ball twice a quarter. ;)

read what I said.. I'm 100% convinced that by all accounts Tebow is a "good guy". Probably an excellent team-mate and all around good citizen. I would probably love to have him as a team-mate and I think he is channeling his "popularity" in the right way (doing charity..inviting children and their family to games etc..)

But he will be a cancer.. because of how other NFL players just "are". He receives an disproportionate amount of attention relative to his "worth".

I think Denver just by that account is relieved to be rid of him.

Agree. Whatever "potential/intangibles" that Tebow brings simply isn't worth the media firestorm that follows him. Any time that a rabid group of fans dictates who your starter QB is is an absolutely untenable situation.

Word to MilkmanD.

Xeknos wrote:
TheGameguru wrote:

read what I said.. I'm 100% convinced that by all accounts Tebow is a "good guy". Probably an excellent team-mate and all around good citizen. I would probably love to have him as a team-mate and I think he is channeling his "popularity" in the right way (doing charity..inviting children and their family to games etc..)

But he will be a cancer.. because of how other NFL players just "are". He receives an disproportionate amount of attention relative to his "worth".

I think Denver just by that account is relieved to be rid of him.

Agree. Whatever "potential/intangibles" that Tebow brings simply isn't worth the media firestorm that follows him. Any time that a rabid group of fans dictates who your starter QB is is an absolutely untenable situation.

I think you guys are making it entirely too black and white, but I don't think arguing about what can happen is going to get us much further at this point. Wait and see.

Sanchez's contract extension was the singly most inexplicable thing to happen this offseason, even more than the Tebow trade. Sanchez had been lousy the last two years, and the only reason I can imagine he would get an extension would be in order to make him feel good about himself as the starter. Then, trade for Tebow, and out that goes.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

I think I might have to say that Finnegan and Brandon Carr were the winners, because those two got hellaciously paid.

So true.

On the flip side, every free agent running back and linebacker is in the loser column.

The NFL market for running backs has undergone a severe market correction in the face of the "new normal" in the NFL. Running backs are quite simply not as important anymore, and their pay is now reflecting this. Matt Forte knows this. He missed the bus last year. DeAngelo Williams was the last contract at the "old" price.

Linebackers, likewise, are suffering the double whammy of being slightly de-emphasized (more 3WR/4WR offensive looks means more nickel and dime personnel, and less lining up in base formations), and a draft full of linebackers. Teams are willing to go linebacker hunting in the draft instead of spending big free agency dollars. It's why DeMeco Ryans only merited a 4th round pick in trade. It's why Curtis Lofton hasn't been snatched up by someone.

I liked a quote I saw from Steve Young yesterday. They were at Andrew Luck's pro day, and the host girl asked Steve Young to give Luck some insight as to the difference between college and the NFL.

Young said "well, that's easy. In college, everyone is open. In the NFL, no one's open".

As for the team doing best in the FA market, I'd have to give the nod to Tampa right now. They've made some great acquisitions, and if they can add Trent Richardson on draft day (or Morris Claiborne), they might can really start to turn things around.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Sanchez's contract extension was the singly most inexplicable thing to happen this offseason, even more than the Tebow trade. Sanchez had been lousy the last two years, and the only reason I can imagine he would get an extension would be in order to make him feel good about himself as the starter. Then, trade for Tebow, and out that goes.

As Jenny Vrentas of the Newark Star-Ledger notes, abandoning their pursuit of Manning basically confirmed that the Jets would head into 2012 with Sanchez as their starting quarterback.
Sanchez had no guaranteed money left on his rookie deal, but was due $17.75 million over the next two years if the Jets kept him on the active roster. This contract extension turns that figure into guaranteed money and adds $2.75 million in guaranteed cash to the deal, basically assuring that Sanchez will be the team's quarterback for the next two seasons. The Jets can cut Sanchez after the 2013 season without any financial penalty.
So essentially, the only difference between Sanchez's old deal and his new one is that the Jets are stuck with him for 2013 and have the option to retain him for three years afterward on their own terms. That's not so bad, especially considering their cap savings in 2011.

The Jets didn't have any better QB prospects at the time (and still don't) so they added one year onto his contract. Not that big of a deal, or that Big of a Deal, really.

Stele wrote:

I still haven't seen any clutch performances out of Sanchez that make me think he's ever going to be good enough to win anything meaningful.

Yeah they made two Conference championship games... with him throwing sub-200 yard games in all of those playoff wins. Not impressed. Think those runs were the Jets being in the same position the Bears were a few years ago, or the 49ers have been the last couple years... great defense, if you could just get a QB that could move the ball, you'd win it all.

I'm probably a Jets hater though, so maybe my opinion is skewed. I hate Ryan, I hated Farve, and NY fans are well... NY fans. Yankees, Jets, Knicks, it doesn't matter, they're all jerks. ;)

Well, I'm a Jets fan who doesn't think he's a jerk but what do I know.

The Sanchize is a huge disappointment. After the first season it seemed like he had some skills that could be developed. Now it already seems like he's hit his ceiling. And the acquisition of Tebow only makes us look like a circus, instead of a football team. I'm seriously thinking I won't be watching much of the Jets on tv this year, which sucks.

Jeff-66 wrote:

As for the team doing best in the FA market, I'd have to give the nod to Tampa right now. They've made some great acquisitions, and if they can add Trent Richardson on draft day (or Morris Claiborne), they might can really start to turn things around.

I would like to formally request that people stop mentioning Trent Richardson in the fifth slot. Take Claiborne, or trade down. Fall down to mid-/late-first round, pick up a LB or Barron, the safety from Alabama.

Any RB drafted in the top 10 better be Adrian Peterson, or he was taken too high.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:
Jeff-66 wrote:

As for the team doing best in the FA market, I'd have to give the nod to Tampa right now. They've made some great acquisitions, and if they can add Trent Richardson on draft day (or Morris Claiborne), they might can really start to turn things around.

I would like to formally request that people stop mentioning Trent Richardson in the fifth slot. Take Claiborne, or trade down. Fall down to mid-/late-first round, pick up a LB or Barron, the safety from Alabama.

Any RB drafted in the top 10 better be Adrian Peterson, or he was taken too high.

I typically would agree with you 100%, and yes I'm biased about TR, but I think he has that kind of potential. That said, if I were responsible for Cleveland or Tampa's picks, I'd be strongly tempted to take Morris Claiborne. This is a passing league, and I think he's a world class corner, and CB's tend to have a much longer shelf life than RB's.

I'd be surprised if Claiborne makes it to #5.

Jeff-66 wrote:

I liked a quote I saw from Steve Young yesterday. They were at Andrew Luck's pro day, and the host girl asked Steve Young to give Luck some insight as to the difference between college and the NFL.

Young said "well, that's easy. In college, everyone is open. In the NFL, no one's open".

I remember a quote from Trent Dilfer years ago along the same lines. He was retelling a moment in practice when his coach was asking him, "why didn't you throw to that receiver"?

The rookie Dilfer's response: "He wasn't open."

Coach says: "He was single covered. In the NFL, that's open."

garion333 wrote:

I'd be surprised if Claiborne makes it to #5.

Mel Kiper's latest mock has Cleveland taking Blackmon, and TB taking Richardson. I know StLouis wants Blackmon pretty bad, maybe some moves will be made.

It seems pretty blatantly obvious that Luck-Griffin-Kalil go 1-2-3. If Cleveland then takes Claiborne, Blackmon's still sitting there. I'm actually fine with Tampa taking him, because he appears to be a freak. Want to revitalize the passing game? Vincent Jackson and Justin Blackmon would seem to help.

That being said, lots of people will want Blackmon. The opportunities for trading down would seem huge, and I'd be all over that. Throw it out to the highest bidder, and trade it to Jacksonville for their next four first-rounders.

I mean, assuming Daniel Snyder has bought the Jaguars by then.

Jacksonville would love if Blackmon fell to them, but I am getting the impression that they are in the business of trading down this draft, presuming they find any buyers for the #7 selection.

I'm of the opinion that teams will target Tannehill at around that spot, or possibly (unfortunately for the Jags) even later. I am not convinced by those who think he will climb all the way to the pick 4-5 range.

Gene Smith has already put it out there that teams looking for Tannehill can come to him with offers for pick #7.

My feeling is that the Jaguars don't expect Blackmon to quite fall to #7, and that they have receivers they're interested in later, but nobody other than Blackmon that they would want to take at the #7 spot. Likewise, I think there are a number of offensive tackles who might interest them that they could take later, particularly since they're looking for a right tackle - after Eugene Monroe finally stepped up last season, they appear to be set on the left side.

With Miami at #8, the #7 might be a hot commodity for Tannenhill.

I'll have to look back at my research for why I think Clairborn will not make it to #5. Might be that I read too many mock drafts where the Bucs take Richardson and I'm getting confused.

garion333 wrote:

With Miami at #8, the #7 might be a hot commodity for Tannenhill.

I'll have to look back at my research for why I think Clairborn will not make it to #5. Might be that I read too many mock drafts where the Bucs take Richardson and I'm getting confused.

I've seen Claiborne going to Cleveland in several places, but they would appear to have a pretty desperate need for WR. It seems likely they'd go for Blackmon; they took Haden last year (year before?) and he was IIRC pretty good.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:
garion333 wrote:

With Miami at #8, the #7 might be a hot commodity for Tannenhill.

I'll have to look back at my research for why I think Clairborn will not make it to #5. Might be that I read too many mock drafts where the Bucs take Richardson and I'm getting confused.

I've seen Claiborne going to Cleveland in several places, but they would appear to have a pretty desperate need for WR. It seems likely they'd go for Blackmon; they took Haden last year (year before?) and he was IIRC pretty good.

Haden's in his third year. I don't think that Cleveland can pass on Blackmon based on what the rest of the division looks like at receiver. But they may think defense first.

Paleocon wrote:

Wow.

I think he's having strokes.

The other week he was advocating for medical marijuana.

Wow, Marion Barber retired. Not the most unexpected thing in the world, but I thought he'd give it a go for another year or two.

RB < punters

Pat Robertson is one of the least Christian high profile Christians in the world. Barf.

Pat Robertson aside, I can't help but think that I'd love to see Manning out another season, just to spite Elway, because John Elway is indeed a giant douche and treated Tebow like garbage. Once that happens, and Elway is eating crow by the wheelbarrow full, Manning can get traded somewhere else and have a miraculous recovery capped with a Super Bowl ring.

AnimeJ wrote:

because John Elway is indeed a giant douche and treated Tebow like garbage.

In exactly what way did Elway treat Tebow "like garbage"?

By treating him like a a mediocre QB that they needed to improve on, and not the anointed holy son?