NFL 2017 Post-Draft Offseason

Jayhawker wrote:

And when is someone going to admit that CTE had at least some role in OJ's crimes?

It hasn't been discussed? Cause it's gotta be a thing that's contributing.

garion333 wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

And when is someone going to admit that CTE had at least some role in OJ's crimes?

It hasn't been discussed? Cause it's gotta be a thing that's contributing.

On the one hand, I am inclined to agree with this. Leaving aside whatever questions it may raise about culpability, I think it's almost a safe bet to assume any player from that era who has taken that level of abuse likely suffers from some mental impairment, and any extreme behavior or changes in character should probably be framed with CTE as the first suspect.

On the other hand, OJ Simpson is being released because he's been a model prisoner. Controlling his behavior does not seem to be beyond his capabilities.

I have some trouble reconciling the two.

Of course, the reality is that there's a whole mess of subtleties and triggers involved, so it's hard to wrap the whole thing into a nice simple judgement.

But as long as a large portion of the population looks at the criminal justice system from a punitive perspective rather than a rehabilitative one, such discussions are likely to be non-starters.

Oh, I don't think it absolves OJ. But if the original two murders, along with the crazy paranoia that seemed to lead to the confrontation, wasn't enough, the armed robbery on Nevada was another sign that he's just not thinking as a rational person.

But yeah, he's getting out early because he was a model prisoner. We'll see how he does back in the world of chaos and temptation.

I don't think we will let CTE absolve anyone of murder or armed robbery. And if we did, it would likely mean locking up people with the signs of CTE that show violent tendencies. But it is an uncomfortable reality that American football likely created OJ, both the star, and now the convicted felon, and suspected perpetrator of a double homicide.

And now Lucky Whitehead has been picked up by the Jets. Sucks, I liked him, and it goes to show that if you are not a huge star, you are disposable.

I know it is that way for most teams (Cincinnati obviously exempted) but it stings when your team looks foolish.

Edit: After reading through the articles I don't feel as bad. I had not thought of the fact that Dallas drafted the kid from UNC so Whitehead would have had a harder road to the roster. PFT goes so far as to suggest that it may work out better for Lucky, especially since he got cut at the start of camp rather than the end.

Still bizarre though.

Aight, Paleo, now is a good time to gripe cause Flacco > Mallet.

Jayhawker wrote:

Honestly, when I read these articles, I got that same feeling in the pit of my stomach that I had after watching Concussion. I'm in the camp of those that would never let a son of mine play football now. It's one thing to sat that NFL player know the risks and get paid well for accepting it. I don't believe the same case can be made for college athletes.

...

As I said before, I will still watch and cheer for the Chiefs this season. I love watching football, and Madden is my most played video game right now. But I can no longer defend football as a sport to anyone that would question me about it. I don't know if I can stay a fan long term, or if I'm just going to ride it out.

This is pretty much where I've been at with the game for awhile. I almost quit watching a couple years ago, but come Saturday and Sunday I still find myself tuning in. As a fan, it's hard to give up. I mean I grew up watching Michigan and Lions football with my dad. After I moved to Indy, I paid DirecTV good money to watch 0-16 and I stuck out watching Michigan implode during the Rodriguez and Hoke years. I loved to watch the game, I loved to root for those teams even when they sucked. I still do, but it's definitely harder now. There's no way I'd let my son play organized tackle ball, even if he had an interest (he doesn't). It's unfortunate, and I really do hope Smart People develop a solution that improves players' long-term prospects.

Now, about that Stafford extension.

garion333 wrote:

Aight, Paleo, now is a good time to gripe cause Flacco > Mallet.

Eh, unless we hear otherwise I would chalk this up to a veteran that wants to skip the first part of training camp.

garion333 wrote:

Aight, Paleo, now is a good time to gripe cause Flacco > Mallet.

And Urschel decides to retire AFTER THE DRAFT.

Phuck me.

Paleocon wrote:
garion333 wrote:

Aight, Paleo, now is a good time to gripe cause Flacco > Mallet.

And Urschel decides to retire AFTER THE DRAFT.

Phuck me.

... That's a pretty sh*t move.

Matt Skura better be ready to start at Center.

Paleocon wrote:
garion333 wrote:

Aight, Paleo, now is a good time to gripe cause Flacco > Mallet.

And Urschel decides to retire AFTER THE DRAFT.

Phuck me.

The guy's a Ph.D. candidate, and a report came out the other day that every ex-NFL brain examined by a study had CTE except one. Wild guess, these things may be related to his sudden retirement.

garion333 wrote:

Aight, Paleo, now is a good time to gripe cause Flacco > Mallet.

But is Mallet > Kaepernick? Cuz that could happen.

*Legion* wrote:
garion333 wrote:

Aight, Paleo, now is a good time to gripe cause Flacco > Mallet.

But is Mallet > Kaepernick? Cuz that could happen.

I'm sure there are any number of situations where Mallett > Kaepernick, but I can't imagine any of those situations being on a football field. With the Harbaugh connection, this does make an awful lot of sense at this point.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:
*Legion* wrote:
garion333 wrote:

Aight, Paleo, now is a good time to gripe cause Flacco > Mallet.

But is Mallet > Kaepernick? Cuz that could happen.

I'm sure there are any number of situations where Mallett > Kaepernick, but I can't imagine any of those situations being on a football field. With the Harbaugh connection, this does make an awful lot of sense at this point.

Not to mention that the Ravens now have Greg Roman as their senior offensive assistant, who apparently has already been re-designing their offense's run game.

Preseason is officially underway: Deadspin's Why Your Team Sucks is back!

Leading off ... the Cleveland Browns.

There's even a kicker take:

Deadspin wrote:

The Browns also lost to the Dolphins because their kicker missed three field goals. Did I mention that their special teams coach asked them to sign another kicker for that game, but the Browns signed a cheaper kicker instead? And did I mention that they flew that discount kicker in to watch him practice, but then never saw him practice because—and this is true—they had to leave for Miami before they could? What hope does your team have when it can’t even coordinate a f**king Delta flight properly? In Cleveland, Congress clowns you!

Ah, football. How I missed you.

See, Jacksonville is just boringly bad. They're never that caliber of dysfunctional. That's that Arrested Development kind of dysfunction, that you-had-to-go-out-of-your-way-to-do-this kind of aggressive dysfunction.

The Bills traded Cardale Jones to the Los Angeles Chargers.

They spent a 4th round pick on Jones a year ago, and after one year of having him in their building, they traded him away for a 7th.

Jones was ranked 21st among 2014-2016 drafted QBs out of 24 qualifying players.

That trade makes no sense to me. He must've been unhappy and made it known.

Then again completely different people drafted him than who is there now.

garion333 wrote:

That trade makes no sense to me. He must've been unhappy and made it known.

Then again completely different people drafted him than who is there now.

Probably both, but more the latter; he wasn't good enough to overwhelm the "he's the other guy's guy" stench.

Otherwise known as "eau de Freeman".

garion333 wrote:

That trade makes no sense to me. He must've been unhappy and made it known.

Apparently he cried tears of joy at the news.

As the article mentions, though, probably a big factor behind this was that Anthony Lynn is now the Chargers' coach. So perhaps it's less Buffalo getting him out of the building, and more a former Buffalo coach getting him into his new building.

Cardale hasn't yet struck me as completely hopeless a la Hackenberg, but the 4th round pick spent on him was reaching. It will be interesting to see if he's ready to take the QB2 spot away from Kellen Clemens, or if the team invests a roster spot for a 3rd QB.

I'm still interested in his development solely based on the love Matt Waldman gave him. I believe!

Enix wrote:

Preseason is officially underway: Deadspin's Why Your Team Sucks is back!

Leading off ... the Cleveland Browns.

Ah, football. How I missed you.

Ah, looking forward to the draft and the gm/head coach search already.

The 49ers

Anyway, the only thing you probably remember about the Niners last season is when Colin Kaepernick lost a QB battle to Yo Gabbert Gabbert, then took a knee for the anthem, then took sh*t for taking a knee for the anthem, then confused the rest of us by not bothering to vote, then managed to get his starting job back just in time to have his athletic confidence destroyed a second time.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/PayFmF3.png)

Just getting them out of his system now.

I'm getting worried that Bortles will stop being a surprising top 8 fantasy QB that I can use when Brees is on the road.

Jayhawker wrote:

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/PayFmF3.png)

Also Kermit is now actually Kermit. Take that, Internet memes!

Starting a rookie to blind side protect usually goes well, right?

What does it matter? They're clearly going to run the ball 40 times a game.

Today's WYTS: It's the Bears and boy o boy there's even a Blake Bortles take amid all the ripping on Mike Glennon and Bears management:

(spoilered for bad, bad language)

Spoiler:
Deadspin wrote:

There are a lot of NFL teams with bad leadership: the Skins, the Bengals, the Jets, etc. But at least those teams HAVE leadership. The Glennon signing and the Trubisky draft prove that Bears have nothing. The Bears are a headless corpse running around, blood spurting from its severed arteries and slicking the floor and causing everyone around to slip and fall and break a hip. You guys used to have one expensive, sh*tty QB. You now have two. Oh, and they signed Mark Sanchez too! Amazing. Beautiful. UNf*ckINGREAL. Why not grab Sean Salisbury from the local Chili’s and suit him up while you’re at it? Hell, bring Cutler BACK! Chicago could just become one giant sh*tty QB convention! What a f*cking disaster.