2019 NFL Offseason Extravaganza

Hand size doesn't matter if you hold it like Darnold and let everyone get a whack at it.

Well, that's indefensible.

NFL season > NFL draft > NFL preseason > NFL offseason > AAF > the combine

If you're looking for an offseason fix that doesn't involve QB hand size (dopey) or college basketball (the worst), I'd put rugby between the NFL season and the NFL draft. Six Nations is very entertaining, and it has taken me only about three years of watching the Premiership to figure out most of the rules.

Lot more blood in rugby. Almost as many gruesome injuries.

My wife and I watched some Six Nation rugby the other day, and it was pretty fascinating. Kinda wish I had played the sport now.

Jayhawker wrote:

My wife and I watched some Six Nation rugby the other day, and it was pretty fascinating. Kinda wish I had played the sport now.

Every person I know that played rugby (and it’s the most popular sport in my not-that-small town) ended up with serious injuries for the rest of their life. On par with football injuries but far less padding and lots of knees to the eye socket. Also, apparently the scrum in high school rugby is enough to get most people to quit.

I hate rugby.

Charles Robinson believes Kyler Murray is legitimately in play for Arizona with the #1 pick, and provides some reasonable arguments to back his assertion

Most compelling is that they burned one of their Combine interviews on him. It could be a smokescreen, but usually you don't waste thosr because you only get 15.

The part about Murray not participating in drills is less compelling, but does speak to the idea that Murray's camp believes he has a high pick nailed down. Which may well be correct as the reports now are claiming Murray is "almost universally" believed to be the draft's top pick.

If Rosen were to be traded, I would peg his value at a 2. The Jags and Dolphins would seem to be top candidates (if I'm the Cards, I'm doing my best to trade Rosen out of conference).

The thing about rugby, (especially Union), is because play doesn't stop you can't afford to put multiple men on the ball carrier on defence, because then you have holes in your line and can get overmanned. So when you're carrying the ball you frequently get tackled by one guy, rather than hit by four.

Some of the hits are crazy, no mistake, but you tend to not have situations like in the NFL where a tackler stands you up and then three of his friends try to knock you into the shadow realm.

As a reminder, Amazon's All or Nothing did a series on Rugby: https://www.amazon.com/All-Nothing-Z...

The Raiders were reportedly shopping Derek Carr at the combine.

Alex Collins was released by the Ravens after a car accident ended with him being arrested for marijuana possession and on gun charges.

Mr Bismarck wrote:

The thing about rugby, (especially Union), is because play doesn't stop you can't afford to put multiple men on the ball carrier on defence, because then you have holes in your line and can get overmanned. So when you're carrying the ball you frequently get tackled by one guy, rather than hit by four.

Some of the hits are crazy, no mistake, but you tend to not have situations like in the NFL where a tackler stands you up and then three of his friends try to knock you into the shadow realm.

There are a lot of differences on defense. There's no blocking in rugby. And you can't leave your feet - no leading with your head like you see in the NFL or college FB. You have to wrap up. Most rugby tackles seem to involve a couple of guys -- one low, one high, and usually the high man tries to do a quick release to jackal for the ball. (Do I have the jargon right?)

Just finished watching the first half of Wales-England Six Nations. (NO SPOILERS.) It's a great game so far and a lot more interesting than the NFL's current Underwear Olympics.

OK, so back to the NFL for a bit. (I'l admit: some of it's mildly interesting.) Carolina appears to be done with WR Devin Funchess. Assuming you don't mind a guy who can develop a sudden case of the dropsies, he would be a decent No. 2 receiver for somebody. Cam needs guys who can make up for his occasional lack of accuracy, and Fun isn't that guy. A shame.

Also: S Mike Adams and CB Captain Munnerlyn will be the market this season along with LB Thomas Davis. Seems Carolina has gotten over its love of old guys and is going for youth.

I want Rosen or Carr

I am skeptical of Foles' ceiling as an every-game QB. I think being competent is pretty much his floor (outside of Fisher's QB killer offense), and competent alone would make a world of difference for the Jags... but if Arizona or Oakland really do move Rosen or Carr, I'm going to be so sad for them to not go to Jacksonville.

Now watch, this is the post Rat Boy digs up years from now after Foles becomes the best QB in Jaguars history and Carr ends up running auto dealerships in Fresno...

Pure rumor here, but it's Tony Pauline writing it, so I'm inclined to give it more weight than the standard rumor noise: Kliff Kingsbury is supposedly telling people it's a "done deal" that the Cardinals will take Murray #1.

Now, of course, it can be true that Kingsbury is out there saying that, but the intent behind it is smokescreening rather than being truthful.

If Arizona is indeed throwing up a smokeecreen, I think they can ease off it already. Teams usually play it a little more coy than this. At this rate, by Wednesday, Kingsbury will be declaring his eternal love for Murray.

49ers re-sign guard Mike Person, who has the best name in all of sports. He's what you get when you forget to change the default name on your create-a-player.

*Legion* wrote:

49ers re-sign guard Mike Person, who has the best name in all of sports. He's what you get when you forget to change the default name on your create-a-player.

He and Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser are further proof that the matrix is laughing at us.

I'll only get worried if a transaction involving Hugh Mann happens.

Metaworldpeace anyone?

I am getting more and more anxious about this draft and off season. With Oakland thinking of trading Carr and Arizona in the mix as well for a possible QB, I am wondering whether the Giants are high on Haskins and are interested in him or wanting to build out the OL and DL positions.

Washington is reportedly interested in trading for Rosen if he becomes available.

That would be a best case for them, as they really need a starting QB on a rookie deal since they still have to pay Alex Smith.

Also I hope Rosen shows up to DC with his F*ck Trump hat on.

Also I hope Rosen shows up to DC with his F*ck Trump hat on.

That would be glorious!

49ers are rumored to be in trade talks for a pass rusher... and it's not for a 30-year-old Justin Houston.

It's with Minnesota for a 31-year-old Everson Griffen.

Griffen is under contract for 4 more years, at cap hits of about $11, $14, $14.5, and $15 million.

He had a down year last season, in which he took a leave of absence during the season to receive mental health treatment. PFF thinks he's likely to bounce back.

Minnesota is hard up against the cap and needs money to re-sign free agents like Anthony Barr and possibly Sheldon Richardson, so they need to free up cap space. Griffen's 2019 salary becomes fully guaranteed on March 15th, so the Vikings have to act sooner than later if they're going to use Griffen to free up space.

I would rather have Justin Houston, but because of the urgency for Minnesota, the asking price might be a good bit lower. For a late round pick, I would be perfectly happy with taking on Griffen's contract and just keeping him for however long he's worth keeping. The Niners would only really be locked in to keeping him for 2019 as they would be paying the salary guarantee.

Most importantly, he's not Dante Fowler.

Seattle has franchise tagged Frank Clark, and Dallas has again tagged Demarcus Lawrence, thinning out the free agent edge rusher market considerably.

Ravens not tagging CJ Mosley, who is high on my 49ers free agent wish list. Niners scored in the draft with Fred Warner, who filled the void Reuben Foster left. But Warner was drafted as an OLB, and getting Mosley would let them move him back there. And it would be nice to use some of this abundant cap space on guys entering their prime years, and not only guys on the tail end of theirs.

Looks like the Chiefs are gonna release Justin Houston.

garion333 wrote:

Looks like the Chiefs are gonna release Justin Houston.

Well that's gonna heat up the pass rusher market.

*Legion* wrote:
garion333 wrote:

Looks like the Chiefs are gonna release Justin Houston.

Well that's gonna heat up the pass rusher market.

Seems like Chiefs Twitter is going back and forth on how real this is. Someone mentioned that Veach may be weeding out who is leaking.

I think Houston is not worth the cap hit, so a release makes sense. I think the Chiefs would love it if someone with more cap space decided to trade for him before he hits the open market.

Hell, I assumed when the Chiefs tagged Dee Ford and then said they were open to trade talks that was more of a bait and switch. Call up Veach to ask about Ford, then get a nice reply about how Houston might be better value for you.

Speaking of that, someone asked offered the #23 pick in the draft (Houton), would you trade Ford. I'm inclined to say no, but I'm not sure.

Giants are letting Safety Collins walk. 25 years old and a good player. Surprising move.

Collins is going to be both expensive and limited to strictly strong safety. He's great at it, but I'm not shocked the Giants don't want to fill that position with an $11m/year player.

It's also a good draft to get a safety in rounds 2-3.

Welp, it looks like someone has solved the mystery of Todd Gurley's knee: arthritis