NFL 2011 Post-Lockout, Pre-Season Thread

Eagles apparently told their entire free agent class to go looking elsewhere. That included Mikell and Bradley Stewart. I'm still waiting to see who they pick up instead...

Rumors (and Eagles jerseys) indicate the trade of Kolb for Romartie-Cromartie (I may have spelled that wrong) has happened.

Jolly Bill wrote:

Eagles apparently told their entire free agent class to go looking elsewhere. That included Mikell and Bradley Stewart. I'm still waiting to see who they pick up instead...

Rumors (and Eagles jerseys) indicate the trade of Kolb for Romartie-Cromartie (I may have spelled that wrong) has happened.

Lol. Romartie. Lol.

Why in the hell are the Jets taking a look at Randy Moss? Meh.

Stupid Weddle staying in San Diego. Stupid Weddle.

Frank Gore reportedly will hold out absent a new deal.

Robert Gallery to SEA... the offensive line hasn't looked this good (on paper, at least) since 2005. I'm a big fan of building in the trenches, so I'm loving the direction Carroll is taking the team. I guess we'll see if a power running offense is good enough to win the NFC West this year, because there probably won't be a whole lot of passing going on.

Enix wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Also, DeAngelo stays in Carolina, 5 years, $43 million, $21 million guaranteed. Good to see the Panthers are keeping together that really solid core they had last season. Bring back Brian St. Pierre!

Tampa better snap him up just in case. Matt Moore, too.

Brian St. Pierre hasn't mowed a lawn since 2007, but he'll be a starting member of the grounds crew opening weekend. Have you ever seen Tony Pike wield a hedge trimmer? It's awful. All I can say is Armanti Edwards is a disaster with a shovel.

*chuckle*

Well, the Panthers are still spending money... $12 million over 4 years with a $4 million signing bonus to take Olindo Mare away from the Seahawks. He's a great kicker and I'm sad to see him go, but that kind of money for a kicker is ridiculous.

Kush15 wrote:

...Plaxico Burress coming back to the Giants looks like a stronger possibility, but I still think he's going to the Jets. He loves New York to much to leave, evident by the fact he's willing to sit down with Tom Coughlin. Although he's buddies with Vick, I don't think he's going to Philly. WR should be the least of their concerns...

Pity, the clip of Vick throwing passes to Plaxico would've been priceless.

Any word if the Eagles will re-sign Akers? I feel like it would be a mistake to let him go.

Polliwog wrote:
Kush15 wrote:

...Plaxico Burress coming back to the Giants looks like a stronger possibility, but I still think he's going to the Jets. He loves New York to much to leave, evident by the fact he's willing to sit down with Tom Coughlin. Although he's buddies with Vick, I don't think he's going to Philly. WR should be the least of their concerns...

Pity, the clip of Vick throwing passes to Plaxico would've been priceless.

Any word if the Eagles will re-sign Akers? I feel like it would be a mistake to let him go.

It's unlikely, they seem to have given a strong indication that the guys let go are better finding contracts elsewhere.

Bruce Gradkowski to the Bengals.

Seriously, Cincinnati people, how have you not lynched Mike Brown yet?

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Bruce Gradkowski to the Bengals.

Seriously, Cincinnati people, how have you not lynched Mike Brown yet?

It's been my experience that fans here just do not have the same emotional investment in their teams as you'd expect from locals. It's a shame.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Bruce Gradkowski to the Bengals.

Seriously, Cincinnati people, how have you not lynched Mike Brown yet?

Not everyone has that special hate of Gradkowski that you harbor.

Now, let's see who signs Sabby.

Minase wrote:

Well, the Panthers are still spending money... $12 million over 4 years with a $4 million signing bonus to take Olindo Mare away from the Seahawks. He's a great kicker and I'm sad to see him go, but that kind of money for a kicker is ridiculous.

Mare? I thought he was collecting Social Security somewhere.

Then again, he's downright spry compared to 90-year-old John Kasay, the only kicker in Panthers history.

Yes, that's right: Kasay has been with the Panthers since 1995.

P.S.: I agree with ya, Minase -- that's way too much scratch for a kicker. I'm guessing Jerry Richardson struck oil somewhere?

Phishposer wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Bruce Gradkowski to the Bengals.

Seriously, Cincinnati people, how have you not lynched Mike Brown yet?

It's been my experience that fans here just do not have the same emotional investment in their teams as you'd expect from locals. It's a shame.

It has been beaten out of them over the decades. But seriously, all of the QBs out there and they are focusing on Gradkowski? Not Kolb, McNabb, Hasselback, etc... Gradkowski.

Dammit, Josh Wilson is signing with the Redskins. I sure hope Foxworth comes back from his knee injury 100%.

Speaking of the Redskins:

The 35-year-old Stokley becomes the fourth wideout age 30 or older to reach a deal with the Redskins in 24 hours. The team has also agreed to terms to sign Donte' Stallworth and re-sign Santana Moss. Plus, it traded for Jabar Gaffney.

Last year they collected aged RBs. This year they're collecting aged WRs. What in the hell is up with that?

garion333 wrote:

What in the hell is up with that?

To wit:

IMAGE(http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/8900/dansnyder.jpg)

Thank you. I was hoping someone would post that.

Rat Boy wrote:
garion333 wrote:

What in the hell is up with that?

To wit:

IMAGE(http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/8900/dansnyder.jpg)

Aw, this gives me a warm fuzzy about football being back.

Phishposer wrote:

Aw, this gives me a warm fuzzy about football being back.

To which I say
IMAGE(http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/8900/dansnyder.jpg)

*Legion* wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Bruce Gradkowski to the Bengals.

Seriously, Cincinnati people, how have you not lynched Mike Brown yet?

Not everyone has that special hate of Gradkowski that you harbor.

Now, let's see who signs Sabby.

I honestly don't think Bruce Gradkowski is a terrible QB, it's just that--and this is important--he's just good enough to get you fired. He will make some plays. And he will implode at absolutely the wrong moment. He's the kind of guy who will stick around for years and start for multiple teams, and he will never once lead an even decent team. He's like a Jon Kitna with less Jesus.

Glazer also reported that McNabb was the Vikings’ second choice; the team initially sought to acquire quarterback Tyler Thigpen.

I'm a fan of Tyler Thigpen, but this was still somewhat shocking to me. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Steve Breaston is headed to the Chiefs. That's a fairly formidable receiving corps they have there.

It looks like a rebuilding year for the Ravens. I think they might still be able to make a playoff run, but I don't see them getting much past the first round without a right tackle.

Outside of resigning Yanda, there is no right side to their line anymore. How in the hell did that happen?

garion333 wrote:

Outside of resigning Yanda, there is no right side to their line anymore. How in the hell did that happen?

exactly. That's why I say it's a rebuilding year. I don't see them giving away the farm for players in free agency, but they might take on a couple placeholders until the draft next year. I think they can still make the playoffs, but with no right side of the line, they're not getting far.

Pats get Haynesworth for a song (5th rounder in 2013). Curious to see if Haynesworth can get motivated outside of Washington with a good locker room...

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6811622/albert-haynesworth-washington-redskins-traded-new-england-patriots-sources-say

I had the same thought about it that PFT mentions; if Cincinnati had traded for Haynesworth, we'd be laughing at them, but the Patriots do it and it just feels brilliant. My guess is they'll play enough 4-3 to keep him happy, and Belichik will figure out ways to involve him in the 3-4 as well. Big Al may be a total jerk, but, when motivated, he's astoundingly disruptive.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

I honestly don't think Bruce Gradkowski is a terrible QB, it's just that--and this is important--he's just good enough to get you fired. He will make some plays. And he will implode at absolutely the wrong moment. He's the kind of guy who will stick around for years and start for multiple teams, and he will never once lead an even decent team. He's like a Jon Kitna with less Jesus.

Well, in the case of the Bengals, he's not being signed to start, at least for anything beyond the short term, because they just drafted Andy Dalton for that job. Gradkowski is a backup, or at best a "start until Dalton has a grip on the whole NFL thing" placeholder.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

I had the same thought about it that PFT mentions; if Cincinnati had traded for Haynesworth, we'd be laughing at them, but the Patriots do it and it just feels brilliant. My guess is they'll play enough 4-3 to keep him happy, and Belichik will figure out ways to involve him in the 3-4 as well. Big Al may be a total jerk, but, when motivated, he's astoundingly disruptive.

It doesn't feel "brilliant" to me, but it's a measured gamble. The big money in Haynesworth's contract was already doled out by Washington. The Pats' hybrid fronts offer opportunity for Haynesworth to get in there and one-gap. But he looks to be a part-time player and I wonder how Haynesworth will be while, once again, not being "The Man".

Reggie Bush is taking his talents to South Beach.