NFL 2017 Post-Draft Offseason

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Having formally usurped the NFL Thread Throne from Legion (or just taken it over, whatever, you're not my real dad), it's time for the post-draft offseason thread.

  • OTAs have started, so everybody has hope. Except the Jets. The Jets will be fielding a defense of 11 safeties and an offense of one QB. All of the QBs on the Jets' current roster will be on the field, it's just that they collectively equal one. Almost.
  • Even Cleveland has hope. Nobody has any idea if they're doing the right thing at this point, but they're at least doing something at this point. They'll continue to make a series of daring, innovative moneyball-type moves until Haslam fires everybody at the end of the season and they hire a combination of Greg Schiano, Jim Tomsula, and Ryan Grigson to . . . wait, they already hired Ryan Grigson.
  • The Vikings are really pleased with Laquon Treadwell's progress this offseason. Laquon Treadwell was targeted three times for one reception last year, and had 15 yards from scrimmage. So, uh, I'm guessing that whole "progress" thing is grading on a really generous curve.
  • O.J. Howard, Offensive Rookie of the Year. Is not going to happen, because rookie TEs always kind of suck as they learn the game. But, hey, O.J. Howard.
  • One of these days soon, Roberto Aguayo will be cut from the Buccaneers and will be gone forever, yet Blake Bortles will still be the QB in Jacksonville.
  • Cortez Kennedy passed away this week. He was like a later-day version of Lee Roy Selmon, a guy who played his butt off for some terrible, terrible teams, and managed to get into the HOF without TEH RINGZ.

Also, more than usual props to the Buccaneers for some epic trolling of the Falcons in a Twitter exchange between the two accounts.

IMAGE(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s149/MilkmanDanimal/DActdcXWAAI4gKy_1495592621330_95420.jpg)

28-3.

Interesting read on the discontent of Richard Sherman. My take? Wilson's performance last year behind that line with those injuries was nothing short of heroic. I'm guessing Sherm is gone when his contract is up.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Even Cleveland has hope. Nobody has any idea if they're doing the right thing at this point, but they're at least doing something at this point. They'll continue to make a series of daring, innovative moneyball-type moves until Haslam fires everybody at the end of the season and they hire a combination of Greg Schiano, Jim Tomsula, and Ryan Grigson to . . . wait, they already hired Ryan Grigson.

That's cute. Cleveland has no hope. We will go 2-14 again starting 5 quarterbacks whose sum-total talent is less than Ryan Fizpatrick and ruin the promising career of some college prospect. Like we do every year.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Having formally usurped the NFL Thread Throne from Legion (or just taken it over, whatever, you're not my real dad)

Yeah usurped the the same way a college student usurps a stinky abandoned couch someone dropped at the curb and sped away from.

Minase wrote:

I'm guessing Sherm is gone when his contract is up.

I think you're right, and I think Seattle will be right in allowing it to happen. I think his market price is going to be well out of line with his actual value - the value he'll have as he crosses into his 30s, that is. Also, while I think he's absolutely starting caliber in any scheme, I don't think he's necessarily superstar caliber outside of the Carroll grabby Cover 3.

Which means he'll probably become an LA Charger as Gus Bradley takes another stab at building a Seattle defense elsewhere. Assuming that Chargers regime makes it to the 2019 offseason.

*Legion* wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Having formally usurped the NFL Thread Throne from Legion (or just taken it over, whatever, you're not my real dad)

Yeah usurped the the same way a college student usurps a stinky abandoned couch someone dropped at the curb and sped away from.

Does that make us the bums that sleep on it at night? Or the mysterious stains left behind?

*Legion* wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Having formally usurped the NFL Thread Throne from Legion (or just taken it over, whatever, you're not my real dad)

Yeah usurped the the same way a college student usurps a stinky abandoned couch someone dropped at the curb and sped away from.

It's all Rat Boy's fault.

*Legion* wrote:
Minase wrote:

I'm guessing Sherm is gone when his contract is up.

I think you're right, and I think Seattle will be right in allowing it to happen. I think his market price is going to be well out of line with his actual value - the value he'll have as he crosses into his 30s, that is. Also, while I think he's absolutely starting caliber in any scheme, I don't think he's necessarily superstar caliber outside of the Carroll grabby Cover 3.

Which means he'll probably become an LA Charger as Gus Bradley takes another stab at building a Seattle defense elsewhere. Assuming that Chargers regime makes it to the 2019 offseason.

Barnwell thinks they were starting to discuss trading Sherman this year as a way to whet people's appetites, essentially. Seeing as they don't have a replacement for Sherman right now, and Kam Chancellor will be a FA after this season and seeing as how they drafted a bunch of DBs this year, the end is near.

That all sounds incredibly plausible to me, though Sherman's attitude may have hastened his departure.

IMAGE(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s149/MilkmanDanimal/Kelvin-Benjamin.jpg)

Kelvin Benjamin appears . . . "healthy".

Give him a break, the offseason program is for getting into playing shape.

He's got time to finish filling out.

It was really exciting back when Deion Sanders played both ways as a wide receiver and a cornerback; it's going to be even more exciting when Kelvin Benjamin does the same at both wide receiver and nose tackle.

Benjamin's so big that he lines up at wide receiver and tight end at the same time.

You know, between that picture and the media silence over the last year or so . . . oh God did Kelvin Benjamin eat Josh Freeman?

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

You know, between that picture and the media silence over the last year or so . . . oh God did Kelvin Benjamin eat with Josh Freeman?

FTFY

"Hi and welcome to "Eatin' Steak with LenDale White". I'm LenDale White and my guests today are former Brooklyn Bolts quarterback Josh Freeman, Panthers receiver-slash-guard Kelvin Benjamin, and Seahawks running back Eddie Lacy."

Before and after:

IMAGE(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DAoM6CMXkAEz5Lw.jpg)

I bet whatever caused that was delicious.

Warning: This is a Debbie Downer post.

So I finally got around to watching Concussion tonight with my wife. I don't think I will ever be able to watch an NFL game with her ever again. Honestly, it had me questioning whether I should just eliminate the NFL from sports I follow. I mean, the movie didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, but you sure come away feeling like what professional football has turned into is madness.

The real problem is that no one wants the real solution, which is to drastically reduce the protection players wear, including their helmets. It's not even hits to the head anymore. Players are too fast and strong, and brains are bouncing around in ways they just don't do in another sports. Reduce the protection, and you reduce the ability to hit with the force that they do.

I mean, I know I'm going watch the Chiefs this season, and I love the sport. But man, the NFL has some serious blood money on their hands. I kind of hate that some of it is mine.

Jayhawker, I don't think that's a downer thing, it's reality. I too have been having a bit of a "crisis of faith" when it comes to my love of the game. It's really the only sport that I follow now, and I absolutely love Saturdays and Sundays in the fall. That said, the concussion issues, coupled with the (IMO) exploitation of the kids in NCAA football, certainly puts a damper on my enjoyment of the sport.

I know I will still watch and devour all things football, at least for a while, but it certainly is on my mind.

The saddest of all headlines:

McCown looking better than Petty and Hackenberg at Jets’ OTAs

McCown, who turns 38 on July 4, appears to have the edge over both of the youngsters. If Petty or Hackenberg can make it a close call, they might get the nod because the Jets would rather groom a young quarterback. At the moment, however, it doesn’t sound like the competition is particularly close.

I heard Hackenberg's passes are at least staying on the same practice field as his receivers, though, so that's progress.

So, in the prior three seasons, Josh McCown had been the QB for teams that drafted first overall, second overall (or would have, before the Rams trade), and first overall, and I would feel comfortable putting money on the Jets as the first overall pick next year. And he keeps getting hired, over and over, even though, outside of a freakish eight-game run for Chicago a few years back, he's always been the same Josh McCown. His record as a starter the last three years is 2-20.

Still the best QB on the Jets roster. Honestly think Josh McCown has had one of the most remarkable careers in NFL history. This is a guy drafted ten spots before Brian Westbrook and in the same draft as David Carr, Joey Harrington, and Eric Freaking Crouch, and he's still in the NFL. It's absolutely amazing.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

So, in the prior three seasons, Josh McCown had been the QB for teams that drafted first overall, second overall (or would have, before the Rams trade), and first overall, and I would feel comfortable putting money on the Jets as the first overall pick next year.

Which is probably why they hired him. The Jets organization knew they had to hit reset and this year is a complete dead year. What better way to secure your future 1st overall pick than hire Josh McCown?!?!

Josh McCown is a mediocre quarterback in a league that doesn't even have enough of those to go around.

This is the same league that employed Luke McCown for 12 years. (Which, with his release from the Saints last month, may finally be over)

You give Josh McCown a better ranking at "mediocre" than I do.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

You give Josh McCown a better ranking at "mediocre" than I do.

Career 1.15:1 TD:INT ratio, 78 passer rating, 59% completion... hang on, this is starting to sound familiar...

Speaking of QBs ... an Alex Smith joke!

I had never noticed the handy comp between McCown and Bortles, but that comparison . . .

Enix wrote:

Speaking of QBs ... an Alex Smith joke!

I look forward to the eventual follow-up with Pat Mahomes. Probably something like aiming straight for Mars and trying to gun the ship through a debris field.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

You give Josh McCown a better ranking at "mediocre" than I do.

I was never scared when McClown had the ball. Of course, I never thought he would put together an epic 80 yard TD drive either.

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