~2017 NFL Thread~

[Mdot21]

I think it's a money thing.  He's worth a roster spot, but he's not worth eating up $11 million of your cap space.

They asked him to take a pay cut, and he said no, but at this point who would want him at that rate, and even if you did, who has $11 million in cap space?

Exactly. Even at his very best he was never as good as he was hyped up to be- but he was still a very good, top 10-15 CB. He's not what he used to be and definitely not worth the money he was owed but it's kind of a shocker because it's not like the Browns need the cap space for this season and also- because well the Browns suck and they need every bit of talent they can get their hands on.

Cowboys would be a good fit if they can make it work and Haden isn't delusional about the money demands. They are so young in the secondary and need all of the help they can get.

[Mdot21]

in other NFL news....

Detroit Lions give Matthew Stafford the biggest contract in NFL history. 5 years, $135 million with a $50 million signing bonus, and $92 million guaranteed. Yikes. Feel like they had to do it. It's the new normal. NFL QB contracts are just going to get bigger and bigger. They guaranteed almost 70% of the contract- which I am fine with. I think that should be a baseline for all NFL contracts. NBA/MLB contracts are for the most part fully guaranteed- and the level of risk is NOWHERE near what it is in the NFL.

also....

Browns named rookie QB DeShone Kizer the starter. Not a shocker at all if you look at who they have at QB on their roster. Kizer is easily the most talented guy they have at QB. Might as well roll with him now and let him take his lumps early.

[ELA]

in other NFL news.... Detroit Lions give Matthew Stafford the biggest contract in NFL history. 5 years, $135 million with a $50 million signing bonus, and $92 million guaranteed. Yikes. Feel like they had to do it. It's the new normal. NFL QB contracts are just going to get bigger and bigger. They guaranteed almost 70% of the contract- which I am fine with. I think that should be a baseline for all NFL contracts. NBA/MLB contracts are for the most part fully guaranteed- and the level of risk is NOWHERE near what it is in the NFL. also.... Browns named rookie QB DeShone Kizer the starter. Not a shocker at all if you look at who they have at QB on their roster. Kizer is easily the most talented guy they have at QB. Might as well roll with him now and let him take his lumps early.

No question they had to. By Year 5, that probably won't even be a top 10 QB contract anyway

[Mdot21]

No question they had to. By Year 5, that probably won't even be a top 10 QB contract anyway

Yup. They'll up the salary cap and it's just going to turn into a QB arms race. Next big QB contract will be bigger. Hell Derek Carr's was the biggest and not even a month later Stafford's contract out-does his. And I actually liked the fact that they guaranteed so much of the contract. NFL teams should be forced to guarantee a higher % of contracts.

[ELA]

Exactly. Even at his very best he was never as good as he was hyped up to be- but he was still a very good, top 10-15 CB. He's not what he used to be and definitely not worth the money he was owed but it's kind of a shocker because it's not like the Browns need the cap space for this season and also- because well the Browns suck and they need every bit of talent they can get their hands on. Cowboys would be a good fit if they can make it work and Haden isn't delusional about the money demands. They are so young in the secondary and need all of the help they can get.

Schefter saying the Steelers are the favorites to land him.
 Secondary probably their biggest weakness.  Probably just solidifies them as the Patriots' biggest threat to come out of the AFC again Although, per PFF, his trajectory has not been good.  His rank among NFL corners
 2010: #7
 2011: #18
 2012: #16
 2013: #20
 2014: #27
 2015: INJ
 2016: #88
 Even still, if you can get him to be a legit #2 CB, that's a win.

[ELA]

Damn, Haden to Pittsburgh.  Turned down bigger offers elsewhere.

[Mdot21]

Damn, Haden to Pittsburgh.  Turned down bigger offers elsewhere.

He gets to face an elite QB and WR in practice every week to hone his game. Iron sharpens iron. Didn't really have that luxury in Cleveland. He gets to play for a winner that is a lock to win it's division and make a playoff run. Also gets to stick it to his old team twice a year.

Good move for him all around if you ask me.

[ELA]

Don't think it's enough to jump New England, particularly if the have to go to Foxboro in January, but should solidify a bye.

[Mdot21]

Don't think it's enough to jump New England, particularly if the have to go to Foxboro in January, but should solidify a bye.

The Edelman loss was huge. He was Brady's go to guy when the Pats absolutely needed a big play, and he was the chain mover on 3rd down that kept drives alive.

It really all depends on Gronk though. If he can actually stay healthy throughout the playoffs it will not matter one bit that Edelman is not there. Gronk is the hardest cover in the NFL. He changes how defenses have to cover more than any other player since like Megatron or Randy Moss. Very few guys like that in NFL history- that are just so freakish and so vastly superior to virtually everybody lined up across from them. If Gronk is a go throughout the playoffs and is close to 100% the Patriots are winning the Super Bowl again. Pretty big if though, because that dude is made of glass.

[MaximumSam]

This Zeke thing just took a turn for the bizarre.  Apparently the lead investigator, who interviewed the victim multiple times, wrote a report saying the victim wasn't credible and recommending no suspension.  But then apparently that report wasn't given to Goodell, and the investigator was frozen out of the process after writing it.  

I am amazed at how much work the NFL does to bungle investigations.

[Mdot21]

This Zeke thing just took a turn for the bizarre.  Apparently the lead investigator, who interviewed the victim multiple times, wrote a report saying the victim wasn't credible and recommending no suspension.  But then apparently that report wasn't given to Goodell, and the investigator was frozen out of the process after writing it.  

I am amazed at how much work the NFL does to bungle investigations.

never under-estimate the incompetency of Roger Goodell.
I hope the suspension gets over-turned. All those people who picked up Zeke in their fantasy drafts in the late rounds are going to be striking gold if it does lol.

[betarhoalphadelta]

This Zeke thing just took a turn for the bizarre.  Apparently the lead investigator, who interviewed the victim multiple times, wrote a report saying the victim wasn't credible and recommending no suspension.  But then apparently that report wasn't given to Goodell, and the investigator was frozen out of the process after writing it.  

I am amazed at how much work the NFL does to bungle investigations.

never under-estimate the incompetency of Roger Goodell.
I hope the suspension gets over-turned. All those people who picked up Zeke in their fantasy drafts in the late rounds are going to be striking gold if it does lol.

He went pretty early in our draft... My girlfriend picked up Darren McFadden in a later round to get some good early weeks out of him, so she's hoping the suspension sticks lol  

[Mdot21]

NY Jets trade DL Sheldon Richardson to the Seahawks for #2 WR Jermaine Kearse and a 2018 2nd round pick.

That's a hell of a deal for the Seahawks if Richardson buys in and stays out of trouble. He is an infinitely more talented defensive linemen than Kearse is a WR. Kearse is mediocre. At best. Losing a 2nd round pick sucks, but that's more like an early 3rd considering where the Seahawks will be picking.

They already have Michael Bennett, who is among the very best defensive linemen in the NFL, and Frank Clark made a pretty big leap in his 2nd year and had 10 sacks as he got more playing time- he'll make another jump this year with a healthy Bennett and a newly acquired Richardson demanding attention.

A scary Seahawks defense just got a lot scarier.

[ELA]

The Jets aren't even pretending to not be all in on Darnold