2019 NFL Draft

[MaximumSam]

Browns trade their 2019 1st round pick and Jabrill Peppers to the NYG for OBJ. WOW. Talk about a power play move. They already signed Kareem Hunt, they just got OBJ to pair him up with his BFF Jarvis. That Browns offense gonna be EXPLOSSSSSIVE.

I'm going to LOL at the Giants if they pass on Dwayne Haskins.

Are the Browns now the clear favorite in the division?

[ELA]

Le'Veon Bell to the NY Jets. 4 years, $52.5 million, $35 million guaranteed. Deal is worth up to $61 million with incentives.

Could he have gotten at least $21 million guaranteed playing last year barring a catastrophic injury?  That's how it should be judged.  He should have probably used the same agent as his former college QB, because I think he could have, absent totally blowing out his knee.

[bayareabadger]

Stafford is the anti-Murray, right?  And his franchise has surrounded him with pieces, trying to win big during his career - all based on his big arm.  
I hold fast to the idea that a team (NFL and/or college) can be held hostage by elite QB talent.  
The Tennessee Vols tied all their flags to the Manning boat and never won their division.  The year after he left, playing a diverse offense that utilized multiple players instead of emphasizing one - they won the national championship.
The Lions' flags are all tied to the USS Stafford and it's yielding nothing.  His big arm has held his franchise's resources hostage.




But I'm probably wrong.

I think that's a matter of seeing patterns and turning it into parable. 
For the Tenn/Manning part, it really comes down to Florida. The 1998 Florida offense lost its best player and just plain got worse and was on the road. Manning scored 20 in Gainesville. UT scored 17 at home in regulation with like 235 total yards and won after a crazy scramble set up a field goal and then Florida missed from 9 yards closer and was a fingertip away from a game-winning score. That Vols team was good, but it was also the team that just won ALL the close games (Manning got 1997 Nebraska in his bowl. Martin got a team without a starting QB). 
Now, watching a few clips, it didn't seem like they'd gone true option or anything (might be wrong). Just seemed like they were the same I-form team but with a more mobile QB. One could argue the run over pass emphasis helped, but on that front, I'd turn it back to UF. The Gators loved to sling it around, and fielded some awesome title-contending teams, and the only one they got kinda lucky to do so. Was the pass emphasis what held them back, or was it just other better teams?
On Stafford, he came in after Johnson, and at some point had Tate, beyond that, did they build around him that well? Best back was Reggie Bush, next best receiver was ... who? Had one defense higher than 13th? I guess it's this. Detroit is mostly bad. Stafford is good, not great. If Stafford holding Detroit back, or is he one of the things keeping them not always terrible. 

[Mdot21]

Are the Browns now the clear favorite in the division?

They absolutely are in my opinion.
Baker completed 64% as a rookie and set the rookie record for TD passes. He’s only going to get better. Especially now that he has even more weapons with the Hunt signing and OBJ trade.
Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, and Antonio Callaway was a pretty talented young WR corps. They just added a top 5 WR to that unit with OBJ. Insane.
David Njoku is coming off a breakout year at TE. He’s a freak athlete going on his 3rd NFL season and oh yeah he’s only 22 years old. 
Nick Chubb had a hell of a rookie year averaging 5.2 ypc with 8 TDs on only 180 some carries. They also signed Kareem Hunt. Hunt will probably be suspended 4 games then back in action. That’s as good a RB duo as you’ll see in the entire league.
Not to mention the Browns traded for edge rusher Olivier Vernon and signed DT Sheldon Richardson. Those are two impact starters that will improve their defense. And it sounds like they might be the leader in the clubhouse for f/a safety Earl Thomas.

[Cincydawg]

Fascinating points about Stafford up above, a team being in effect hostage to a great arm.

[FearlessF]

Browns winning the division would certainly be interesting

I'll believe it when I see it

[FearlessF]

Fascinating points about Stafford up above, a team being in effect hostage to a great arm.

hostage to a contract and a salary cap

[MrNubbz]

Ray Lewis murdered no one. He covered for two of his buddies that committed murder. Aaron Hernandez was mentally ill and had severe CTE. Supposedly was one of the worst CTE cases ever seen. Both of those guys' teammates actually really liked them by the way. Do any of Roethlisberger's teammates even like him?
Ben Roethlisberger is the ultimate finger-pointer, blame defecting, never takes responsibility, it's always someone elses fault- throwing teammates under the bus douchebag in the history of the game. Plus he raped multiple women and got away with it. Even the former pornstar who had the fling with Trump said she was scared to death of Rapelisberger when Trump introduced her to him.

Buttcrack Ben didn't rape anyone,played serious grab ass maybe even attempted to .That doesn't compare to covering up for murder even though the guy that got whacked wasn't exactly innocent.If that evidence was there the league would have ran him and he'd be in the slammer

[MrNubbz]

Browns trade their 2019 1st round pick and Jabrill Peppers to the NYG for OBJ. WOW. Talk about a power play move. 

Ya know the shame of that is Peppers actually was pretty solid last season and I was looking forward to watching him

[Cincydawg]

hostage to a contract and a salary cap

Yes, better phrasing.  Big Arm led to large contract.

[betarhoalphadelta]

Le'Veon Bell to the NY Jets. 4 years, $52.5 million, $35 million guaranteed. Deal is worth up to $61 million with incentives.

Could he have gotten at least $21 million guaranteed playing last year barring a catastrophic injury?  That's how it should be judged.  He should have probably used the same agent as his former college QB, because I think he could have, absent totally blowing out his knee.

I think he came out ahead. 
I believe he was only guaranteed $10M in the contract that the Steelers offered. Basically everything beyond that was at risk. A catastrophic injury would have screwed him. And if he had played last year, but had a catastrophic injury, he would have had $14M, but potentially his career ending. And you know the Steelers were going to give him 400+ touches and ride him into the ground.
I think this contract definitely says that avoiding playing on the franchise tag was worth it, and didn't hurt his value. 

[FearlessF]

Buttcrack Ben didn't rape anyone,played serious grab ass maybe even attempted to .That doesn't compare to covering up for murder even though the guy that got whacked wasn't exactly innocent.If that evidence was there the league would have ran him and he'd be in the slammer

rape was definitely "alleged"  not proven
not sure I'd bet the dirt farm that a rape did not happen

[FearlessF]

Ya know the shame of that is Peppers actually was pretty solid last season and I was looking forward to watching him

you can still watch him, he'll be the guy wearing blue

[OrangeAfroMan]

hostage to a contract and a salary cap

The point stands (if it stands at all) in college football as well.