National Football League

[Alpe d'Huez]

They did. At least in the Bradford-Foles trade.

According to NFL.com, Matthews has signed with the Eagles. Get ready for that Wishbone offense guys! Seriously, with a sub-average OL, and all these RB's and a very injury prone QB... This. Just. Completely. Baffles. Me.

Cromaratie signed back with the Jets. They still need a little help on the front 7 perhaps, and their offense may be atrocious, but the Jets could have an excellent defense this season. The peculiar part is, the AFC East isn't really loaded with dangerous receivers. Can you name any in that division?

The Cowboys signed Darren McFadden at a bargain price of about $2.4 m a year, for only two years. My gut tells me they will take a RB in the draft. But I also think they can use some help on defense. Overall, I like the way the Cowboys have played things so far.

Interesting that the Patriots grabbed Scott Chandler, former TE with Buffalo. It seems like a decent grab to me of a decent player, but I also imagine he will really excel in that system playing opposite Gronk, and giving Gronk rest. Props to Danny Amendola for taking a pay cut to stay with the Pats, in what could have been a messy situation. He had a tough two seasons, but finally stepped up to his ability at the end of last year. I really like what New England has done, but they still have work to do in the secondary after losing both Revis and Browner. But this also opened up a lot of cap room. Their offense will still be outstanding, and they will seriously contend, once again. I no longer question anything Belicheck does.

I've never been big on teams that spend big on FA, but the Colts I think have done well. They have the money, and are good now. So adding a few expensive vets will help. Plus, they just cut Richardson. He was supposed to be a do-all back, but he never ran well, never did much catching the ball, and reportedly wasn't very good in pass protection.

Boomer Esiason was on CBS radio out of NY this morning talking about how he is certain Mariota will be taken 2nd in the draft behind Winston. Maybe even by Tennessee. He says Mariota needs grooming and time to learn NFL defenses and speed, but has the exact mental capacity and leadership, coupled with good all round talent, to shine in the NFL. He compared his character to Russell Wilson, which says a great deal.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Re:

They did. At least in the Bradford-Foles trade.

Good. So my brain still works. Thought I got the same head-bazilla like Kelly. Relieved now ;-)

According to NFL.com, Matthews has signed with the Eagles. Get ready for that Wishbone offense guys!

LOLZ. Keeps getting better the more you repeat it.
We may shall use it as running gag for a while. Who knows, may Kelly signs/drafts another 2 or 3 RBs this off season.

Seriously, with a sub-average OL, and all these RB's and a very injury prone QB... This. Just. Completely. Baffles. Me.

Everybody outside Hitch I guess...

The Cowboys signed Darren McFadden at a bargain price of about $2.4 m a year, for only two years. My gut tells me they will take a RB in the draft.

Very smart, getting relative "cheap" RBs. They either use a proven RB (whatever that means) in McFadden, or draft fresh legs. In the end it will not matter. The OL will let shine the guy(s) whoever hits the holes.

Interesting that the Patriots grabbed Scott Chandler, former TE with Buffalo. It seems like a decent grab to me of a decent player, but I also imagine he will really excel in that system playing opposite Gronk, and giving Gronk rest. Props to Danny Amendola for taking a pay cut to stay with the Pats, in what could have been a messy situation. He had a tough two seasons, but finally stepped up to his ability at the end of last year. I really like what New England has done, but they still have work to do in the secondary after losing both Revis and Browner. But this also opened up a lot of cap room. Their offense will still be outstanding, and they will seriously contend, once again. I no longer question anything Belicheck does.

Imagine NE ends up with spending too less (below the 92.5%) and still win the division and likely more. Would be another milestone.

I imagine the mad prof sitting in the dark room working with formulas and stuff 24/7 from Feb trou Aug, and come pre season/RS, Beli also sits in the dark room watching film and practise 24/7... His wife must be bored.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Steven Ruiz of USA Today breaks down the Eagles trade moves and Kelly working with cap numbers.

http://wp.me/p3Oddn-1nu6

It all seems to make sense... Until you start to think about it.

Despite position players getting headlines, games are moreso won on the line of scrimmage. Any coach will tell you this. Last year's Eagle OL was below average, same with their pass rush. Maybe Kelly will draft lineman, but Ruiz expects a WR. Next, the biggest position player is the QB. Ruiz says Bradford has a big time arm. He does? Because the guy I saw okay did not. He struggled to throw the ball deep with much accuracy, or to the outside. The stats I provided the other day back this up. He was completing less long throws than Alex Smith, and Alex has no real wide receivers to throw to.

So I'm still puzzled. Maybe Chip looks at it as a rebuilding year?

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Re:

It all seems to make sense... Until you start to think about it.

LMAO. Its getting better. Thanks to Kelly, this could turn into a kind of Bolt-Comedy-Show-Thread from some years ago...

Despite position players getting headlines, games are moreso won on the line of scrimmage. Any coach will tell you this.

Very much true. We had some nice discussions with on3, MI, Oldman, etc about it. I think everybody agrees, except... who? ... Kelly ;-)

Last year's Eagle OL was below average, same with their pass rush. Maybe Kelly will draft lineman, but Ruiz expects a WR. Next, the biggest position player is the QB. Ruiz says Bradford has a big time arm. He does?

You hear that a lot (even Glennon was mentioned at least once). A wild guess: This was said about every QB who took a NFL snap. Are they backing it up? With anything? Ofc not. At least we give hard numbers like combine ball-speed (Cousins, Foles, for example), or saw QB competitions where they had long distance throws (Flacco, Cunningham, Favre, for example), or have in-game evidence (Testaverde, RG3, for example), or at least stats (Y/PP for example; it´s not always hard evidence, but more often than not). If Bradford had any kind of an above average arm, would SL have him go long successfully now and then? Would it have translate into numbers? Certainly. And with Bradford we have a QB finishing in the bottom of the NFL year-in year-out in Y/PP & Y/A since he entered it. As you said:

Because the guy I saw okay did not. He struggled to throw the ball deep with much accuracy, or to the outside. The stats I provided the other day back this up. He was completing less long throws than Alex Smith, and Alex has no real wide receivers to throw to.

So I'm still puzzled. Maybe Chip looks at it as a rebuilding year?

Seems like. He want to rebuild the Eagles into the team they were before he arrived: A messed-up losing team... I think he will be successful ;-)

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

In more surprising news, Chris Borland rookie LB for the 49ers has retired, citing long-term health concerns. I say good for him. There's more to life than football.

After losing Chandler to the Patriots, the Bills have stolen Clay from the Dolphins. But at a very high price. The first two seasons he'll make $12m a year. That's a lot for a TE, even a good one. Gronkowski makes $9m a year by comparison.

Trent Richardson signed with Oakland at a bargain basement price, loaded with incentives. My gut tells me the Raiders will focus on DL and OL in the draft, which can't hurt his chances. To me the biggest disappointment with him though wasn't his lack of running numbers, but that he was supposed to be a complete back. Running, receiving and pass blocking. But he was average at best in all of them.

Apparently the desperate Cleveland Browns were offering a 1st round draft pick to possibly both St. Louis and Philadelphia for Sam Bradford.

Waiting to see where Hardy and Fairly go. Also if Peterson will be welcome back in Minnesota, and Ray Rice anywhere.

Eliot Hanson of NFL.com has his own power rankings out, and lists Seattle at the team to beat.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Yes, props to Borland who has his priorities straight.

What is not too surprising about this, but ridiculous, is recent comments on this topic by a Dr. Joe Maroon (Univ. of Pittsburgh neurosurgeon and Steelers neurosurgeon). I say not surprising because there is an old guard standard and bias due to his NFL association. Maroon says that riding bicycles is more dangerous to kids than playing football
(http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/pittsburgh-steelers-doctor-head-trauma-concussions/nkZFz/).

See full interview here on NFL.com (http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-netwo...479597/Dr-Maroon-The-NFL-has-never-been-safer).

In that interview he said:

"We came up with 63 total cases of CTE [and] in the last two years a few more. But there have been 30-40 million kids who have played football during that period of time. It’s a rare phenomena. We have no idea the incidence. There are … more injuries to kids falling off bikes, scooters, falling in playgrounds than there are in youth football. I think again, it’s never been safer. Can we improve? Yes. We have to do better all the time to make it safer."

RLY??? Just 63 in a 2 year time period. But that is the number of CTE cases. What about the ignored, unreported, and unnoticed dings players have received? The kind of ding that leaves players in a temporary fog, seeing stars or flashes of light. Yeah, I know plenty of kids who have received those and kept on playing, unreported. Borland himself admitted to getting dinged during the last preseason with SF. The total count of dings I would guess to be in the thousands over the same time period. And that is safer than a kid riding a bicycle? How many CTE cases have we seen result from cycling? Not 63 over 2 years including professionals. Heck, I know one kid who got a serious concussion and based on the brain scan, the damage was so bad involving a large area of the brain, that he was told by the neurosurgeon he had to give up football or the next concussion could end his life. He listened, fortunately.

I would agree with Maroon that football is a little safer now and needs to become safer at all levels. But disagree with the way he tries to give a false sense of safety. OFC, the full interview was provided by the NFL.com, and they had one of their boys try to ease the panic, if you can call it that. Marketing!

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Excellent post On3m@rmy.

I'd like to know the numbers on boxers. Or 25 years from now on MMA fighters.

Meanwhile LeSean McCoy is as puzzled as te rest of us as to why the Eagles are so stacked at running back. Maybe he doesn't realize yet they will be running the Wing-T offense.

Turns out the Raiders contract to Richardson only has $600k guaranteed. What a huge bargain, or huge fall from grace, depending on your point of view.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Well, now that the 2015 NFL veteran inaugural combine has come and gone, did anyone take notice?
I did not really pay much attention, even though there were a few known names participating like Mikel Leshoure and Adam Carriker and a few others, including one headliner. For the full list of participants see http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/articl...-Combine/fef5e2e7-f168-4d30-8f23-8a0f346a4217.

It was a pretty underwhelming event with underwhelming results for the most part. As an example, 40-yard times posted by RBs were a low of 4.74 to a high of 4.96. See full results below:
- 40-yd times tweeted by Ian Rapoport: https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/579730526640082944/photo/1
- combine results & twitter reaction: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-2015-results-highlights-and-twitter-reaction,

I'm not quite sure why the NFL feels they need a veteran combine though, given that the abilities of most players should be known, and it is not likely going to catch on as an event people will care much about. Teams wanting to fill some 3rd string roster depth might be interested, but other than that...

If the NFL wants to create something interesting, instead of a veteran combine, I'd rather see a combine for D-2, D-3, and NAIA players, though some of those on occasion get invited to the regular combine. At least there would be a chance to find some diamond in the rough, and mostly at the skill positions as opposed to the Line positions. Even though some of the better D-3 schools do have some bulk on their rosters. But a decent D-3 LB will easily run sub-4.7 40's, and a good D-3 RB can be shifty sub-4.6 or 4.5 guys who might be missing one or two pieces of the package (e.g. size, agility). But this level of combine would not be a big media attraction like the NFL was hoping the veteran combine would be. The big media attraction of the inaugural veteran combine was the lack of performance of Michael Sam, unfortunately for him.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Re:

Meanwhile LeSean McCoy is as puzzled as te rest of us as to why the Eagles are so stacked at running back. Maybe he doesn't realize yet they will be running the Wing-T offense.

Turns out the Raiders contract to Richardson only has $600k guaranteed. What a huge bargain, or huge fall from grace, depending on your point of view.

McCoy should know it's about fresh wheels for an offense that involves a heavy dose of the run game. Same as what Chip Kelly did at the U of Oregon. Wing-T? Chip's a mold-beaker, so ya never know. Maybe that formation using different personnel, like a heavy set. I will say this, the way all that unfolded with the new signings at RB was odd. But here's my take on the whole recent Chip thing: Bradford's run up tempo offenses, but to keep him healthy they have to keep him off his back. Best way to do that, run the ball well and have fresh horses in the stable to keep the tempo high. Then have Bradford get the ball out of hands fast on pass plays, and don't throw deep too often, just often enough. I see what Chip is trying to do acquiring Bradford and the two RBs, but it is a gamble. Probably a career determining gamble, which could work either way.

At that price it is a safe move OAK made for Trent.

edit: to me the biggest gamble on Bradford is not so much his knees and injuries, it is what's going on in his head as a result of all those. When some teams played the Rams with Bradford, they'd dial up the pressure on Sam and get him all wide eyed, psyched out, and scared to death in an attempt to throw him off his game.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

I would disagree. I like the new vet combine.
1.) It gives forgotten players (b/c of "CEI" injuries for example) a 2nd chance.
2.) It gives all those playing in the CFL, AFL, FXFL, and what the heck else FL a chance to show up with hard numbers.
3.) @3m; Well... scouts dont know that much to have the ability to look into the future. Thus its a good chance for forgotten older players to get back in the minds of NFL personnel (GMs, coaches, etc.).

And if the numbers (as shown in the RB times you linked) are bad, well... maybe then they invited the wrong players. Either way, if they only find one quality player out of the approx 100 players invited, it improves the level of NFL-on-field performance. A must since they (NFL) deliberately abandoned the NFL-Europe (a major mistake in all parts, just to save money worth of a single 4th round pick).

Back to the Philly-Kelly imbecility:
If Kelly has a gamble going on with the way you described it (your points are well thought and make sense), why the phuck is he gambling in the first place? If he thinks Bradford shall be saved by throwing less, why not keep the better and cheaper QB who showed he can handle many pass-play calls during a game? I mean what imbecile Kelly is doing here, isnt trying to improve a bad offense. Heck no, he intentionally is destroying a good offense that worked.
I could do what Kelly does now. But I wouldnt ask for more than 50.000 $ a year to gamble with the best football players on earth. Really, there is no doubt I could do the same. You know I love to gamble sometimes ;-)

 

[The Hitch]

Well obviously Kelly doesn't think Foles is a "better quarterback", otherwise he wouldn't have made the trade.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Re:

Well obviously Kelly doesn't think Foles is a "better quarterback", otherwise he wouldn't have made the trade.

Hitchey... I am pretty sure you read the last couple of pages. So you, as everybody else, know that you and Kelly are basically the only ones in the world thinking Bradford is the "better quarterback". Nobody disputed that. So what you are trying to say?

 

[The Hitch]

Re: Re:

Well obviously Kelly doesn't think Foles is a "better quarterback", otherwise he wouldn't have made the trade.

Hitchey... I am pretty sure you read the last couple of pages. So you, as everybody else, know that you and Kelly are basically the only ones in the world thinking Bradford is the "better quarterback". Nobody disputed that. So what you are trying to say?

Because you said

If he thinks Bradford shall be saved by throwing less, why not keep the better and cheaper QB who showed he can handle many pass-play calls during a game?

And i'm explaining its because he does not think Foles is the better quarterback. That's your opinion. He however made the trade because he thinks Bradford is the better qb.

As for - everyone thinks Foles is better, well that's not really much of an argument is it. Just because a lot of people believe something doesn't mean its true. Eg most cycling fans think Horner won the Vuelta clean, that doesn't mean he was.

That said its not true at all that everyone thinks Foles is better. Ive seen plenty of people who agree with Chip that Bradford is better,

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I like the idea of the Vets Combine. Though out of the 2000 or so players who requested to participate, and the 150 or so who were actually invited, only one was signed (as of yesterday afternoon). Never the less, it does give teams a clearer idea who to invite to camp, and who may have been a waste of time to do so.

Chris Simms said he thinks Bradford is a better version of Foles. So that's three people now I can find on the planet. Kelly, Sims, and Hitch.

In other news, Michael Crabtree still remains unsigned. As does Rolando McClain, Dallas LB. Adrien Peterson seems to be done in Minnesota. I still think he could end up in Dallas, where he wants to play. Ray Rice remains persona non grata.

Ken Wisenhunt made an interesting comment, saying if Marcus Mariota goes #2 in the draft, he would be expected to start game 1 in the season. He did not say "by the Titans" in there. So my gut tells me this is a compliment meaning Mariota is so good, he's trade bait for the right price.

Finally, the NFL is saying it will hire two "Conduct Czars". Todd Jones, former ATF head, and Lisa Friel, who was already on board and investigated the Hardy issue. There seems to be an unanswered question though. While the NFL said there would be more of a review process than in the past - in order to get things right and make sure the punishment fits the crime, so to speak - last I checked Goodell still had the ability to override any ruling. So if he's going to play autocrat, Jones and Friel may not last long if countermanded all the time by his iron authority.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

The league is meeting this week about proposed rule changes. Most of them surround instant replay. Here's what appears to be on the table, and off:

• They already agreed to kill the blackout rule.

• They are only changing some wording in the definition of what makes a catch. Meaning, Dez Bryan's great play, still isn't a catch to them. But I think the officials are going to cautiously be more lenient in future rulings, as this call was so insanely unpopular.

• Allowing a coach to challenge any official’s decision, plus things like both defenseless receiver hits. Numerous options and variants being discussed. The Rooney family is heavily against more instant replay (wonder why, they may have lost their last two Superbowls had there been!).

• Put fixed cameras on all boundary lines. - I can see this happening. Maybe not for a year or two though.

• Add a bonus field goal for one additional point after a successful two-point conversion attempt. - This nutty rule almost makes sense, but the league also wants to move away from kicks deciding games.

• Both teams to have a possession in overtime. - This would go back to how it was when they first changed the rule some 5-10 years ago. They quickly changed it to what we have now. I'm for this change.

• Ban peelback blocks by any offensive player. This is where a lineman moves out of the tacklebox, then moves back in and undercuts a player. - This will pass.

• Ban running backs from chop blocking outside the tackle box. - This will very likely pass.

• Allow linebackers to wear jersey numbers 40-49 in addition to 50-59 and 90-99 - Someone call Brian Bosworth!

• If an eligible player reports as an ineligible receiver to the referee, he must align within the tackle box. - An obvious response to Belicheat's trickery. A variation may pass.

• Eliminate the 75-player cutdown. - Will cost teams more $, so iffy.

• Expand rules to allow teams more contact with draft eligible players. - A real hot topic no one is talking about.

• Permit teams that play on Thursday to designate one player eligible to return to the active list from injured reserve. - The players would love this. Will it pass?

• Permit players on Physically Unable to Perform to begin practicing earlier. - This is something Belicheck says contributes to injuries, not prevents them like perceived when implemented. I think Mike Holmgren was another coach strongly in favor of this. I think it will pass.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Re: Re:

Because you said

Ofc I said it. Did I ever disputed that? Read my lines again. I said it many times. So, again, what you are trying to say??

And i'm explaining its because he does not think Foles is the better quarterback. That's your opinion. He however made the trade because he thinks Bradford is the better qb.

Again, I know that Kelly and you think Bradford is the better QB. Imagine, I just repeated it again in my very last post. So we go on like this now forever? Are we in Kindergarten or the Clinic-zoo to repeat everything again and again and again? ...

As for - everyone thinks Foles is better, well that's not really much of an argument is it. Just because a lot of people believe something doesn't mean its true. Eg most cycling fans think Horner won the Vuelta clean, that doesn't mean he was.

So what? Kelly thinks he (Bradford) is better. That doesnt mean he is.

Dont you think its stupid to spam this thread?

That said its not true at all that everyone thinks Foles is better. Ive seen plenty of people who agree with Chip that Bradford is better,

Good for you. I and many others havnt. So what?

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Re:

I like the idea of the Vets Combine. Though out of the 2000 or so players who requested to participate, and the 150 or so who were actually invited, only one was signed (as of yesterday afternoon). Never the less, it does give teams a clearer idea who to invite to camp, and who may have been a waste of time to do so.

Exactly. But I am surprised only one was signed.

Chris Simms said he thinks Bradford is a better version of Foles. So that's three people now I can find on the planet. Kelly, Sims, and Hitch.

Pretty impressive number. Three, wow!

In other news, Michael Crabtree still remains unsigned.

I am surprised. What happened to him? You know I stopped mid-season last year, until late in the playoffs...

Adrien Peterson seems to be done in Minnesota.

I said it first (and only?)... Cant believe it didnt got trou to NFL personnel yet, that RBs are interchangebable, that they (teams) still throw millions after them. A big big mystery to me.

 

[The Hitch]

So 3 people think Bradford is better. How many people think foles is better. Foxxy, alpe merckx index. A few others I may have misses. Hardly some whitewash

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

I would add the SL coaching staff, numerous other NFL people, ex-NFL people, writers, scouts, you name it. In short: The majority. Which is no surprise since Foles beat Bradford everywhere:
1.) Hard numbers like ball-speed (IOW: arm strength)
2.) Numbers that underline the better arm strength (see Y/PP)
3.) Numbers that underline Foles proved his above NFL average play (see PHI drive numbers, points scored, Y/PP yet again, etc.), while Bradford... sucked... sucked hard (see his numbers).

Conclusion: Only a imbecile would trade a cheaper, better, less injured QB for one that is worse in all categories. And to make it worse: Kelly gave up draft picks on top... Kelly gambles. For what? There was no need for that, his offense worked. Thus: Kelly the imbecile. Its so simple...

 

[The Hitch]

So you don't actually have anyone outside of this forum? Just vague terms such as "writers" but can't name any of them. It's what I thought.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

So you don't actually have anyone outside of this forum? Just vague terms such as "writers" but can't name any of them. It's what I thought.

Why shall I name writers names? I normally dont look at those who wrote articles... Oh, and BTW, I cant name scouts names, as I cant name the 20 or so assistant coaches that work for the SL NFL-team, who most likely think Foles is the better QB than Bradford. Further I cant name other NFL personnel names that agree with the opinion of Alpe, me, Merckx, the majority of "Football guys", etc, etc. Why? Because I dont care. The important point is: Kelly is messing it up with loading the roster with over-paid RBs and a over-paid proven bust at QB. This wasted cap space, and the thrown away draft picks, will be missed greatly to fill other positions and roster depth.

 

[The Hitch]

So when you said that everyone in the world apart from me and Kelly rates Foles higher than Bradford, what you meant was that you rate Foles higher than Bradford. Pretty lofty terms you see yourself in.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

OK Hitch stop it here... and take your BS bait tries to the clinic. Thanks upfront.

Final info for you: Not only me, but everybody here at least questioned the Foles trade (outside of you ofc). And as I know the guys from the start, I can say all of them know Football (in comparison to the underclass posers at Espn.com for example).

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I have to say I do not have a hard on (in a football sense!) for Bradford. But Kelly knows what qualities he wants as his QB. I'm not saying Bradford is THE guy. It may be more that Foles lacks some things Kelly requires, but are things he believes Sam has or had at some point in the past and wants to bring out.

So while we have all been talking about the Kelly-Bradford-Foles-Rams deal, what about the speculation going on about Washington considering drafting Mariota with the 5th overall pick (IF he's still available at that position) to replace RG3? After all Washington gave up to the Rams to draft RG3, to this. Wow! I'm not sure I'd give up on the dude yet. Unless there's some major chemistry or other issue, I think I'd build a great OLine first (which Washington desperately needs), then see if RG3 can grow into the position. Otherwise, I don't care what QB you put in there, with THAT OLine the dude's gonna get killed. Unless the QB is a Wilson-type, who's super quick, has eyes in the back of his head, and can quirt out of tight places other QBs get caught up in. Interesting stuff.

 

[The Hitch]

Re:

OK Hitch stop it here... and take your BS bait tries to the clinic. Thanks upfront.

Final info for you: Not only me, but everybody here at least questioned the Foles trade (outside of you ofc). And as I know the guys from the start, I can say all of them know Football (in comparison to the underclass posers at Espn.com for example).

If you want to stop, stop it yourself. Its not against forum rules to point out your mistakes. All I have done is directly address comments you presented as facts. You have failed to back any of them up and merely responded with insults. I ask again, since you mocked me and Kelly as the only ones "in the world" who rate Bradford above Foles, I ask who are all these people who rate Foles higher. You can't come up with an answer, not posting is a better course of action than telling me to shut up.