National Football League

[Alpe d'Huez]

But EB didn't even get an OC job this go around. So it does make one wonder what he brought to KC's offense? I seem to recall some players saying it was Reid all along, with EB just making suggestions, but others defended Eric a lot. So, who knows?

Athlon Sports is saying the Lions will cut Hendon Hooker. Hasn't played enough to be worth anything, and now 27 years old, his career is washed. "Too inexperienced to be a reliable backup and too old to be a quarterback of the future." If I were a team, I'd pick him up immediately if they waive him.

Data guru Warren Sharp has some rather stark numbers (at least for Eagles fans) about potential favoritism for the Chiefs in the playoffs, and still more data,

The Kansas City Chiefs have played 11 playoff games since 2021. In those 11 games, how many times have the Chiefs had more penalties than their opponents?

Zero.

He goes into a lot of data. Read here.

And finally, Dean Blandino's brother says the Super Bowl is rigged. The NFL made sure the Chiefs got to the SB because of Taylor Swift and millions more eyeballs because of her. Dean seemed to only sigh about it all. Entertaining read, if nothing else.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Raiders hire Chip Kelly to run offense. Stolen away from Ohio State. A little surprise to me as I thought the Raiders may hire Darrell Bevell, which would be rather low-risk to me. As long as Chip doesn't end up as HC, everything should be good. He is a highly experienced, inventive OC.

This also cements to me the Raiders will take a QB in the first 2 rounds of the draft. Unless somehow, some way, they find someone in FA the like who is young (the Zach Wilson, Hendon Hooker thinking). I can't see the Raiders signing Russell Wilson, or Sam Darnold (or Rodgers, or Cousins) to run Chip's offense.

 

[Nomad]

So the Raiders should go with Russell Wilson to build around and lead them into the future?

At least you do agree with me the Raiders should pursue Zach Wilson (who we both just about wrote off for dead a year ago)?

I don't think Wilson wants to be reunited with his old coach? He was asked that question at the Pro Bowl & said he was committed with staying at Pittsburgh. OTOH, does Carroll even want him as his QB1?

I agree the Raiders as well as other teams should be pursuing Zach Wilson, but they're not for some reason. Does he remain at the Broncos as QB3 where he was inactive for every game last. What has hurt him badly is losing the backup job to Stidham & just hanging on the roster as QB3 not seeing any action on the field. If he couldn't beat out Stidham that's a big red flag a lot of teams are seeing with him. He may be in the same boat as Trey Lance where their careers are in major jeopardy of ever becoming starting QBs in the league again. Sad but true but this is the NFL where winning is everything.

One thing is for certain, Carroll needs a franchise QB to even have a fair chance of winning. If anyone thinks that Payton & Quinn became good coaches their 2nd time around - think again. They became successful coaches making the playoffs because of the gems they have at QB. I'll give credit where credit is due to Payton & Quinn for drafting Nix & Daniels, but it's the QB play of these two that completely turned their respective teams around.

It all starts with the QB.

 

[Nomad]

Athlon Sports is saying the Lions will cut Hendon Hooker. Hasn't played enough to be worth anything, and now 27 years old, his career is washed. "Too inexperienced to be a reliable backup and too old to be a quarterback of the future." If I were a team, I'd pick him up immediately if they waive him.

This one has some traction. Hooker was projected as a 1st rounder until he tore his ACL in the last game of his senior season at Tennessee. He has good size, an above-average arm, excellent speed & agility. He was First team All-SEC & SEC POY in 2022. If that reconstructed ACL is at or near pre-injury level, he definitely deserves to be given an opportunity to compete for a starting job somewhere.

Hendon Hooker Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

www.nfl.com

 

[Nomad]

Orlovsky ranks the best NFL QBs in seven different traits: Who makes each top-10 list?

Which NFL quarterbacks have the strongest arm, greatest accuracy and best rushing ability? Dan Orlovsky stacked the 10 best in seven skill areas.

www.espn.com

Interesting list compiled by Dan Orlovsky (one of the few talking heads I like). The top 10 in arm strength is fascinating. Also, this list was done in August, 2024, before the season or I'm sure he would have Daniels in the top-10 rushing QBs & Rodgers taken off the top-10 list for "decision making with the football" Lol.

 

[Rob5091]

The New Orleans Saints not being so saintly ...
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news...feb/03/new-orleans-clergy-abuse-investigation

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I don't think Wilson wants to be reunited with his old coach? He was asked that question at the Pro Bowl & said he was committed with staying at Pittsburgh. OTOH, does Carroll even want him as his QB1?

And do the Steelers really want him as QB1? So many "experts" seem to think Russ will go to the Raiders. But I don't. Only a few remember that he tried to get Pete fired in Seattle.

I expect the Raiders to have a run-first game. Look at the way both Pete, and Chip Kelly have coached in the past. But I'm also almost convinced they will now draft a QB in the 1st or 2nd round, and work to make that guy, the guy. Dart? Howard? Can they? Well, they have a heap of experience. And a run-heavy offense would sure help. The Raider OL pulling that off is another question. I can see them also signing someone like Zach, or Hooker. The key is this, FA happens before the draft. So if the Raiders think they can get a QB at 6 (Sanders or Ward), I don't see them signing a low-risk QB like these two. I also do not see them trading up to get Sanders or Ward, who fared only so-so at the Senior Bowl. But let's see how everyone does at the Combine, and Pro Day. Who can forget Zach Wilson going from rated just 6.5, with Bleacher Report comparing him to Jeff Garcia, to one magical throw in his pro day, and Shazam! he's drafted #2 overall.

Here's what I see in Hendon Hooker: Okay, he's 27, older than I realized. But he has all the traits of an NFL quarterback. Assuming he truly is healthy, I can see him going to the right team, and in about 20 starts becoming perhaps a top 10 QB in the league. The ability is certainly there. This means you have a guy capable of leading a team into the playoffs for 5+ years until he perhaps gets "too old". Isn't that worth the fairly low risk, especially if your team is currently in the cellar, with no QB? I mean, the salary on him would be dirt cheap compared to what some teams are paying for guys who just don't perform, or don't win when it matters. Maybe coaches and GMs see weaknesses I don't though. Who knows?

I tend to like Orlovsky as he knows what he's talking about, but sometimes he talks too much. But he will listen to others. When he does color commentary in NFL games he's better than people realize, I think because he's compelled to analyze in 10 second spurts, keeping him from rambling. I wish on his show he'd break down plays more, the way Kurt Warner and JTO do. All these guys think like a QB coach, or OC, which is educational.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Super Bowl prediction, Chiefs 31- Eagles 27. Chiefs get the ball under 2 mins to go with no timeouts and the score Eagles 27- Chiefs 23. It’s been a good back and forth with both offenses and defenses playing well, minimal penalties or controversy, just the Eagles grinding down the Chiefs. Eagles get Chiefs to fourth and long with about 65 seconds left and Mahomes throws an interception but wait there’s a phantom DPI. Chiefs end up scoring on a Mahomes scramble and noncall offensive offsides and holding. Chiefs go for two after a phantom defensive offsides and get it to Kelce. Eagles get the ball back with 1 timeout and 30 seconds to go. They get to midfield and gain 30 yards on a Brown reception despite DPI not being called but wait there’s a phantom offensive offsides when it was defensive negating the big yardage. There is only 5 seconds left at midfield and this is for all the marbles, Eagles run their play and score a touchdown off a trick play; Hurts scrambling out left with blockers to lateral it back to Barkley alone on the far right of the field and 1 blocker, Barkley runs it in for the score securing 200 yards rushing and 3 rushing touchdowns. But wait there’s a flag on the play for (actual) offensive holding!!!! The game is over, Chiefs win and have the 3peat!! Big Dom from the Eagles starts throwing haymakers at the refs with the producers cutting to a Chiefs commercial celebrating the 3peat with State Farm and Tyreek Hill announcing he’s returning to the Chiefs. Next is a commercial of an upcoming Chiefs dynasty series.


Fin

 

[Nomad]

Did you do some remote viewing - that's a very detailed prediction.

I'm thinking if the game is close at the end & Philly is mounting a game-winning drive or something, the lights at the Superdome go out. Lol.

 

[Nomad]

Who can forget Zach Wilson going from rated just 6.5, with Bleacher Report comparing him to Jeff Garcia, to one magical throw in his pro day, and Shazam! he's drafted #2 overall.

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/hRHnF5ULFvQ?si=iYGGf25TUzFd-I5B

Yep, "one magical throw" that had scouts going crazy & salivating. If a player is drafted as a #2 OA pick, he has got to be something special...very special. And Wilson was pretty good at BYU but nothing exceptional with no postseason awards or anything (and BYU at the time didn't even play in Power-5). So, it's amazing what one throw can do for a QB's draft stock these days. Lol.

And a similar situation with Anthony Richardson who dazzled scouts with his arm strength, size, speed & athleticism. Here's a guy who played only one year at Florida with average stats & no postseason awards or honors. He was looked at maybe in the middle to late 2nd round or so as a pro prospect. Then came his crazy performances at both the Combine & Pro Day, and "shazam," he gets a 6.4 rating & drafted #4 OA.

Here he is throwing bombs & doing running backflips at his Pro Day:

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/XxmSi-Yldg8?si=bmw9K5vvWtgP8mGc

 

[movingtarget]

Myles Garrett requests trade after eight seasons with Browns, citing 'desire to win'

Cooper Kupp says Rams informed him they are 'seeking' to trade him 'immediately'

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Garrett should go to the Bills (replace the aging Von Miller) or Washington (replace Cle Ferrell, who's okay against the run, and that's about it). Detroit, Cincy, Houston and Baltimore are outside options.

Kupp goes to the team that doesn't want to/can't pay for Tee Higgins, and has some sort of player/draft pick they are willing to give up.

I have volunteered to work on Sunday. So that cements me missing the game! Woohoo! I could also honestly use the cash.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Yep, "one magical throw" that had scouts going crazy & salivating. If a player is drafted as a #2 OA pick, he has got to be something special...very special.

I've said this before (didn't come up with it, heard it from Mike Martz, but it probably goes back to Weeb Ewbank or John Arnsbarger - Johnny Unitas days) that while a strong arm is great, and accuracy is paramount, deep field accuracy is like the mother lode to coaches, scouts. Even guys who had average arms, Joe Montana and Peyton Manning come to mind, if that guy can repeatedly get the ball 40+ yards downfield right on the money, that's pure gold. Richardson (and Stroud to an extent) showed big arms at the Combine too on their fly pattern throws that were pretty accurate, especially CJ. But not like this toss by Zach. Very special indeed.

 

[movingtarget]

Garrett should go to the Bills (replace the aging Von Miller) or Washington (replace Cle Ferrell, who's okay against the run, and that's about it). Detroit, Cincy, Houston and Baltimore are outside options.

Kupp goes to the team that doesn't want to/can't pay for Tee Higgins, and has some sort of player/draft pick they are willing to give up.

I have volunteered to work on Sunday. So that cements me missing the game! Woohoo! I could also honestly use the cash.

Kupp won't be easy to trade. He's due almost 20 mill next season and the one after. A 32 year WR that's had plenty of injuries lately. While they have Nacua doing better on a rookie contract it makes sense to move Kupp and look for more young talent in the draft. They also have a few other decent receivers plus a pretty good TE. Same with the 49ers and Deebo Samuel who has a year to go on his contract. I expect him to play out his final year then the 49ers will move on. At the moment there are rumors about 49er's interest in Higgins with Aiyuk out till probably mid season and Pearsall still a work in progress. 49ers draft will be about shoring up the O line and defense so a few free agents on offense wouldn't surprise but they also have to pay Purdy and Greenlaw so it will be a complicated off season for them probably. They are expected to let Hufanga, Ward and maybe Hargrave go maybe also Banks. Greenlaw and Purdy seem to be their priorities at the moment.

 

[Nomad]

And do the Steelers really want him as QB1? So many "experts" seem to think Russ will go to the Raiders. But I don't. Only a few remember that he tried to get Pete fired in Seattle.

I have no idea whoTomlin wants at QB - he's had nothing but a mess in trying to replace Big Ben. He's played around with 5 different prospects since his retirement; Rudolph, Trubisky, Pickett, Fields & Wilson. None of them have worked out to his satisfaction with Wilson not being a long term solution. Sadly, he hasn't won a playoff game post-Roethlisberger.

I think he was premature in dumping Pickett instead of giving him a 3rd year at the helm. Picket was their best talent since Big Ben. He was the Steelers 20th OA pick & only QB taken in the 1st rd (granted, not a great QB class that year). Pickett was very impressive at Pitt: Over 12,000 yds breaking all of Dan Merino's passing records, All-American, Unitas Golden Arm Award winner. He was BMOC at Pitt. He's got an above-average NFL arm, good size with decent speed & agility (6.4 rating).

In the two years at the Steelers, he was 14-10 in 24 starts. His numbers weren't the greatest with a not very good TD-INT ratio but showed some flashes of greatness at times. Unfortunately, his 2nd season was cut short due to an ankle injury in the latter third of the season that required surgery.

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/YaElScyGeLw?si=1jb7WWbzpDwDGwDq

So, now his best QB prospect is gone to Philly where he sits the bench doing nothing. And Tomiln continues to try and solve the complex problem of who will be the long-term solution at QB.

 

[Nomad]

Joe Montana offers kind (but much-needed) advice to Brock Purdy

Joe Montana is a fan of Brock Purdy, but the 49ers legend still feels there's an area of Purdy's game that needs to change.

ninernoise.com

 

[Nomad]

I have volunteered to work on Sunday. So that cements me missing the game! Woohoo! I could also honestly use the cash.

Working on SB Sunday? Is this the first SB you're going to miss? Curious, how many SBs have you watched in your day?

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Darnold to Pittsburgh?

Kupp won't be easy to trade. He's due almost 20 mill next season and the one after.

It will have to be part of a package deal. A team willing to eat that money, in order to get something sweet in return. Put another way, the Rams won't be getting much. But a team who needs a WR (and has some cash), will take him.

SF's deal with Aiyuk now looks like a big mistake. I'm not sure what to think about them signing Greenlaw. Two years ago he was fantastic. But I don't know that he ever recovered from his achilles tear in the SB. He was nowhere near the same player when he came back at the end of the season. And the same can be said of Hufanga after tearing his ACL two years ago. There's a real risk here. Are these guys only needing one more off-season, and in 2025 they will return to All-pro status? Or are they, like Von Miller for example, now reduced to being an overpaid average player?

Shanahan and Lynch have never focused on the trenches, specifically the OL. They have always focused on position players and playmakers, figuring it's an OL coaches job to get that extra second out of his guys at the line of scrimmage. Now that they are going to be in a bind, it will be interesting to see what they do. I don't see SF coming back and having a stellar 2025 season. Maybe something like 10-7 is possible. So perhaps the are smart and looking beyond there, especially if they give Purdy a long-term deal that's somewhat team friendly, which is what I think will happen.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Working on SB Sunday? Is this the first SB you're going to miss? Curious, how many SBs have you watched in your day?

I actually missed the 2002 Super Bowl, for a couple reasons. Mostly because I was disgusted by the tuck rule game.

Like many people, I've mostly gone to Super Bowl parties to watch games. In the last 20 years I've been pretty focused on watching the game. Go back to the 80s and 90s and many of the blowouts, I only marginally watched some of them once the game got out of hand.

The first one I distinctly remember watching with any clarity is the year the Cowboys beat the Broncos in that mistake filled game where both teams made numerous blunders, and Craig Morton played like total garbage. I distinctly recall after the game some TV pundit joking that Craig Morton used to play for the Cowboys before he went to Denver, and he probably forgot which team he played for! Many years later a teammate said Morton's body was banged up, and he hurt his arm a bit early in the game, but insisted no one make any excuse for him. The film footage of that game was lost for some years and eventually dug up. If you watch, you can actually see the play where on a pass he hits his arm on I think Too Tall Jones helmet. Maybe that did have something to do with it? But neither team played like they belonged there.

The most memorable game from my youth though was the 1980 AFC Divisional game where the Raiders beat the Browns on an icy Cleveland day. What a gut wrenching loss for the Browns, but what a gritty win for the Raiders. I was happy to see the wild card, underdog Raiders win, and really liked Jim Plunkett, but I felt bad for Browns fans to lose like that. Of course, the Browns would go on the have worse playoff losses than that one.

[Edited year, because of typo]

 

[Nomad]

View: https://youtu.be/nvGo_oLv0G8?si=bcvUkYLD2R5SdtD3

Fascinating story. Freak athlete in HS playing football, basketball & baseball. Better baseball player in HS already throwing mid-90s (high draft pick MLB). Only a 3-star recruit with limited in-state offers to D-1 programs. Going to TT under Kingsbury was the game changer.

 

[movingtarget]

Darnold to Pittsburgh?

It will have to be part of a package deal. A team willing to eat that money, in order to get something sweet in return. Put another way, the Rams won't be getting much. But a team who needs a WR (and has some cash), will take him.

SF's deal with Aiyuk now looks like a big mistake. I'm not sure what to think about them signing Greenlaw. Two years ago he was fantastic. But I don't know that he ever recovered from his achilles tear in the SB. He was nowhere near the same player when he came back at the end of the season. And the same can be said of Hufanga after tearing his ACL two years ago. There's a real risk here. Are these guys only needing one more off-season, and in 2025 they will return to All-pro status? Or are they, like Von Miller for example, now reduced to being an overpaid average player?

Shanahan and Lynch have never focused on the trenches, specifically the OL. They have always focused on position players and playmakers, figuring it's an OL coaches job to get that extra second out of his guys at the line of scrimmage. Now that they are going to be in a bind, it will be interesting to see what they do. I don't see SF coming back and having a stellar 2025 season. Maybe something like 10-7 is possible. So perhaps the are smart and looking beyond there, especially if they give Purdy a long-term deal that's somewhat team friendly, which is what I think will happen.

That might change this season with their special teams ranked on the bottom and their O line also down the rankings plus the lack of playing time for an aging Trent Williams and they have seen what happened with the Eagles and Chiefs at those positions. They also have a new special teams coach and DC. They definitely need up grades in both areas. But the 49ers will probably need two drafts to fill the gaps and how Williams, CMC and Greenlaw return is anyone's guess. Hufanga tended to be overrated anyway. He would make some big plays but also make plenty of errors. Lenoir has been playing much better as have some of the rookies.

As for Purdy I expect him to be paid near the top. maybe not a Dak contract but thereabouts. I would be very surprised to see him not getting similar money to some of the other QB's that have already been paid. Just because he's been a bargain doesn't mean it's going to continue now and he has all of the leverage with the 49ers having no back up plan at the moment for Purdy. Last year it was Dobbs and Allen, not exactly franchise QB's. The Vikings will probably keep Darnold and most of the free agents are back ups for a reason. Unless they bring Jimmy G back which is highly unlikely. See the 49ers near the playoffs but another down season will be bad news for Shanahan's future with the 49ers, Lynch's as well. A franchise that has high expectations and isn't afraid to change coaches rapidly if they don't see success. They lost two in two years before Shanahan arrived. He's now going into his 8th season.

 

[movingtarget]

Joe Montana offers kind (but much-needed) advice to Brock Purdy

Joe Montana is a fan of Brock Purdy, but the 49ers legend still feels there's an area of Purdy's game that needs to change.

ninernoise.com

Montana is right of course. Purdy had the same issue in college. He was definitely more reckless with his decision making in the 24 season.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Purdy's agent can, and certainly will argue that he took them to a Super Bowl. Also point to some terrific numbers, and that he hasn't even really entered his prime. He could easily argue that he's as good or better than most of the guys in the top 10 nfl paid QBs, and all but one of them (Murray) make $50m a year. So I can't see him not cresting that amount. Though it's quite possible he works with Lynch to spread it out in a way that keeps the team competitive. Tom Brady did similar a few times on the Patriots. Telling the Krafts you spend up to the limit of the salary cap on other players, and I'll play for less. Some numbers via Spotrac.

Nomad, you don't really think I'm going to even click on yet another video about Mahomes and how great he is, do you?

 

[Nomad]

Nomad, you don't really think I'm going to even click on yet another video about Mahomes and how great he is, do you?

My intent wasn't to post that link hoping you click on it & get annoyed. Lol. In fact, I figured you probably already knew his background to some extent. I wasn't aware that he was a great 3 sport athlete in HS. I knew he was a pitcher in baseball, but I didn't think he was throwing mid-90s fastballs. I also thought he was a 4-star recruit & not a 3-star that only had offers from a few in-state D-1 programs. This is in stark contrast to guys like Stafford, Winston, Lawrence, Fields, Young, Nix, Williams, etc, that were 5-star recruits, HS All-Americans & recruited by all the top FBS programs.

Giving these facts, I'd to have say that Kingsbury deserves a ton of credit in developing Mahomes at TT going from a lowly recruited 3-star recruit to setting the NCAA record for single game passing yards & being drafted #10 OA. You don't see this very often - many 3-star recruits don't even make it in the NFL.

Curious, are you angry with Mahomes because he & the Chiefs keep winning or that "how great he is?" (i.e. genetically gifted) Because if it's the former, how can you falt a professional athlete that's being paid to win? That's what his job description is. Lol. Now all the other top guys are being paid big bucks to win but Mahomes & the Chiefs are just doing it better than everyone else right now. So, I just look at it as another dynasty that I'm witnessing that's occurred several times before in the history of the NFL with great teams/great QBs.

If it's the latter, he's not only the one with superior genetics/talent. In fact, I would argue that a guy like Kyler Murray has even better genetics than Mahomes. We're talking about a 5'10" 205 lb QB that has a laser of an arm (one of the fastest recorded velocities), runs a 4.4 & is only one of two QBs in the history of college football to pass for 4000 yds & run for 1000 yds in a single season! (the other is Deshaun Watson). Murray also played baseball at Oklahoma & was a top MLB prospect drafted 9th OA! To use a similar analogy with Allen ("a TE that can throw the snot out of the ball"), Murray is a RB that can throw the snot out of the ball. Lol). A 5'10" guy who can generate that kind of velocity is absolutely insane. And Murray was rated a "6.8" pro prospect & drafted #1 OA - higher than Mahomes!

So, I think a good question is if we're talking raw talent why isn't Murray & the Cardinals winning? Mahomes & all his talent is winning...and winning big. Murray and all his talent is losing...and losing big. Murry is grossly underachieving while Mahomes is overachieving. Why? It's not even close between the two where the NFL ranked Murray as the best player in 2019 draft.

 

[Nomad]

But the 49ers will probably need two drafts to fill the gaps and how Williams, CMC and Greenlaw return is anyone's guess.

Good point - you wonder if CMC would regain anything close to his pre-injury form. Bilateral Achilles Tendonitis that kept him out that long is not good if you're a RB in this league. Then he partially tears his PCL in the comeback game against the Bills. Plus he'll be 29 this summer which is getting old for an NFL RB - especially one like him that's had a huge workload over his career.

I wonder if the 9ers would consider taking Ashton Jeanty - one of the best RB prospects in years? They have the 11th pick & Jeanty should be available at that pick.

2025 NFL draft: Ashton Jeanty leads top 10 RB prospects in elite class

The 2025 NFL draft has one of the best running back classes in years. Here are our top 10 prospects at the position.

www.jsonline.com