National Football League

[Alpe d'Huez]

Adopting the UFL's "super challenge" would help. Because refs are going to make mistakes, period. Are some biased? Maybe. Are some even more than biased? Maybe.

Anthony Richardson heading to Pittsburgh could be the best for both teams. With the Steelers it also means he won't be expected to carry the team, or even start every game. Having him be a dual-threat that only has to be a game manager with his arm and heave the occasional bomb, may be a great goal for him. It would be "normal" in a Tomlin system for him to even sit a bit. Considering how badly they botched keeping Fields, this is the next best chance for them. See what he can do, and if by the end of the year (or two years) it doesn't look promising, see what they can do in future drafts. If they don't do this, and instead sign Rodgers, they are brain dead.

Or is he going to end up like Drew Lock -- a FA now who failed to make it with three different teams. Also a top prospect with elite size & arm strength drafted in the early 2nd round by Elway who said Lock's playing style reminded him of "himself."

I thought that was Paxton Lynch? Or are he and Lock the same guy?!

 

[Nomad]

I'm pretty sure it was Lock. Elway was impressed with his size, arm strength & the fact that Lock was also athletic & mobile. He mentioned that Lock's playing style at Missouri reminded him of his playing style.

When it came to Paxton Lynch, Elway marveled at his height (6-7) & thought extreme height would be the future of NFL QBs.

Funny when you think back to the two biggest QB busts in Bronco history were Elway selections. Lol.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

He also made sure the Broncos made that trade for Russell Wilson. Calling him the last piece of the puzzle, before he exited the building.

 

[Nomad]

Report: NFL fires three officials, sends them back to college ranks

The NFL has fired three officials, according to Ben Austro of Football Zebras, but in an unprecedented move, the league has returned them to power conferences in college football.

sports.yahoo.com

Too funny; send them back to college so they can't screw things up there.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Report: NFL fires three officials, sends them back to college ranks

The NFL has fired three officials, according to Ben Austro of Football Zebras, but in an unprecedented move, the league has returned them to power conferences in college football.

sports.yahoo.com

Too funny; send them back to college so they can't screw things up there.

And another was demoted but I believe still in the NFL level. It’ll be interesting to see how the Chiefs replace these positions

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Robin DeLorenzo is one of the refs demoted. She is one of three NFL female refs. She had been a ref in both college and the USFL before it merged with the UFL, when she got bumped up to the NFL a couple seasons back. This has to hurt because she was viewed by many as sort of a wunderkind. Smart, studious, and fit, plus her father had been a sports official and taught officiating for years. I think at one point she also worked for the NFL replay (currently the NFL has I think 6 more women in the replay booths). Some thought Robin may be the NFL's first full-time female head official in a game her background was so strong. I could be mistaken, but I think Sarah Thomas worked as a head official in a pre-season game in 2023 or 2024. Either way, this overall sucks.

 

[Nomad]

Derek Carr shoulder injury: Saints QB's 2025 season reportedly in question

Carr is now exploring his options, which reportedly include surgery

www.cbssports.com

No details on the specific nature of the injury nor whether the injury was sustained during the season or this off-season (Carr missed 7 games last season due to an oblique strain & hand fracture but no mention of any shoulder injury).

 

[Nomad]

Joe Flacco to Browns: QB returning to Cleveland on one-year, $4M deal

Back to the Browns where in 2023 he started 5 games including their WC playoff game.

 

[movingtarget]

QB Drew Lock agrees to terms for return to Seahawks

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

That's great for Flacco! And many Browns fans!

Carr is close to being done I fear. Too many injuries, hasn't been really all that good in years, except in spots, streaks. Problem is, neither Rattler or Haener looked close to being an NFL starter last year.

 

[Nomad]

I was wondering if someone was going to snatch Flacco off that FA list you posted. He clearly was the best QB on that list. And who knows with the way things are going in Cleveland, he may end up as the week #1 starter?

I think Carr is all but finished. He's 34, immobile & not a running threat, and now mounting injuries over the last couple of years (missed 7 games last season).

Derek Carr Injury History & Updates

Derek Carr injury history and detailed analysis. Stay informed on his health trends and how they impact his fantasy football value.

www.draftsharks.com

And I'd say he's been unable to make an impact as a franchise QB (2nd rd/36th). In 11 seasons (9 with the Raiders, 2 with the Saints) he's had only 3 winning seasons & a sad postseason record of 0-1. In his best season where he led the Raiders to 12 wins & a WC birth (2016), he got injured & couldn't even play in the postseason! In fact, 2014 was a bad draft class for QBs -- Bortles, Manziel & Bridgewater were taken ahead of him that year.

 

[Nomad]

QB Drew Lock agrees to terms for return to Seahawks

I guess he'll be battling Sam Howell & Jaren Hall for the backup job?

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Regarding Carr, I think after he broke his leg in 2016 he was never the same. He wasn't exactly mobile before that, but he would take off and run, was athletic. In 2017 he actually suffered a transverse fracture in his back and played through it somehow, fighting to the end in a lost season, but he was pretty much a flat footed QB from then on.

But Carr had other problems as well. He could fool you with his arm, and streaks of impressive play, and seem to be a leader with his positive attitude. On the brink of elite. Then... only to right at the most inexplicable time make a horrible interception, force passes into solid coverage, or some other terrible decision costing games. He'd go on a 2, 3 game winning streak looking like an all-pro beating a really good team, and the next week look like garbage against a losing team with a weak defense. He would force bad balls deep down the field, then when the team badly needed a drive he'd fall back on checkdown passes. His team would look like they had an outside playoff shot late in the season, then lose the last three games to miss out. He has the confidence to think he will be elite, just one more chance, one more shot and he's got it, it will finally all come together. And then, the pain of finding out he didn't have it, yet again. He's been that way for years. His last few with the Raiders, and in NO.

On Gruden's channel before this last season he came into it as fit as he had been in years, and really focused on his health and strength. But that didn't last long. He was as hurt as he is many others seasons, and couldn't even finish it.

 

[Nomad]

Built different: Is the 6XL, 464lb Desmond Watson too large for the NFL?

The defensive tackle is one of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s draft. But the attributes that make him stand out could also be his downfall

www.theguardian.com

Are you kidding me? 6'6" 464 lbs! Was in the rotation as a DT/NT at Florida. Projected 7th rounder - would be the biggest player ever drafted in the history of pro football. Can you imagine him sacking a QB & throwing all his weight on him? That could be bone crushing to say the least.

His scouting report mentions a lot of strengths particularly as a between the tackles run stopper. But one of the main weaknesses & concerns is his stamina & endurance needed at the next level. The report states he'll need highly specialized conditioning & rotation patterns, likely limited him to a 15-20 snap player in specific packages.

Look at this mass of a man at his pro day:

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/6gQjwEPrzZU?si=cyWITcTsdsYb-LmU

 

[Unchained]

Built different: Is the 6XL, 464lb Desmond Watson too large for the NFL?

The defensive tackle is one of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s draft. But the attributes that make him stand out could also be his downfall

www.theguardian.com

Are you kidding me? 6'6" 464 lbs! Was in the rotation as a DT/NT at Florida. Projected 7th rounder - would be the biggest player ever drafted in the history of pro football. Can you imagine him sacking a QB & throwing all his weight on him? That could be bone crushing to say the least.

His scouting report mentions a lot of strengths particularly as a between the tackles run stopper. But one of the main weaknesses & concerns is his stamina & endurance needed at the next level. The report states he'll need highly specialized conditioning & rotation patterns, likely limited him to a 15-20 snap player in specific packages.

Look at this mass of a man at his pro day:

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/6gQjwEPrzZU?si=cyWITcTsdsYb-LmU

I am working on getting the weight!! I just can't seem to get any taller!! 6-6!!! Yikes!!

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

This guy is 130 lbs heavier than Refrigerator Perry! If nothing else I can see this kid as a goal line specialist. Imagine Cam Jurgens (Eagles center) having to tush push this guy out of the way!

 

[movingtarget]

QB Kenny Pickett plans to start for Browns: 'I'm not going there to hang out'

 

[Oldman]

I'm pretty sure it was Lock. Elway was impressed with his size, arm strength & the fact that Lock was also athletic & mobile. He mentioned that Lock's playing style at Missouri reminded him of his playing style.

When it came to Paxton Lynch, Elway marveled at his height (6-7) & thought extreme height would be the future of NFL QBs.

Funny when you think back to the two biggest QB busts in Bronco history were Elway selections. Lol.

Elway as an executive acted as much on his ego as anything.

 

[movingtarget]

Elway as an executive acted as much on his ego as anything.

Crazy that Denver had so much trouble finding a franchise QB for so long.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Elway hit one grand slam as a GM: Signing Peyton Manning. Granted, this was a fastball right down the middle, but he hit it.

Believe it or not, several of the players on their defense were actually drafted by Josh McDaniels!

 

[Oldman]

Elway hit one grand slam as a GM: Signing Peyton Manning. Granted, this was a fastball right down the middle, but he hit it.

Believe it or not, several of the players on their defense were actually drafted by Josh McDaniels!

Except that time Kam Chancellor hit Demarius Thomas after a short reception. Start of Bad Things for Elway.

 

[Nomad]

Elway hit one grand slam as a GM: Signing Peyton Manning. Granted, this was a fastball right down the middle, but he hit it.

Believe it or not, several of the players on their defense were actually drafted by Josh McDaniels!

Manning was an easy signing. Once he got his neck issues resolved, he still had some good football left in him. Once Manning came aboard, the Broncos became a minimum 12-13 win team every year. This reiterates the importance of the QB position.

Lynch & Lock are complete mysteries as to why they failed as franchise QBs - especially Lynch as a colossal draft bust (Lock is still in the league, so I guess he's not a complete failure). Both these guys look excellent on paper & played in high-level Power-5 college ball (Lock threw for over 12,000 yds was 1st team All-SEC at Missouri).

The scouting report on Lynch was elite size, above-average arm strength & excellent athleticism given his size (6.80 prospect grade). At Lynch's pro day which was done outdoors on a very windy day, he impressed the scouts with his arm talent throwing very well in the wind of all things. The Broncos traded their 1st & 3rd rd picks to move up 5 spots to get him. But there the nightmare started: Only a grand total of 4 starts in 2 seasons with a major shoulder injury to his throwing arm & Lynch was a distance memory.

The scouting report on Lock was elite size, a cannon of an arm with good accuracy, outstanding athleticism with a fast 40 & exceptionally quick 20 yd shuttle (6.40 prospect grade) -- the stuff that Josh Allen is made of.

Elway originally planned on taking Lock with their 1st rd pick but instead took TE Noah Fante consequently drafting Lock in the early 2nd (Lock wasn't happy about it. Lol). Lock started off better then Lynch ever did having a fairly decent rookie year with 5 starts, going 4-1 & showing some promise. But things quickly unraveled after that with injuries & poor performances in both regular & preseason games. Only 21 starts in 3 seasons (8-13) & it was goodbye Drew.

What went wrong with these guys? I don't blame Elway one bit for drafting them. I would have done the same especially with Lock. Kubiak was basically the OC & Greg Knapp the QB coach for Lynch. Rich Scangarello was the OC & T.C. McCartney the QB coach for Lock. Why couldn't these guys develop either Lynch or Lock as franchise QBs? Were they not up to the challenge? The Bill's coaching staff was able to develope Allen who had accuracy problems at Wyoming & was considered by some scouts as a "boom or bust" prospect (6.40 grade -- same as Lock). Nonetheless, they developed Allen big time & yet the Bronco coaching staffs failed miserably with both Lynch & Lock.

​

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

A year (or two) ago Lock looked promising I believe for Seattle? We discussed it at the time. It looked like he might, maybe finally turn into the starting QB everyone expected. But it never happened. And at this point I think he's a career backup. No different than Jarett Stidham, Jake Browning, Blaine Gabbert, etc.

Travis Hunter apparently trying to gain some leverage saying he'd rather not play football at all, than be forced to play just one position. Let's see which team caves to the demand/experiment.

Just over a week to the draft, and Panthers GM Dan Morgan openly announced they are interested in trading out of the #8 overall pick. My guess is other teams are going to look to get a more name player, and they are looking at a good WR (likely available in rounds 2-4) and help on defense. Also not needed at #8 really.

Jalen Milroe having a private workout with the Giants this week. As he's going to be a project, I can see them taking him in the early/mid rounds. After all, both Winston and Wilson are likely gone after this coming season.

 

[movingtarget]

Osweiler was another one. A round two pick in 2012. After many ups and downs he was done in the NFL in 2019. He probably had his best season with the Texans in 2016.

 

[Nomad]

Too funny:

ESPN’s Ryan Clark believes Aaron Rodgers is holding the Steelers 'hostage' and it makes him 'sick'

ESPN's Ryan Clark believes his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, are being held \

www.jsonline.com